Coastal North Carolina
From just south of Norfolk, VA to north of Myrtle Beach stretches a coastal playground like no other. Imagine hundreds of miles of soft sandy and secluded beaches combined with power boating and sailing options for any seafaring vessel. Add in historic coastal towns with cobblestone streets and horse drawn carriages, endless shopping venues, vibrant night life and amazing southern cuisine and you have Coastal North Carolina.
The Outer Banks
No place on the east coast has the market locked up for peace & quiet like the North Carolina Outer Banks. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore was created to help preserve some of the world’s most unique and pristine ecological wonders, and just off the coast America’s fascination with aviation took flight with two young brothers Orville and Wilbur.
Giant sand dunes were what some of the country’s settlers encountered when they sailed west from England. Soon to follow were land based pirates who hung lanterns over the heads of horses who they paraded up and down the coast at night to make the incoming vessels assume that they were approaching fellow ships. Once they realized their errors they often grounded themselves on invisible sand bars leaving them fair prey for some pirating.
Today the locals are a bit more friendly, yet the history rich area is full of surprises. Nags Head, Duck, Corolla and Ocracoke Island are intimate retreats for northerners and southerners alike. But the main three charms of the OBX are the beach, the sun and the sounds – for as you drive south on NC 12, you will see beach on your left, the sound on the right and sunshine straight ahead.
Over the past few decades, Duck and Corolla have blossomed into attractive communities with the advent of fine dining, shopping and commercial projects. No longer are the OBX simply a weekend destination as the lure of fulltime living looms larger every day. If you love the beach, fishing, sailing and sand in your toes, pull out your maps and make it down to the North Carolina Outer Banks – you’ll be glad you did!
The Crystal Coast
South of the NC Outer Banks you will be pleasantly surprised by what locals refer to as “The Crystal Coast”, which consists of a myriad of maritime favorites such as New Bern, Beaufort, Emerald Island, Morehead City and Jacksonville. You will also discover one of North Carolina’s only deepwater ports, a healthy fishing fleet that tames the Atlantic, quaint and historic waterfront villages and the largest US Marine base in America – Camp LeJeune. Oh, and just inland you will find Greenville, home to the East Carolina University Pirates.
With all this diversity, commercial and retail comes the opportunity for fulltime living. The Crystal Coast offers a wide variety of developments aimed at everything from young families to retirees.
Wilmington and Brunswick County
Known as the Port City, Wilmington rises out of a charmed history with a youthful exuberance only a college town can do. Nowhere else on the expansive North Carolina Coast do you find such a wonderful blend of history, beauty and growth.
Downtown Wilmington is graced by the moderate currents of the broad Cape Fear River, which heads south towards the Atlantic Ocean. This water is what gave life and continues to provide life to the area as it is a vital artery for shipping and pleasure boating. Along the waterfront you’ll find a pleasant Riverwalk that brings the city to the water. Scrumptious seafood restaurants, fine dining, cobblestone streets with horse drawn carriages, numerous unique shopping venues, arts and entertainment and a healthy late night social scene are what is awaiting you in the city by the river.
But wait, on the east side of town you’ll find Wrightsville Beach, the gateway to the thrills and pleasures of the Atlantic Ocean. Drive across the Causeway and over the ICW for a day at one of America’s most beautiful beaches. Grab a boat and enjoy all the many nooks and crannies one can only do by boat as this area is chocked full of great fishing holes, secluded beaches and perfect weather year round.
From the shores of the Atlantic across town to the Cape Fear River is a vibrant community where over 100,000 people call home. What the residents of the Port City enjoy are the area’s leading hospital – New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington International Airport, the shops and fine dining at Mayfaire at Town Center, Independence Mall, Lumina Station, The Forum Shoppes, museums, Airlie Gardens and so much more!
Across the Cape Fear River heading south towards Myrtle Beach, you will uncover one of the most unspoiled gems of the east coast – Brunswick County. For years this bit of paradise has been one of America’s fastest growing counties (by percentage of growth) as good people from all over are continuing to discover the many fine Plantations by the sea. And no other coastal area provides you with so many different choices: Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach.
The cornerstones of the county are Calabash, located on the NC/SC border and referred to as the Seafood Capital of NC, Shallotte – the economic hub of the southern Brunswick Isles, Southport – the quaint fishing village and Leland, the gateway to Wilmington.
Brunswick County offers the largest selection of Plantations on the east coast. The moderate year round temperatures, the abundance of over 150 golf courses in the area (including Myrtle Beach & Wilmington) and the wide open sandy beaches all make for an idyllic place to call home.