Travel

This NC vacation spot ranks among best in the US for families. Why folks love it

North Carolina is home to one of the best family vacation spots in the U.S., according to new rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

The Outer Banks, a group of barrier islands just off the North Carolina coast, placed 14th on the publication’s Top 18 list of getaways offering fun and relaxation for the whole family.

Aside from serving as the beachy backdrop for an eponymous Netflix drama series, the coastal enclave boasts scenic waterfronts, parks, attractions and historical sites.

Sunlight breaks dramatically through a thick blanket of dark and white clouds, casting a bright beam across the ocean surface. Gentle waves with white foam roll onto a wide, sandy shoreline in the foreground. The horizon stretches out under a blue sky peeking through the upper left corner of the clouds.
A sunrise on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Adventure seekers can dive deep to explore the islands’ “roughly 3,000 shipwrecks,” or hike the “tallest living sand dune system” on the Atlantic Coast at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. There’s also golfing, fishing and nature watching for wildlife enthusiasts.

U.S. News & World Report used a combination of reader votes and expert opinions for the rankings, updated on Tuesday, June 2.

Multiple factors were considered including sights, food, culture and accessibility.

“Each (OBX) neighborhood has its own charm: Old lighthouses, rugged dunes and secluded beaches in the south coupled with vacation rentals, water sports and kitschy beach shops in the north all form a unique seaside destination,” editors wrote.

A tall, historic lighthouse featuring distinctive black and white diagonal spirals towers over a grassy field. Tourists wander near a white picket fence at the base of the structure, which includes a small brick outbuilding to the left. The scene is framed by a dense line of trees in the background under an overcast sky.
The distinctive markings on the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse were painted to help mariners navigate around the Outer Banks in the daylight. Each of the lighthouses along this area of the coast line have a different day mark and light sequence. Cape Hatteras Light Station Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina U.S. National Park Service
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The barrier islands were also touted as the perfect place to unwind “on a budget,” earning high marks for its affordable vacation rentals.

The Outer Banks are routinely a top pick among travelers, solo or otherwise. U.S. News & World Report once named it one of the best places to visit in North Carolina. It also earned a spot on USA Today’s list of the 10 best summer travel destinations for 2025.

Popular spots to visit on the islands include:

  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore
  • North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island
  • Wright Brothers National Memorial

Other top NC travel destinations

WorldAtlas recently ranked Beaufort among the Top 14 small towns on the Atlantic Coast. The seaside locale and third-oldest town in the Tar Heel State is famous for its serene waterfronts and “rich maritime history.”

Southern Living has recognized Sunset Beach for its white sand and crystal clear waters, as well as Boone as the one place in North Carolina everyone should visit. The latter earned high praise for its “outdoor adventures, rich history, walkable downtown, nearby High Country attractions, upgraded lodging and diverse dining scene.”

A close-up profile view highlights a green, weathered bronze bust of a man wearing a classic aviator cap. In the background, a second matching bust stands further away on a stone pedestal marked with the name “ORVILLE.” A vast, dense green forest extends toward the horizon under a hazy blue sky.
The copper busts of Wilbur and Orville Wright, which used to be inside the Wright Brothers Monument, are now on display outside the monument atop Big Kill Devil Hill. U.S. National Park Service
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The magazine also recognized Calabash, a town in the Outer Banks known as the “seafood capital of the world.”

Last year, Oak Island, Hatteras Island, Topsail Beach, Ocracoke, Duck, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Nags Head and Wrightsville Beach landed on Southern Living’s list of 50 best beach towns in the South, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Where are the top family vacation spots in the US?

These family-friendly destinations were voted the Top 10 best family vacation spots, according to U.S. News & World Report:

  1. Orlando, Florida
  2. Yellow Stone National Park
  3. Washington, D.C.
  4. Anaheim-Disneyland
  5. Yosemite National Park
  6. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
  7. Destin, Florida
  8. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
  9. Grand Canyon National Park
  10. Sedona, Arizona

Portions of this story were previously published in The Charlotte Observer.

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Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
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