Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Reviews

Located on North Carolina's Crystal Coast the quiet small quiet town of Atlantic Beach features, clean and un-crowded white sand beaches that usually have volleyball nets set up so that strangers or group of friends can engage in a fun game. Located nearby is Fort Macon State Park which offers educational events and exhibits, picnic areas, swimming and surfing, hiking trails and fishing. Surrounding the area are several hotels and inns. The North Carolina aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is located just a short drive or bike ride away from the beach. The aquarium features underwater exhibits that replicate popular North Carolina Shipwrecks such as the Queen Anne’s Revenge, U-352, and the Wreck of the Caribsea. The aquarium has close encounters tank where guests can touch skates and stingrays while they learn more about marine life. Right outside the museum is the Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area & Nature Trails which offers hikers a self guided tour of sorts through the marsh the area is popular spot for birdwatchers. Also located just a short drive away visitors can catch a ferry to the Shackleford Banks which is a great place to picnic, spend a day swimming and sea-shelling and also see the protected wild horses of the North Carolina Coast.
Nearby are several popular restaurants at serve fresh seafood dishes daily. During the summer the area hosts the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament and a seafood festival in the fall. The military base nearby hosts a free event called the MCAS Cherry Point Airshow every two years. The show has demonstrations by groups like the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds , but there are also other popular stunt pilots and skydivers , as well as a reenactment of Tora, Tora, Tora.

Reviewed by everaftervacations

on May 14, 2012