Swansboro, North Carolina
Nestled between the White Oak River and the Intercoastal Waterway, Historic Swansboro, North Carolina is as close to a coastal paradise as you can get!
In fact, Swansboro, with its quaint, historic streets and waterfront views, will give you and your family front row seats to all sorts of coastal fun including unspoiled beaches, waterside restaurants, eclectic shops and family entertainment.
If the sea is calling you...well, water IS all around...and you can take your pick of exciting water sports, from kayaking and paddleboarding to sailing and fishing, from swimming and surfing to waterskiing! Pick one or all and have a splash!
Campers will want to check out Hammocks Beach State Park with its access to Bear Island, a barrier island along Swansboro's coast that has preserved its maritime forest and pristine sandy beaches for centuries. Don't miss it...this is one of coastal North Carolina's best kept secrets!
Land lovers will keep busy discovering Swansboro's rich maritime history, quaint shops, outdoor concerts, and tasty restaurants... (seafood doesn't get any fresher!) Try walks or bike rides through town...they're great ways to meet the locals. And, most will agree that a great beach read on a lazy, sunny afternoon just can't be beat!
So, visit Swansboro, NC, the Friendly City by the Sea. Good times, good friends, sea breezes and sunsets await. Are you HERE yet?
Kayak EI 2014
Testing a GoPro in the barrier islands near Swansboro, NC.
Kayaking with a Pod of Dolphins Near Emerald Isle/Swansboro in North Carolina.MOV
On the afternoon of September 29, 2011 while vacationing in Emerald Isle, we left Barrier Island Kayaks in Swansboro, crossed the very wavy and windy intercoastal area, and began exploring the beautiful Salt Marshes and Estuaries in the area. About two hours into our trip, we were joined by a pod of 5 dolphins. (4 adults and 1 adolescent) Initially, they were about 100 feet from us, but would come as close as 50 or 15 feet. They were so graceful and beautiful, and we had a total sense of peace in their presence. It was so surreal to hear them breathing and chatting to one another as we sat quietly and motionless, and just watched and listened. What a blessing! One of the most awesome experiences of our lives. (You will initialy see a few dolphins in the distance to the right of the tower on shore. They will move closer, and then at around 45 seconds, two of them pass just in front of our kayaks. You can hear them breathe if you turn up the volume. If possible, watch the video maximized or full screen for the best view.) We were so in awe that we missed many video opportunities, but this one is pretty great. Enjoy!
Hammocks Beach State Park | Bear Island Paddle Trail
A voyage along the canoe/kayak trail at Hammocks Beach State Park in North Carolina, from the mainland, through the marsh to Bear Island, one of the few undeveloped barrier islands. (North Carolina State Parks)
Campsite on Bear Island
This is one of the campsites on Bear Island in Hammocks Beach State Park in North Carolina. Bear Island is a barrier island.
Rare Shark Feeding Frenzy in North Carolina
On Thursday, October 9 at around noon, while at a retreat at Cape Lookout National Seashore off the coast of North Carolina, the leaders of One Harbor Church witnessed a shark feeding frenzy. The men were out fishing for the evening’s dinner when they stumbled across more than 100 sharks attacking a school of blue fish. As seagulls and pelicans joined in on the meal, the men began to cast into the surf, catching fish without the use of bait. For more than five minutes, the sharks were observed swimming in and out of the surf, some of which became beached in the fury. Donnie Griggs, the cameraman who captured the footage, is an avid waterman who spearfishes, dives, swims and surfs at Cape Lookout often. We want it to be clear that Cape Lookout and the surrounding beaches of Eastern North Carolina are extremely safe for swimming. The presence of these sharks and large schools of fish is actually a sign of a very healthy ecosystem.
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1.5 Hour Dolphin Eco-Tours
My son and I took this trip with Charleston Outdoor Adventures on August 28th, 2016 in South Carolina. The salt water marshes combine as one Estuary where fresh water and salt water meet on the Atlantic Ocean coast.
charlestonoutdooradventures.com/dolphin-tours/