Best beaches in North Carolina

North Carolina’s coast is composed of more than 300 miles of barrier island beaches, coastal towns, national seashores and lighthouses. USA Today surveyed North Carolinians on their favorite beach spots and released a list of the top 10.

Consider a beach tour of these popular destinations this summer. You are guaranteed to find scuba diving and water sports activities, incredible seafood, or wild Spanish mustangs roaming the coastline.

1. Emerald Isle

2. Oak Island Beach

3. Holden Beach

4. Atlantic Beach

5. Carolina Beach

6. Topsail Beach

7. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach

8. Wrightsville Beach

9. Sunset Beach

10. Kure Beach

– Leah Brown, S&A Communications