Atlantic Beach © Kel and Val

A tiny town in the Crystal Coast region on North Carolina, Atlantic Beach is a popular beach resort offering water activities like surfing, fishing, sailing, and kayaking. There are also land-based activities for those who get seasick, like hiking along Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail and in Fort Macon State Park, or playing beach volleyball.

The North Carolina Aquarium offers great family activities, and the Atlantic Station Shopping Center has cinemas and an arcade along with shops and restaurants. The town of Atlantic beach has a number of good restaurants, shops and bars, many geared toward the influx of tourists each summer.

Atlantic Beach is a great base to explore the Crystal Coast from, and other small towns like Emerald Isle, Beaufort, Harker's Island and Morehead City are within easy distance.

Shoppers in Atlantic Beach will find little beyond tacky seashell merchandise.