The Sites: North Carolina Coast

Until I moved to North Carolina, I'd always lived on or near water - it was part of the landscape.  While my proximity to water has disappeared in my daily life, I've had the opportunity to spend time along the North Carolina coast and explore some of the towns along the Outer and Inner Banks.

Jutting out into the Atlantic, the Outer Banks form the first line of defense for the various Sounds that accept the waters of North Carolina's rivers and estuaries.  Along the Inner Banks, some of the first settlements in the nation dot the Albemarle Highway and Civil War Trails.

Topsail Island

Topsail Island is one of many seasonal getaways, with its beach houses for rent along the shoreline.  Situated northeast of Wilmington, its northern end nestles against Camp LeJeune.  Beach erosion - like in so many places along the barrier islands of the state - threatens to reclaim the houses with every wave.

Chowan River & Roanoke Sound, Edenton

Edenton and Elizabeth City sit along the Chowan and Pasquotank Rivers, which open out into the Roanoke and Albermarle Sounds.  The rivers here have the bluest water I have ever seen and their sleepy waterfronts attract historical tourists and locals alike.

Wright Brothers Memorial, Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk is home to the Wright Brothers Memorial, the site of the first powered flight on a windy December day.  Concrete markers stand in the landing places of the first four flights; the first three are relatively short and close together, while the fourth is far out in the field of the memorial.  Kitty Hawk sits just north of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.  To the south, NC 12 takes travelers down along a narrow strip of sand towards Cape Hatteras, where it turns west to follow the rest of the coast.


All along the coast, the waves crash incessantly into the beach.  The sound fades into the background, a steady stream of white noise that just...is.  The rhythm of the waves seems to lull the year-round residents and tourists alike into a state of relaxation.  In the summer or in the fall, the coast beckons with its history, its seafood, its recreation, and its natural beauty.