Exploring the North Carolina Coastline: Essential Reads for Beach Enthusiasts
North Carolina’s beaches are more than just scenic getaways—they’re living landscapes rich with history, culture, language, and natural wonder. Whether you’re a coastal resident, a curious traveler, or a lifelong learner, read on to discover titles that will expand your understanding of North Carolina’s coast, from its natural treasures to its human narratives.
Seashells of North Carolina, revised and expanded edition by North Carolina Sea Grant, edited by Katie Mosher
“This comprehensive guide brings scientific information to the public and includes descriptions that are useful even for people who are new to shell identification. A professional, accurate, and valuable resource for the state.”—Liz Baird, president of the North Carolina Aquarium Society
Surfing the South: The Search for Waves and the People Who Ride Them by Steve Estes
“Estes has written an engaging book about the history of surfing in the American South.”—North Carolina Historical Review
Language and Life on Ocracoke: The Living History of the Brogue by Jeffrey Reaser , Walt Wolfram , Candy Gaskill
“A full portrait of life, voice, and work in a colorful, in many ways unique community. What makes this study so interesting, entertaining, and valuable is the way that it successfully combines history, linguistics, social and cultural analysis, and the drama of local characters. The book feeds the natural human curiosity we all have about how and why people speak the way that they do.”—Lucinda H. MacKethan, North Carolina State University
The New Guide to North Carolina Beaches: All You Need to Know to Explore and Enjoy Currituck, Calabash, and Everywhere Between by Glenn Morris
“Forget about whatever it is your-cousin’s-friend-who-was-there-once says about the North Carolina coast. The New Guide to North Carolina Beaches has all the answers, plus the insight that native Tar Heel and journalist Glenn Morris brings to bear. This work is richly detailed, lovingly written, and easy to use. If you’re going to the North Carolina coast, this is your must-have volume.” —John Bordsen, travel editor, Charlotte Observer
North Carolina Lighthouses: The Stories Behind the Beacons from Cape Fear to Currituck Beach by Cheryl Shelton-Roberts , Bruce Roberts Foreword by Ray Jones
“A treasure trove of information. . . . A useful guide for anyone who wants to include a visit to a lighthouse (or several) in a trip to [North Carolina’s] coast.”—Greensboro News & Record
“A lavishly illustrated, meticulously researched historical overview of North Carolina lighthouses which is sure to please history buffs and armchair explorers alike. . . . [A] wonderful gift for North Carolinians living on the coast or lighthouse enthusiasts planning to visit the state’s lighthouses.”—North Carolina Libraries
NC 12: Gateway to the Outer Banks by Dawson Carr
“With extensive research the author examines how NC 12 came into being. . . . Will appeal to readers of North Carolina history and those who want to know more about the effects of development on fragile ecosystems in general.” —Library Journal
“A fascinating cultural history that is far more than a tale of a strip of asphalt. Dawson Carr captures the interplay between human life and the delicate and dynamic natural ecosystem of the Outer Banks, where people live, work, and play.” —Karen Lisbeth “KaeLi” Schurr, Outer Banks History Center