9 Hidden Treasures in North Carolina Coastal Towns

Look beyond known coastal hot spots and be rewarded with unforgettable experiences. An active traveler’s dream, adventures include fly-fishing in a vast natural lake and paddling to a campground only accessible by canoe. The coast delivers plenty of exertion-free family attractions too. Let’s dive in!

1 Hammocks Beach State Park

1 Hammocks Beach State Park

SwansboroSee on map

With a kayak or canoe, paddle your way to four remote barrier islands inside this park spanning mainland and marshland. Bear Island – accessible by ferry starting in spring 2025 – presents sun-soaked dunes, beach access and solitude.

Website(910) 326-4881Directions

2 Roanoke River Lighthouse

2 Roanoke River Lighthouse

EdentonSee on map

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.

Website(252) 482-2637Directions

3 Melvins' Hamburgers and Hot Dogs

3 Melvins' Hamburgers and Hot Dogs

Elizabethtown See on map

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.

Website(910) 862-2763Directions

4 Pettigrew State Park

4 Pettigrew State Park

CreswellSee on map

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.

Website(252) 797-4475Directions

5 Catch The Breeze Sailing

5 Catch The Breeze Sailing

OrientalSee on map

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.

Website(252) 249-0555Directions

6 Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Center

6 Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Center

Surf City See on map

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.

Website(910) 329-0222Directions

7 Cowan Museum Of History And Science

7 Cowan Museum Of History And Science

Kenansville See on map

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.

Website(910) 296-2149Directions

8 Merchants Millpond State Park

8 Merchants Millpond State Park

Gatesville See on map

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.

Website(252) 357-1191Directions

9 Kindred Spirit Mailbox

9 Kindred Spirit Mailbox

Bird IslandSee on map

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.”

WebsiteDirections

Track down more coastal gems in The Official 2025 North Carolina Travel Guide.