Atlantic Beach, North Carolina: the Perfect Summer Retreat

Looking for a great summer getaway then look no farther than Atlantic Beach North Carolina. It is a small town atmosphere with great beaches and plenty to do. Atlantic Beach is far from the big City beaches it is much more lade back and perfect for family's with young children as well as the retires looking for a slower pace. There are no grand boardwalks or amusement parks at this summer get away only pristine beaches and small town charm.

Atlantic Beach is located on the Bogue Sound, also known as the Crystal Coast. It is the oldest town on the Crystal Coast. It began as the visions of Appleton Oaksmith in the 1870's. Although Oaksmith was not able to see through with his dream for the crystal coast other did make his dreams come true. In 1887 the first bathing pavilion was built and a ferry was used to pass guest from Moorehead City to the area now know as Atlantic Beach. In 1928 the first modern bridge was built. The success of the isle changed hands many times during its start. The end result is a lovely place to vacation still having that small town spa like charm. It is a wonderful place for those young and young at heart.

There are several options in Atlantic Beach for accommodations these days. Associated Content Producer Jonathon McLelland reviewed the top three hotels in Atlantic beach in his article, 'Hotel Guide: Atlantic Beach, North Carolina'. In his article he suggested the Atlantic Beach Villas, which happens to be my chose as well. It is a timeshare location so it has all the amenities of home, but no timeshare owners can rent a day or even a week from sites like Expedia or Hotels.com. If none of these options seem to work for you check out Randy Inman's, "North Carolina Beach Rentals." In this article he has suggestion for condo rentals in Atlantic Beach and also suggest a great location in Indian Beach still on the Bogue Sound just south of Atlantic Beach. Both of these articles offer great suggestion on accommodation in the Atlantic Beach area.

So we have taken care of where to stay now lets talk about what to do during your stay. Atlantic Beach does not have the theme park atmosphere of Myrtle Beach, but there is still plenty to do. Atlantic Beach has a wonderful fishing pier called the Sportsman Pier and if you are just interested in looking at the fish then you must visit the North Carolina Aquarium, which has just been recently expanded. The Aquarium is a short drive south of Atlantic Beach located in Pine Knolls Shore it is the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon.

If you happen to be a history buff or have young kids Fort Macon State Park has to be on your must see list. It was built in the 1800's to protect the Beaufort Inlet. Today there is still a navy base in this area with about 200 enlisted and nearly 90 reservists. The Fort is no longer in service as a military base although it was purchased by the State of North Carolina and turned into a State Park. All the want to be Pirates will want to visit Beaufort during there stay only a 5 minute drive across the bridge from Atlantic Beach is the City of Beaufort. Here you will find a Maritime museum and many tours that will show you Shipwrecks that occurred in the Beaufort Sound. The Beaufort Sound is the only deepwater Inlet of North Carolina and was frequented by merchant ships as well as pirates.

Beaufort also offers a great shopping location for antiques and great gifts to take home for your self or loved ones. It also has even better dining experience. Some of the best food of the area can be found in Beaufort 's Waterfront Area. Associated Content Producer Tatyana Tadenev tells all about Beaufort, NC in her article, "Beaufort: A Hidden Treasure of the North Carolina's Crystal Coast." She tells of the history of Black beards Ship being found in the Beaufort Sound and all of the great local dining options in this quaint town.

Atlantic Beach is the perfect summer retreat for those looking to fall into a world of a slower pace. With beautiful and clean beach it is the perfect place to splash in the water and play in the sand. The locals are extremely nice and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. There is always plenty to do and see or just relax and enjoy the beach.