Beaufort: The beaches
South of Beaufort, the beaches along the twenty-mile offshore Bogue Bank are always pretty crowded, especially Atlantic Beach at the east end, with Emerald Isle , to the west, marginally less so. On Bear Island to the south, though - reached by ferry (April-Oct, hours vary; $2; tel 910/326-4881) with a strict limit on the number of daily passengers - the stunning Hammocks Beach State Park has high sand dunes, a wooded shore and perfect beaches. The entrance is four miles west of Swansboro ; register at the small park center if you want to camp (tel 910/326-4881; $8). No camping is permitted in turtle season (March and April), however, when loggerhead sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.On the far side of the Camp Lejeune US Marine base, Topsail Island , yet another sand bar of resorts, is considerably less built up than Bogue Bank, presumably because its beaches aren't quite as good. Surf City and Topsail were once both slightly run-down family resorts, but seem to have improved nicely, possibly due in part to a beating from a couple of hurricanes. Public beach access points are signposted from the main road, but you can get down from lots of other places.
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