The June 2025 Issue

Grilled, fried, or broiled, here’s where to find a fishy feast — plus post-dinner ice cream — in this Brunswick County waterfront town.

As the sun sets at Grandfather Mountain, fireflies put on a magnificent show — for those willing to stop and pay attention.

Granville County hoisted the first official county flag in North Carolina more than 60 years ago. The popularity of county flags has been on the rise ever since.

A professor studied and drew inspiration from the great writers of the South and their fascination with religion, only to become one of the greats himself.

Since the late 1950s, a pioneering North Carolina beach-music band has returned to the coast year after year to perform classic tunes for shag dancers across the region.

The kaleidoscopic beauty of life in North Carolina can hardly be put into words. But that doesn’t stop some keen observers from trying.

Can happiness be bought? In a Dare County fishing village, it can certainly be chartered. Here, boaters — both actual and aspirational — make their dreams come true.

From Wanchese to Duck, these landmark businesses and the families who run them connect consumers with the daily catch.

On North Carolina’s coast, boardwalks wind alongside our sounds, rivers, and beaches, reminding us that the journey is often just as delightful as the destination.

A tour of the USGA Experience and World Golf Hall of Fame gives a glimpse into the lives of heroes. For one writer, the visit also gave her a day with hers.

Whether deep in the ocean or atop our dinners and desserts, salt is an inextricable part of a Carolina summer.

Give your BLT a summertime spin with these substantial subs loaded with plump and flavorful brined shrimp.

At the beach, where cravings consist of seafood and sunshine, the kitchen becomes the anchor site to which we return to refuel and rejoice.

A crispy crab cake burger and homemade tartar sauce celebrate the iconic flavors of a North Carolina beach vacation … wherever you are.

Dressed in a sweet-tart rice wine vinegar dressing, this cool and crunchy cucumber salad is a refreshing addition to any summertime meal.

This stunning pound cake needs little more than a garnish of mint and lemon, but we encourage you to try a slice as Chef Lynn Wells suggests: toasted in the morning for a sweet start to the day.

When the road rises to carry you over the sound, you know you’ve made it. Along the North Carolina coast, a bridge is a passage to sand and surf. To long, lazy days. To another summer at your favorite beach.

Sea turtles might travel thousands of miles to lay their eggs on our shores. A longtime volunteer helps watch over their babies and guide them home to the sea.

Since 1939, generations have found the sweet taste of summer on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk.

At Island True Value Tackle & Hardware, locals and vacationers find just what they need to repair a house, maintain a boat, catch a fish — and much, much more.

On Carolina Beach, a family honors the memory of their patriarch through the restaurant he founded — and his award-winning seafood chowder.

A lifelong fascination with the vessels that carry everything from trucks to tourists across our sounds led one curious writer to track down their dry dock in Manns Harbor.

Once, hardy islanders made a life on the shores of Shackleford Banks — until a series of storms forced them to leave. Every five years, their present-day generations return to this beachside site to remember.

There’s good news for fans of Morehead City’s beloved El’s Drive-In, which closed last summer for renovation: The landmark restaurant — and its live oak-shaded lot — is open once again.

On Topsail Island, the state’s oldest continuously sustained African American beach community celebrated its 75th anniversary with history, jazz, and fellowship.

A shared vision between restaurateurs revolutionized dining on the Outer Banks. As owners changed and decades passed, good food and warm hospitality have kept people coming back.

For decades, a remote piece of Currituck County has been a respite for wildlife. Now under the protection of conservationists, this land, the waters surrounding it, and the skies above will remain a constant in our coastal circle of life.