This Tiny North Carolina Beach Town's Slow Pace Is Easy To Get Used To
The gem on the Crystal Coast is tailor-made for family time.
Key Takeaways
- This Crystal Coast beach town has a slower pace that’s easy to enjoy on two wheels.
- Stroll the 12 miles of beach, or experience the blue-green waters with a fishing rod, paddleboard, or boat.
- You’ll find seafood at every turn, as well as plenty of cold drinks and live music.
Emerald Isle, North Carolina, confesses its obvious charms—brilliant blue-green waters, a verdant maritime forest, and lush marshes—in its name. From its place on the Crystal Coast, an 85-mile-long barrier island also known as the Southern Outer Banks, its beauty is apparent. But Emerald Isle's most enduring magic reveals itself a bit more slowly.
Although it's a short drive from the mainland hustle, Emerald Isle is the kind of place that inspires a slowdown. Here, fat-tire bicycles seem to outnumber cars, hours are measured in sunscreen applications and tugs on fishing lines, and island nightlife belongs to nesting sea turtles. In other words, there's no place that's built for families quite like this gem on the Crystal Coast. Here are the top things to do to enjoy the slower pace in Emerald Isle.
What To Do Outdoors
Play Outside
Emerald Isle's over 12 miles of beaches are the stars of the show. Even if you're not staying in an oceanfront rental, spending the day on the shore is easy because the area has plenty of public beach access points. Head to The Point on the westernmost tip of the island to bask in wide banks of warm sand; it's the ideal spot for shelling, walking, and watching the sunset.
Cruise Through Town
You can leave the car parked in your driveway and cruise around town on two wheels. Bring your own bicycles, or rent them from Isle Cycle, which will deliver them right to your doorstep. Set out to cycle along the 11-mile paved bike path that runs from the small town of Indian Beach to The Point.
 Peter Frank Edwards Peter Frank Edwards |  Peter Frank Edwards Peter Frank Edwards |
Cast A Line
Send the anglers in your group down to Bogue Inlet Pier, where they can buy bait and tackle on-site, or you can treat them to a chartered ocean trip with Emerald Isle Adventures. Surf fishing is also popular. Cast a line from the sand at one of the beach access points or find a spot at Bogue Inlet.
Grab A Paddle
Gather your group for a guided paddle board tour through Bogue Sound’s marshes and estuaries with Emerald Isle Paddle Tours. Go on a half-day kayak or paddle board excursion with Hot Wax Surf Shop to the Cedar Point Recreational Area in Croatan National Forest where you may see deer, bald eagles, or dolphins. Paddle one of the trails through Hammocks Beach State Park, or from April through October, take the ferry to the park to enjoy its beaches, hike, fish, or watch for local wildlife. Check the website before you go though, since construction in the area has caused closures of some access. To explore the waterways independently, rent kayaks or paddle boards to enjoy other paddling trails in the area. If you're looking for something that's a little more peaceful, try yoga on the water with the talented instructors at Emerald Isle Paddle Tours.
Head To The Water
For a little more thrill, grab a surfboard and learn to ride the waves with surfing lessons from Hot Wax Surf Shop or EI Surf Company. Get group or personalized instruction that starts with basic skills on the beach and then moves into the waves. Once you've got your bearings, you can rent a board after your lesson.
Where To Eat
Plan The Perfect Date Night
 Peter Frank Edwards Order a Caribsea Collins Peter Frank Edwards Order a Caribsea Collins |  Peter Frank Edwards There is plenty to choose from at Caribsea Peter Frank Edwards There is plenty to choose from at Caribsea |
For date night, start with a cocktail from Kathryn's Bistro & Martini Bar, which serves more than 30 variations of the classic drink. Then pop down the street to Caribsea for dinner, where all the fish is local and sustainably sourced. You can also enjoy steaks, crab cakes, and raw oysters, and take in the salt air from the rooftop lounge.
Fill Up On Fresh Catch
Seafood is king here, and you will find so many ways to savor it. Meet on the pier for a family meal at Surf's Up Grill & Bar. (Don't miss out on the grouper sandwich.) Choose from six flavors of frozen drinks to start the evening, and enjoy games on Friday nights.
Head To Fish Hut Grill For Seafood
At the Fish Hut Grill, seafood factors into nearly every dish on the menu. Savor fish or ahi poke tacos, fish bites, tuna melt, or fried whole fish. Add yellowfin tuna or mahi mahi to a salad or make it a sandwich.
Get Oysters At Flipperz Family Bar & Grill
If you're in town on a summer Thursday, bring a chair or blanket to the weekly outdoor concert series, EmeraldFest, for live music by the sea. Afterward, wander over to Flipperz Family Bar & Grill to order oysters and apps plus a cold beer. Enjoy daily specials and live music on Friday nights.
Where To Stay
When it comes to experiencing the town like a year-round resident, renting a beach house is your best bet. For extended families committed to togetherness, area real estate companies (such as Emerald Isle Realty and Bluewater Vacation Rentals and Real Estate) plus websites like Airbnb and Vrbo offer hundreds of spacious beachfront houses—some with as many as 10 or 12 bedrooms and a pool. If you are traveling with a smaller crew, more modest cottages, duplexes, and condos are available. You can also find homes with elevators to help accommodate guests with mobility challenges. There are pet-friendly properties too.
In Emerald Isle, worries wash out with the tides and hospitality always includes making room for one more fishing pole on the pier. It's a place where you can invite the whole family knowing that all of them—cousins, toddlers, grandparents, and everyone in between—will fit right in.
