{"id":2981,"date":"2026-07-07T20:38:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T20:38:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=2981"},"modified":"2026-07-07T20:38:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T20:38:17","slug":"spot-off-the-nc-coast-ranks-among-nations-best-island-getaways-survey-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=2981","title":{"rendered":"Spot off the NC Coast ranks among nation\u2019s best island getaways, survey says"},"content":{"rendered":"

North Carolina is home to one of the nation\u2019s best island destinations, according to new rankings from Travel + Leisure.<\/p>\n

Read more What\u2019s next for Brady Christensen? Longtime Panthers lineman dishes on future<\/a><\/p>\n

The Outer Banks<\/b> earned a spot in the magazine\u2019s 2026 World\u2019s Best Awards<\/a><\/b>, placing 10th overall among the top islands in the Continental U.S.<\/p>\n

The scenic barrier islands, located just off the North Carolina coast, scored an 82.51 and was the only North Carolina locale to be recognized on the coveted list, published Tuesday, July 7.<\/p>\n

The annual survey highlights supreme travel as voted by readers, providing \u201ca snapshot of the places, brands, and experiences resonating with travelers today,\u201d according to Travel + Leisure.<\/p>\n

This year, readers cast 661,000 votes for their favorite cities, airlines, hotels and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf an island getaway is favored, there are plenty of options across the globe to choose from, all with pristine beaches and seaside charm,\u201d editors wrote.<\/p>\n

The Outer Banks was among them, best known for its serene waterfronts, wildlife and historical attractions. There\u2019s no shortage of activities \u2014 from fishing to snorkeling to hiking \u201cthe \u201ctallest living sand dune system\u201d<\/a> on the Atlantic Coast at Jockey\u2019s Ridge State Park.<\/p>\n

Read more NC looking into death of man crushed by truck at Charlotte loading dock<\/a><\/p>\n

U.S News and World Report has also recognized the region as the perfect spot for a family getaway<\/a> and pointed out the availability of affordable vacation rentals.<\/p>\n

WorldAtlas recently ranked Beaufort<\/a><\/b> among the Top 14 small towns on the Atlantic Coast. The seaside locale and third-oldest town in the Tar Heel State is famous for its serene waterfronts and \u201crich maritime history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Southern Living has recognized Sunset Beach<\/a><\/b> for its white sand and crystal clear waters, as well as Boone as the one place in North Carolina everyone should visit.<\/a> The latter earned high praise for its \u201coutdoor adventures, rich history, walkable downtown, nearby High Country attractions, upgraded lodging and diverse dining scene.\u201d<\/p>\n

The magazine also recognized Calabash<\/a><\/b>, a quaint fishing village known as the \u201cseafood capital of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, Oak Island<\/b>, Hatteras Island<\/b>, Topsail Beach<\/b>, Ocracoke<\/b>, Duck<\/b>, Beaufort<\/b>, Emerald Isle<\/b>, Nags Head<\/b> and Wrightsville Beach<\/b> landed on Southern Living\u2019s list of 50 best beach towns in the South, The Charlotte Observer reported<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Travel + Leisure readers ranked these island destinations among the best in the nation:<\/p>\n

Read more Burglary goes awry when intruders find worker still in the shop, NC police say<\/a><\/p>\n

Portions of this story were previously published<\/a> in The Charlotte Observer.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Travel + Leisure ranked the Outer Banks, NC, among the top continental U.S. islands. The region is known for its serene beaches, outdoor activities and history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1186,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nSpot off the NC Coast ranks among nation\u2019s best island getaways, survey says - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=2981\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Spot off the NC Coast ranks among nation\u2019s best island getaways, survey says - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Travel + Leisure ranked the Outer Banks, NC, among the top continental U.S. islands. 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