Dreaming of your own private island? With summer on the horizon I think we are all plotting our next tropical getaway. While we can’t always be so lucky to escape and leave the mainland behind, there is one place in North Carolina that gets you pretty close.
Flickr / Chris Ballance Hammocks Beach State Park is located on Bear Island. The three-mile undeveloped island is pure paradise in terms of coastal North Carolina. Deemed a ‘crown jewel,’ the wide beach and large dunes are left fairly untouched other than by the occasional sunbather or camper.
Trip Advisor Accessible by the park’s passenger ferry, private ferry, boat or kayak, the park’s mainland gateway is the ‘greeting zone’ with a full service visitor center including kayak and canoe rentals.
Flickr / Geekly Things One draw to the state park is primitive, beachside camping. Falling asleep to twinkling stars and the sound of waves, then waking up to it all over again the next day…hello, bucket list!
Hammock Beach Meetup Many seasoned kayakers prefer to take the easy three-mile paddle from the mainland to Bear Island. If you go this route make sure you save energy to paddle some more once you get there. Many winding creeks take you to a vast expanse of coastal marsh where the scenery is both relaxing and adventurous. You’re in a truly untouched wilderness here and that’s part of the excitement.
Flickr / dragonflysky Even if you’re looking for a little less adventure and a little more relaxation, this is the perfect place. Go on a weekday to have the beach fairly to yourself. In 2017, the parks mainland area has expanded by 290 acres, so you’ll probably want to come back more than once!
Hammocks Beach state park is such a neat, little-known gem of North Carolina. Many people keep driving straight past and head to the beaches (if you’re on your way to Emerald Isle or the Crystal Coast) but it’s definitely worth a stop or even a whole vacation day during a summer beach trip. Vacationing on a budget? Free lodging beneath the stars and next to the waves here!
Flickr / Chris Ballance
Hammocks Beach State Park is located on Bear Island. The three-mile undeveloped island is pure paradise in terms of coastal North Carolina. Deemed a ‘crown jewel,’ the wide beach and large dunes are left fairly untouched other than by the occasional sunbather or camper.
Trip Advisor
Accessible by the park’s passenger ferry, private ferry, boat or kayak, the park’s mainland gateway is the ‘greeting zone’ with a full service visitor center including kayak and canoe rentals.
Flickr / Geekly Things
One draw to the state park is primitive, beachside camping. Falling asleep to twinkling stars and the sound of waves, then waking up to it all over again the next day…hello, bucket list!
Hammock Beach Meetup
Many seasoned kayakers prefer to take the easy three-mile paddle from the mainland to Bear Island. If you go this route make sure you save energy to paddle some more once you get there. Many winding creeks take you to a vast expanse of coastal marsh where the scenery is both relaxing and adventurous. You’re in a truly untouched wilderness here and that’s part of the excitement.
Flickr / dragonflysky
Even if you’re looking for a little less adventure and a little more relaxation, this is the perfect place. Go on a weekday to have the beach fairly to yourself. In 2017, the parks mainland area has expanded by 290 acres, so you’ll probably want to come back more than once!
Have you visited Hammocks Beach State Park before?
Ferry service to and from the mainland begins May 3. Until then you can still explore the island via kayak or private boat.
You’ll find Hammocks Beach at 1572 Hammocks Beach Road Swansboro, NC 28584
For another way to get away from it all this summer — how about this ‘glampground’ high up in the Smoky Mountains!
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