The National Register of Historic Places has documented some 95,000 structures, sites, and districts across the country. In North Carolina, around 2,900 properties — from churches and cotton mills to farms, homes, and schools — have earned this designation. Now, these special spots representing our state’s history are known nationwide.
Whether you prefer a seaside snooze, a beach adventure, or a historic tour, three itineraries will help you plan the perfect summer vacation at your home away from home on this beautiful barrier island.
Where to stop and look up from mountains to coast.
Take a trip down the North Carolina coast to see our seven towering landmarks: Once guiding lights for sailing ships, they now serve as beacons of coastal beauty and history.
The North Carolina coast is dotted with towns and cities, resorts and beach houses, where families return for annual getaways. These places are backdrops for memories, sometimes forged over generations. Yet vacationing — especially at the beach — is about more than just where you go.
No rush: The clocks on the walls of Oak Island Restaurant are just for decoration. All you really need to know is whether it’s Chicken & Dumplings Thursday or Fried Fish Friday.
On the way to work or headed home from the beach, post up in a booth at the Old Bridge Diner for breakfast and lunch classics — pancakes to patty melts to popcorn shrimp — all day long.
Salt water, seafood dinners, and nighttime walks along sparkling sand: When families return to cherished spots along the coast, memories grow with each passing summer.
Chances are, one of our southern barrier islands — Bald Head, Oak, Holden, Ocean Isle, or Sunset — has been your beach for years. Look beyond the sand and surf, and you’ll find charming villages, acres of nature, and signature fried seafood, generations in the making.
