It was just a matter of time before Ocracoke’s Lifeguarded Beach made it to number one on Dr. Beach’s Best Beaches in the United States. This was the year that it happened.
Citing the beauty of the beach as well as the quaint and friendly nature of the Village of Ocracoke, Dr. Stephen Leatherman (ie. Dr. Beach) of Florida International University, named the beach at the southern end of the Outer Banks as the best in the country.
It was not the only Outer Banks beach to make his top ten, though. Down in Buxton, Lighthouse Beach came in at number 6.
Although the two beaches are on the southern end of the Outer Banks, it’s important to note they are not the only wonderful local beaches that are magnificent.
From Southern Shores north to Corolla, the beaches feature a soft, very fine sand that calls out for a beach towel, sunscreen, a good book and a day doing nothing.
The beaches of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head are very nice. Kitty Hawk’s sand is a little coarser than the others, but all three of the towns form the heart of the Outer Banks and food drink and services are right at hand.
South Nags Head all the way down to Coquina Beach, there’s a lot of room from the high tide line to the base of the dunes. Nice soft sand and usually a few less people on them.
Coquina Beach—part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore—across from Bodie Island Lighthouse, is probably the closest on the northern Outer Banks to Lighthouse Beach down in Buxton.
It doesn’t really matter where anyone is on the Outer Banks. There is always some sand, sun and surf waiting.
See for yourself how wonderful the Outer Banks beaches are. Stay with us for a week or two at Brindley Beach Vacations and create your own best of the beach list.