Our boat towns are beloved by sailors and powerboaters, cruisers and trawlers. And the best part of all: Every one of these classic boat towns is just as hospitable to folks who don’t know port from starboard. Welcome aboard.
outer banks
A First Timer’s Guide to the Currituck Outer Banks
Ten can’t-miss activities and experiences — from climbing the Currituck Beach Lighthouse to seeing wild horses to “ghost crabbing” — for your first trip to the northern Outer Banks.
A Herd of Survivors on the Outer Banks
For five centuries, the famed wild horses of Corolla have thrived in the dunes and waves. Today, the herd’s (human) protectors ensure their resiliency for generations to come.
Quiz: Coffee Break
At these North Carolina shops, find java just the way you like it — whether black in a diner-style mug or iced with lots of cream and sugar.
Ring in the Old
Rodanthe residents have long celebrated a second Christmas — Old Christmas — on January 6, with, ahem, unusual traditions.
The Fishing Camps of Core Banks
In a pair of rustic cottages on two remote strips of North Carolina shoreline, one family left time and responsibilities behind to watch waves crash on barren beaches and stars dance in the coal black sky.
Soundside Tradition: Exploring Currituck’s Maritime Museum
Explore incredible maritime history — from duck decoy carving to boat building to lifesaving stations — in the northern Outer Banks.
Family, Faith, & Fish in Wanchese
In the village of Wanchese, two families have helped shape the local seafood industry for the past century. Today, their descendants are learning to overcome the modern-day challenges of commercial fishing and carrying on a Roanoke Island tradition that runs as deep as the ocean.
From Elizabeth Hudson: Seaside Shangri-Las
Our editor in chief reflects on the legacy of North Carolina’s classic coastal retreats.
