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We've compiled the best of the best in The North Carolina Coast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
The rooms at this downtown newcomer—built within three retrofitted historic buildings, including a former convent and a dye factory—appear lifted from a design magazine. Pink tile, gold fixtures, marble tables, wooden king-sized beds, and muted paint colors work toward a cohesive whole. Communal spaces are all outdoors (apart from the popular restaurant that draws weekend crowds), including several fire pits and fireplaces, plus a small lawn with cornhole boards.
Tasteful and modern decor adorns the rooms at this stately inn set directly on Taylor Creek, where the whinnies of wild horses at the Rachel Carson Reserve can be heard from your private balcony. Chandeliers in bathrooms, electric blinds, and leather headboards convey nautical-imbued luxury. There's an outdoor pool and hot tub, a sizeable gym, and a first-rate restaurant, 34° North, that draws locals for dinner and drinks as the sun sets over the water. Dinner reservations are essential on weekends, even for guests. Opt for the $15 valet parking—self-parking is free, but it's several hundred yards away.
From the outside, this classy B&B is a beautifully restored 19th-century Queen Anne–style home with an immaculately kept garden, but inside, the neon lights, artistic fixtures, modern furniture, and the aroma of essential oil diffusers feel more like stepping into a Bohemian spa experience. Wellness is at the forefront, and breakfast (and private dinners, by request) is entirely vegan.
Directly on the beach in Buxton, this sprawling property includes traditional motel rooms, condos with full kitchens, and rental cottages. There's a pool, grills, and a hot tub that stays open all year.
