The North Carolina Beach National Geographic Calls One Of The Best In The World
When you think of the best beaches in the world where do you think? What if I told you a North Carolina Beach was among the best beaches in the world? In all honesty, I probably wouldn’t believe you.
For starters, my dream beach vacation is undoubtedly an overwater bungalow in Fiji or Tahiti. I find the Caribbean beaches I’ve visited exponentially better than any US beach I’ve been to. Particularly Turks & Caicos, that water is unreal.
If we are talking about US beaches give me the Gulf Coast of Florida all day every day. Maybe I’m a bad North Carolinian but I’d even prefer a New England beach like Newport or Cape Cod.
There is nothing wrong with North Carolina beaches. I’ve loved my time at Topsail Island particularly. But best in the world? I guess I haven’t been to the right place.
Best Beaches In The World Including North Carolina
But according to a ranking of the 21 Best Beaches In The World, by National Geographic aka a completely qualified source, a North Carolina beach makes the cut. It’s right there with beaches in places like Curacao (another dream destination for me), Mauritius, Belize, Cambodia, and The Cook Islands.
When it comes to US beaches, it’s among notable locations like Sanibel Island Florida, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, and Cannon Beach, Oregon. Though the most surprising beach listed? One in Michigan- Sleeping Bear Point. Yeah, I have questions about that one. But what North Carolina beach is among the world’s best?
Sunset Beach is part of North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands. I’ve heard the name a million times and even had to do a quick Google Maps search to see if it was a place I’d visited. It’s not. But I guess it should be! Though I have visited nearby Ocean Isle Beach.
National Geographic named this beach one of the best beaches in the world and it’s right here in North Carolina.
According to the website for North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands, Sunset Beach is “uninterrupted by boardwalks or high-rises, the wide stretch of beach separating the surf and the marsh is perfect for biking or collecting shells, all while reconnecting with the natural world and one another.”
One fact that does sound heavenly is that due to the location, you can see the sun rise and set over the water. In addition to the beach (obviously the highlight) you’ll also findĀ six of the championship golf courses. Visitors also enjoy Bird Island which is 1,200 acres of beautiful salt marsh and tidal creeks.
The Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Bird Island was the inspiration for Nicholas Sparks’ novelĀ Every Breath. There are also indoor activities like the Ingram Planetarium and the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge & Museum.
Sunset Beach gives visitors a quiet, relaxed, nature-filled beach vacation. But its location makes it convenient to other popular spots as well. It’s certainly worth a drive for dinner in Calabash North Carolina, home to some of the best seafood the state has to offer.
You also can easily make a day trip to the tourist mecca of Myrtle Beach. Though for beach lovers there is certainly enough to do in Sunset Beach.
You can read the full National Geographic 21 Best Beaches In The World article here.
Learn more about things to do when visiting Sunset Beach here.
