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Listicles
Introduction Text
Where do you start when you have hundreds of miles of sand, boardwalks, and inland waterways and towns to explore? Try one or more of these unique “firsts,” then venture beyond for more coastal discoveries.
Listicle View
Hammocks Beach State Park
With a kayak or canoe, paddle your way to four remote barrier islands inside this park spanning mainland and marshland. Bear Island presents sun-soaked dunes, beach access and solitude.
Roanoke River Lighthouse
At this point you might call it a striking mobile home. This screw pile-style lighthouse has occupied three different sites since the 1860s. Preservationists moved the beacon to Edenton Harbor in 2007, and major restoration work was done before it opened to the public. A replica can be found a few miles south in downtown Plymouth.
Melvins' Hamburgers and Hot Dogs
Burgers for breakfast? At Melvins', the line for coleslaw-and-chili-topped burgers and flame-kissed hot dogs (using the same recipes since 1938) starts forming just before doors open at 7:30 a.m. But you won’t have to wait long. At peak speed, the expert team can average a burger on the counter every five seconds.
Pettigrew State Park
Cast your line into the crystal-clear waters of Lake Phelps, one of the largest natural lakes in North Carolina at 16,600 acres. It’s abundant with largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegills. The park also teems with history. Ancient single-log dugout canoes — the way Carolina Algonquians traveled the coast — have been discovered here.
The Sailing Capital of NC
Inhale saltwater-tinged air and feel the wind in your hair in this charming fishing village-turned-Sailing Capital of North Carolina. Hidden waterways weave throughout Oriental, all leading to the mighty Neuse River and grand Pamlico Sound. Here, boats outnumber residents at a ratio of 3 to 1, so you’ll always have a way to get out on the water.
Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Center
Dedicated to the conservation and protection of all marine turtle species, a volunteer team cares for 40 or more turtles at any given time. Send healing vibes through the windows of the Sea Turtle Sick Bay, then observe and photograph recovering turtles nearly ready to return to the ocean. Check the event calendar to experience a turtle release in person.
Cowan Museum Of History And Science
Explore a one-room log schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop and other storied structures at this museum honoring rural North Carolina heritage. More than 4,000 artifacts, including 18th- and 19th-century farming and household items, give everyone a lesson in the joys and struggles of earlier times, many years before the days of online shopping.
Merchants Millpond State Park
Watch out for pairs of big eyes in the water while canoeing through the coastal pond of this state park, generally known as the northernmost home of the American alligator. Cypress and gum trees covered with Spanish moss form a dreamlike wetland setting over the quiet pond and creek, where you’ll also spot beavers, otters, owls and dragonflies.
Kindred Spirit Mailbox
With Kindred Spirit Mailbox sitting a solid half-hour walk away from the nearest public beach access, “hidden” might be an understatement. But once you reach the mysterious mailbox nestled among the sand dunes, reach inside for the provided notebooks and read others’ hopes and wishes while pondering your own. Then pen your thoughts while watching the waves roll in. This extraordinary spot even inspired Nicholas Sparks’ novel “Every Breath.”
Track down more coastal gems in The Official 2025 North Carolina Travel Guide.