The North Carolina beach town of Emerald Isle is a tiny one with a big mission, relaxation.

The name of the North Carolina town of Emerald Isle admits to its obvious charms: dazzling blue-green waves, a thick maritime forest, and lush marshes. Its location on the 85-mile-long barrier island known as the Southern Outer Banks, or the Crystal Coast, makes its splendor clear. However, Emerald Isle's most enduring enchantment takes a little longer to manifest. Lane Harris, who has lived there permanently for more than 25 years, was initially drawn to the coastal location because it provided a safe sanctuary for the whole family. She remembers seeing her parents strolling down the shore, chilling ice cream on the dock with her mother, and seeing her kids go crabbing. Right there, Harris observes, "we had three generations all enjoying the day."