The North Carolina Beach National Geographic Calls One Of The Best In The World

When you think of the best beaches in the world where do you think? What if I told you a North Carolina Beach was among the best beaches in the world? In all honesty, I probably wouldn't believe you.

For starters, my dream beach vacation is undoubtedly an overwater bungalow in Fiji or Tahiti. I find the Caribbean beaches I've visited exponentially better than any US beach I've been to. Particularly Turks & Caicos, that water is unreal.

If we are talking about US beaches give me the Gulf Coast of Florida all day every day. Maybe I'm a bad North Carolinian but I'd even prefer a New England beach like Newport or Cape Cod.

There is nothing wrong with North Carolina beaches. I've loved my time at Topsail Island particularly. But best in the world? I guess I haven't been to the right place.

But according to a ranking of the 21 Best Beaches In The World, by National Geographic aka a completely qualified source, a North Carolina beach makes the cut. It's right there with beaches in places like Curacao (another dream destination for me), Mauritius, Belize, Cambodia, and The Cook Islands.

When it comes to US beaches, it's among notable locations like Sanibel Island Florida, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, and Cannon Beach, Oregon. Though the most surprising beach listed? One in Michigan- Sleeping Bear Point. Yeah, I have questions about that one. But what North Carolina beach is among the world's best?

Sunset Beach is part of North Carolina's Brunswick Islands. I've heard the name a million times and even had to do a quick Google Maps search to see if it was a place I'd visited. It's not. But I guess it should be! Though I have visited nearby Ocean Isle Beach.

National Geographic named this beach one of the best beaches in the world and it's right here in North Carolina.

According to the website for North Carolina's Brunswick Islands, Sunset Beach is "uninterrupted by boardwalks or high-rises, the wide stretch of beach separating the surf and the marsh is perfect for biking or collecting shells, all while reconnecting with the natural world and one another."

One fact that does sound heavenly is that due to the location, you can see the sun rise and set over the water. In addition to the beach (obviously the highlight) you'll also find six of the championship golf courses. Visitors also enjoy Bird Island which is 1,200 acres of beautiful salt marsh and tidal creeks.

The Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Bird Island was the inspiration for Nicholas Sparks' novel Every Breath. There are also indoor activities like the Ingram Planetarium and the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge & Museum.

Sunset Beach gives visitors a quiet, relaxed, nature-filled beach vacation. But its location makes it convenient to other popular spots as well. It's certainly worth a drive for dinner in Calabash North Carolina, home to some of the best seafood the state has to offer.

You also can easily make a day trip to the tourist mecca of Myrtle Beach. Though for beach lovers there is certainly enough to do in Sunset Beach.

You can read the full National Geographic 21 Best Beaches In The World article here.

Learn more about things to do when visiting Sunset Beach here.

If you're going to spend the money to go to the beach you want to make sure you can see the beach correct? Most people will (very willingly) choose to splurge on that ocean view room or at least the ocean front accommodations. But just like everything in life these days, a beachfront vacation can be pricey. And if you're anything like me, you're probably looking for the best bang for your buck. And lucky for you, when it comes to a beach vacation spot, I've found it for you. A recent study by UpgradedPoints calculated the cost of a beachfront stay at destinations around the country. And not one but two South Carolina beaches ranked in the top 10 least expensive beach views.

In this study, they determined that the average cost of a weeklong, beachfront vacation in the US is $3,353. Both of the South Carolina beaches with the least expensive beach views came in in the $2,000 range. The most expensive towns in the study? You're looking at $6,000 plus for the week. And that's not even including transportation. Getting to South Carolina beaches is pretty affordable from the Charlotte region as well. In fact, most are a shorter drive from Charlotte than North Carolina beaches. As someone who grew up in Charlotte, I was in high school before I had ever been to a North Carolina beach. And that was only for a dance competition. I didn't go on vacation there until college.

So if you're like me and looking for that affordable beachfront vacation, keep reading to see the best spots to go to. And if you are also like me, and want to dream you can see the most expensive spots as well. Two South Carolina beaches ranked on that list as well. One isn't hard to guess at all either! Read the full study here or keep reading to see all about the South Carolina beaches.

Calculated using the average cost of a weeklong (7-day) beachfront stay. Prices were calculated using AirBNB.

Pawley's Island is a somewhat hidden gem just to the south of Myrtle Beach. You're close enough to tourist attractions to visit, but far enough away to enjoy a relaxing (and affordable) beach vacation. The average cost of a week's stay on Pawley's? $2,160.

Just two spots behind its neighbor is Myrtle Beach. This is THE tourist vacation destination. It can catch some heat, but the best thing about Myrtle Beach is you'll never be bored. Pretty much anything you can think of is in this city. Including endless hotels. The average cost of a weeklong stay at Myrtle? $2,240.

Thes same study also determined the most expensive beach towns to visit. Two luxurious SC islands were named. Calculated using the average cost of a weeklong (7-day) beachfront stay. Prices were calculated using AirBNB.

Located near Charleston, Folly Beach will cost you a pretty penny for a beachfront stay. The cost of a week's worth of gorgeous views? $5,943.

I'm not surprised in the least that Kiawah is on this list. Known for the resort (pictured about) this golf resort island community comes with a hefty price tag. A week's beachfront vacation will cost you $5,576.