by MC Allen

Created on: September 19, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

The Carolinas have beaches that cater to so many types of people. This has made it difficult to choose the "best" beach in either North or South Carolina. However, after traveling to so many of these beaches within the Carolinas here are my top five.

5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina There cannot be list of beaches in the Carolinas without Myrtle Beach. Although this beach is a little too commercial for my taste, most that go here love the fast paced style of this South Carolina Beach. There are many activities for all ages in Myrtle Beach. The golf courses are plush and numerous and most of the public courses have very reasonable greens fees. For the family, Myrtle Beach offers plenty of dining options as well as carnival type places to go with the children. The beaches of Myrtle Beach are not the prettiest in the area but the water is clean and the sand is usually free of major debris.

4. Topsail Island, North Carolina Topsail is a very family oriented beach. There is little to do on Topsail besides the beach but the houses are old beach houses with beautiful porches and exquisite views. Also, Topsail has avoided the commercialism of other beaches and maintains its feel of a lazy beach community.

3. Fripp Island, South Carolina Fripp Island is not the easiest place to get to but it is one of the nicest beaches in South Carolina. Fripp is about 30 miles from Beaufort, South Carolina and it is a resort style beach with beautiful houses, golf courses and easy beach access. The clubhouse is very accessible to all who stay on Fripp and the food at the clubhouse is excellent.

2. Bald Head Island, North Carolina This is my favorite of the resorts in the Carolinas. Bald Head offers an easy getaway and debarking from the ferry it is like you are in a different world. Bald Head is off the coast of Southport, NC. From Southport you take a ferry to get to the Island and no cars are allowed. It is the great escape. In the summer there are children's activities planned and a handful of shops and restaurants to keep the adults busy. Bald Head has also become a big wedding destination and once you arrive you can understand why. There are so many beaches on the Island that is hard to pick which one to try but there are plenty of things to explore on the island and it is truly a spectacular beach resort.

1. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina - I am slightly prejudiced to this beach because this is where I grew up and where my family still resides. Wrightsville Beach is a small beach off the coast of Wilmington, NC. Wrightsville has beautiful white sand beaches, great, old and new, beach houses for rental and plenty of restaurants and shops to keep any family busy. The Wrightsville Beach Park is in the middle of the island and is open to the public with tennis courts and playgrounds. And of course, you have not gotten your exercise until you have walked "the loop" around the beach as most do whether they are residents or tourists.

All of the beaches in the Carolinas are beautiful and special in their own way. Some of the beaches are known for their historical significance, others are known for their shopping and special restaurants and still others are known for their enormous houses and expensive golf courses. I am partial to the beaches of the Carolinas that are just that, beaches with beautiful white sand and clean water and waves. That is my idea of a great day at the beach!

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