North Carolina’s Distinctive Island Offers Caribbean Vibes with Warm Turquoise Waters and Vibrant Sunsets

The Crystal Coast of North Carolina gets its name from the water. It’s not like other spots in the state, where winds whip up silt and major rivers spit out mucky, brown water. This part of the coast lies in a somewhat protected area known as Onslow Bay, a bight along the Atlantic coast that stretches between Cape Lookout and Cape Fear. It’s home to some of North Carolina’s best seaside towns bursting with summer charm, like Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. On its northern edge, you’ll find some more great beach towns, but they’re a bit quieter and a little farther from the city. 

One of those towns is lovely Emerald Isle, which shares the 25-mile-long island of Bogue Banks with Atlantic Beach and a few smaller communities. With its unique east-to-west orientation, the island is more or less protected from the prevailing winds than its neighbors. On calm summer days, the sun shines into the water, lighting it up in the most magnificent turquoise colors. To complete the tropical feel, the Gulf Stream, one of the most powerful ocean currents in the world, flows just offshore and brings a constant flow of warm water and tropical critters right to Emerald Isle’s doorstep. 

The beautiful water attracts fishermen, divers, boaters, and paddleboarders, but the island itself is an attractive seaside community. There are waterparks and mini-golf courses, a historic wooden fishing pier with its own bar and grill, and an authentic, relaxing beach town vibe which so many towns can only try to replicate. 

Thanks to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, the sea temperature in Emerald Isle stays between 63 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. When it’s calm, it’s exceptionally clear — a rare trait in this part of the world. Between Emerald Isle and Cape Lookout, there are days when the turquoise water is just as inviting as it is on any Caribbean island. You’ll often spot dolphins playing just beyond the surf break and the fishing both offshore and from the beach is spectacular. 

Picking your favorite beach is the real challenge, considering the entire coastline of Bogue Banks is made of broad sand beaches and idyllic dunes. The inland side of this barrier island faces the lovely waters of Bogue Sound, the shallow body of water separating it from the mainland. It’s another great spot for paddleboarding or fishing. There are public beach access points throughout town, but the largest parking areas are on each end. There are several boardwalks, sandy walking paths to the beach, and parks along Bogue Sound which provide water access. 

Emerald Isle is the quintessential beach town, but it hasn’t outgrown its small-town roots. Mostly, it’s still a quiet residential community with full-time residents, second homeowners, and vacation renters. The hub of town lies along Emerald Drive, the main road where you’ll find several inns and restaurants within a few minutes of one another. There are also a few shops, two supermarkets, and a hardware store. Crossing the bridge onto the mainland will reveal even more seafood restaurants and interesting shops in friendly Swansboro.