Home to 300 miles of coastline, its no wonder millions of people flock to North Carolina each year for a taste of beachfront paradise.

While the beach options further south may get more attention (were looking at you, Florida), the sandy beaches of the Tarheel State have everything to satisfy every beachgoer's needs, whether thats picture-perfect sunsets, activities for family fun, or a stretch of sand complete with iconic landmarks.

North Carolinas charming coastline has it all.

With only 92 permanent residents, Indian Beach is known for its upscale aesthetic.

Entering this town, youll see lush maritime forest surrounding the road that you drive along centered around Salter Path that give way to soft sand and Emerald green waters.

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Its not just known for its beauty, though. Indian Beach proudly works in conjunction with the North Carolina Aquarium by running the Bogue Banks Sea Turtle Project, which is staffed by volunteers who study and protect the nesting population of sea turtles. Depending on what time of year you visit, baby turtles are scheduled to hatch you can even to call and inquire about potentially seeing that sight for yourself.

For those who are craving more of a family-friendly beachfront, Carolina Beach checks off most must-haves on your list: a boardwalk fully loaded with carnival rides, endless stores and food vendors, and kid-friendly waters where youll find boogie boarders and body surfers.

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For the best view of the beach, take the kids on the ferris wheel and show them the beauty of the ocean from a unique perspective.

Accessible only by boat, Shackleford Banks is an isolated barrier island between Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout. And, while theres nine miles of shore and sand dunes you can enjoy, theres nothing you will marvel at more than the wild horses that call this beach home.

The arrival of the horses are still a mystery, though its said that they may be descendants of Spanish Mustangs that survived a shipwreck hundreds of years ago.

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After youve had your share of photographing these stunning creatures, walk along the beach to go seashell-hunting, as Shackleford Banks is known for having some of the best shelling along North Carolinas shores.

Of course you can spend your entire day enjoying this park that contains over 1,000 acres of beautiful land, but the beauty of Hammocks Beach State Park presents itself at twilight, where youll find that at dusk, the sky turns a majestic purple. If you do find yourself here during the daytime, youll be able to enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing.

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The Best Beaches for a North Carolina Getaway - Travel+Leisure