{"id":1429,"date":"2026-06-12T13:06:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=1429"},"modified":"2026-06-12T13:06:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:06:36","slug":"this-beach-ranks-no-1-in-nc-heres-what-makes-it-an-idyllic-getaway-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=1429","title":{"rendered":"This beach ranks No. 1 in NC. Here\u2019s what makes it an \u2018idyllic\u2019 getaway spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

A coastal destination has a peaceful setting \u2014 and was named the best beach in North Carolina.<\/p>\n

Read more Black grime, incorrectly stored food: Latest Charlotte restaurant inspections<\/a><\/p>\n

Holden Beach ranks No. 1<\/a> on a list of the state\u2019s top places for sun and surf. And in a state that boasts hundreds of miles of coastline, plenty of popular beach destinations<\/a> earned spots in the top 10.<\/p>\n

\u201cSandy expanses in the Tar Heel State are often remote and rarely crowded, and a charming Southern coastal town is seldom far away,\u201d USA Today\u2019s 10Best wrote in its May 27 report.<\/p>\n

To create the list, 10Best said it asked travel experts to nominate top-notch beaches across the state<\/a>. Editors narrowed down the list of nominations before readers could spend a month voting on their favorites.<\/p>\n

On the resulting list of readers\u2019 choice award winners<\/a>, Holden Beach rose to the top. The town is in Brunswick County, near the South Carolina border and a roughly 40-mile drive from Wilmington.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a particularly idyllic atmosphere thanks to its low population, Holden Beach is perfect for a relaxed seaside getaway,\u201d 10Best wrote in its report. \u201cGolfing is a popular hobby across the area, while visitors gather along the town\u2019s shores to scour the tide for shells and even watch hatching sea turtles during the summer months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Holden Beach has<\/a> fewer than 1,000 year-round residents but can swell with tourists. The town boasts roughly 8 miles of beachfront and calls itself a family-friendly destination, according to its website and the holdenbeachnc.com tourism guide.<\/p>\n

\u201cHolden Beach is proud of what we do not have,\u201d the town wrote. \u201cWe are primarily a residential community, with a small commercial area. Holden Beach is a great place to relax<\/a>, enjoy the beach and the natural wildlife that surrounds us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Above normal\u2019 105-degree heat index forecast for Charlotte region, NWS says<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are the other North Carolina destinations that earned spots on the 10Best list:<\/p>\n

Holden Beach was crowned the winner after it landed at No. 3 in last year\u2019s rankings. More recently, other North Carolina getaway spots have surged into the spotlight.<\/p>\n

The Outer Banks barrier islands ranked among the nation\u2019s best places for family vacations<\/a>. And the town of Beaufort was named a fan-favorite<\/a> coastal destination, The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer previously reported.<\/p>\n

In the past, 10Best has told The N&O it doesn\u2019t share the number of people who vote in its contests.<\/p>\n

Questions about life in North Carolina? Or have a tip or story idea you\u2019d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.<\/p>\n

You can submit your question by filling out this form<\/a><\/b>. <\/p>\n

This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 7:30 AM<\/span> with the headline “This beach ranks No. 1 in NC. Here\u2019s what makes it an \u2018idyllic\u2019 getaway spot.” <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Read more We held a Pride festival in our small, conservative NC town<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Holden Beach was named the No. 1 beach in North Carolina. Relaxed, family-friendly vacation spot is a fan-favorite. Popular coastal towns won USA Today awards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1428,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nThis beach ranks No. 1 in NC. 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