The Crystal Coast region, the Brunswick Islands, the Topsail and Wilmington areas, as well as other prominent beach destinations in North Carolina, all have gorgeous beaches and shorelines that are well worth visiting. Here are the top beaches in North Carolina.

Thousands of acres of salt marshes that protect the South Atlantic coast from hurricanes, support the seafood industry, and boost the tourism economy are in jeopardy of being washed away as a result of rapid development and lax government oversight, making the threat of sea level rise even more dangerous. According to an inquiry, state authorities in the Carolinas and Georgia have awarded at least 28,000 permits to build, enlarge, replace, or repair docks, bulkheads, piers, and other structures in tidelands that border the coast over the last three decades.

For many of those who manage rental properties in the beach towns that dot the coast of Southeastern North Carolina, this year has been a rollercoaster. COVID-19 arrived in the United States in mid-March, just as spring break bookings were beginning to pick up. Instead, many people experienced a series of cancellations.  The rental season appeared to be doomed before it even started due to temporary state and local bans on short-term rentals. When the bans were relaxed, though, individuals hurried to book vacation rentals. Throughout the summer and into the fall, local rental companies have had solid bookings.