Tag: Emerald Isle

Can You Drive on Emerald Isle Beach?

Beach driving is the perfect weekend activity to do while at the ocean. Of the many attractions that Emerald Isle brings, beach driving is always a favorite! So, can you drive on Emerald Isle Beach? Short answer: YES! Long answer: You will need to apply for a permit before you can drive on the beach strand. Let’s get into the details!

What time of year can I drive on the beach in Emerald Isle?

According to the town of Emerald Isle, beach driving opens in mid-September and runs to late April of the next year. For 2021-2022, Emerald Isle beach driving runs from September 15th to April 30th. However, beach driving is closed in Emerald Isle from April 15th – 25th for the Easter Holiday. Due to the time change, the beach will have differing operating hours throughout the year. Check out the list below for a full breakdown.

EMERALD ISLE BEACH DRIVING HOURS 2021-2022

  • September 15th to November 6th – 5:00 am to 9:00 pm 
  • November 7th to March 12th – 5:00 am to 7:00 pm 
  • March 13th to April 30th – 5:00 am to 9:00 pm

*Note: All vehicles must be off of the beach strand before closing hours. Vehicles not off the beach strand may be cited by the police department. 

Do I need a permit to drive on Emerald Isle Beach?

Yes. All vehicles require an annual beach driving permit issued by the Town of Emerald Isle. For non-residents, a beach driving permit is $175, for Carteret County residents, a beach driving permit is $100, and for Emerald Isle residents under 65, a beach driving permit is $50. If you are a person with a disability, a Veteran with a disability, a Town employee, or an Emerald Isle resident over age 65, your beach driving permit will be free of charge. 

beach driving sign in emerald isle
Signs at each Beach Driving entrance in Emerald Isle.

What type of vehicle do I need for beach driving?

At Emerald Isle beaches, all vehicles must be 4-wheel drive vehicles. All-wheel drive vehicles are prohibited. 

How do I apply for a beach driving permit in Emerald Isle?

The application process is very simple. Just visit the Town of Emerald Isle’s website and apply online. You will need a valid driver’s license, your vehicle registration, any supporting documentation, and payment information ready. Apply for a beach driving permit here.

What are the beach driving rules for Emerald Isle?

All vehicles must abide by North Carolina Vehicle laws while driving on the strand. The speed limit is 20 MPH and all vehicles must allow pedestrians the right of way. Please reduce speed and avoid driving near beachgoers. Also, be on the lookout for any sea turtle nests or other wildlife that may have come ashore. 

Driving on the dunes is not allowed at any time. This is vital to the environment and vehicles should stay a minimum of 10 feet away from any primary dunes. Occasionally, beach driving locations may be closed to all guests, in which case a sign will be posted at the entrance to the beach. 

Where can I enter to drive on Emerald Isle beach?

Authorized beach access ramps for entry and exit are located at the following sites. 

Emerald Isle Beach Driving Ramp Access Map

Ocean Drive Ramp – “dog-leg” (located on the east end near mile marker 15 on NC 58 near 3101 Ocean Drive and the Emerald Isle Dollar General) **Fun fact: Our vacation rental property Blue Sapphire is located across the street from this driving ramp!

Black Skimmer Ramp – Black Skimmer Drive (located across from the Police Department near 7501 Ocean Drive)

Point Ramp – The Point (located at the terminus of Inlet Drive and Bogue Ct. near 100 Bogue Ct.) 

Other things to know about Emerald Isle Beach Driving 

Please be sure to adhere your Beach Driving Permit to the inside of the lower left-hand side of your front window and remove decals from all previous years. The Emerald Isle Police Department strictly enforces these rules. Please also allow 20 feet from the primary dunes to remain open for first responders and town vehicles to pass by once on the beach strand. If any of your party digs holes in the sand while visiting, please fill in the holes before leaving as these can be detrimental to other cars. 

Last but not least, HAVE FUN, bring your dog, your family, and enjoy our beautiful Emerald Isle beach! If you have any further questions, please be sure to visit EmeraldIsleNC.org for more information. 

Top 10 Ice Cream Spots in Emerald Isle

Craving something sweet in the Emerald Isle area? Well, you’re in luck! There are a ton of Ice cream and dessert spots to choose from in Emerald Isle. Here are 10 Ice Cream spots in Emerald Isle that are our favorites!

1. The Sweet Spot

The Sweet Spot is known for its variety of ice cream flavors, milkshakes, and fun colorful rocking chairs lining it’s entryway. Perfect Emerald Isle Ice cream spot for the entire family. Check out the latest video from the Town of Emerald Isle for inside scoop!

2. Turtley Sweet

Turtley Sweet is located in Emerald Plantation and is an ice cream, candy, and toy store! They serve 24 flavors of Hershey’s Premium Ice Cream along with specialty sundaes, milkshakes, and smoothies. They also have over 80 bulk flavors of candy, 70 flavors of fresh saltwater taffy, bulk premium chocolates, and nostalgic wrapped candies and sodas! Last but not least, Turtley Sweet has a fun and well-stocked store with unique gifts and toys. 

3. TLC’s Polish Water Ice

If you haven’t heard of Polish Water Ice, you have to try this unique dessert! Polish Water Ice is not the same as Italian Water Ice.  Polish Water Ice is a creamy soft-serve water ice treat that is 100% fat-free, 100% cholesterol-free, 100% dairy-free and 100% delicious.

With its great taste, comes Polish Water Ice’s uniqueness. Rather than serving a stored product, Polish Water Ice is made fresh while you wait.  It couldn’t be any fresher!

4. Highway 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries

If you haven’t tried a custard shake from Highway 55 paired with a delicious hamburger & fries, have you even been to Emerald Isle?! This is a perfect place to cool off after a hot morning on the beach. The custard can also be paired with toppings such as oreo, bananas, or cookie dough. 

5. Ben & Jerry’s Emerald Isle

Can’t go wrong with Ben & Jerry’s! They also have options during COVID for to-go orders including their $7 pints or eating your ice-cream outdoors. Some favorite flavors are the Very Berry Sorbet with a Waffle cone dipped in chocolate! 

6. Nourish Juice Bar + Cafe

A chef-driven spin on your everyday Juice Bar. At Nourish they wanted to bring an elevated juice bar to the Island with fresh eats to go along with it. If you’re looking for a healthier dessert option Nourish has smoothies, smoothie bowls, yogurt bowls, juices, and more! 

7. Village Ice Cream and Candies

This is one of our favorites to visit in Emerald Isle with tons of ice cream flavor options, including Pistachio, and an adjoining beach shop for any souvenirs you want to bring back. During COVID, the staff are wearing masks. The biggest plus for us is the fact that they make their waffle cones and waffles in-house, which are delicious! 

8. Dairy Queen Emerald Isle

Soft-serve ice cream & signature shakes top the menu at this classic burger & fries fast-food chain. Our personal favorites are the classic Blizzards that Dairy Queen offers! Right now they are offering takeout options only at this location. 

9. Sunset Slush of Emerald Isle

This tiny Italian ice shop is located right on Bogue Inlet Pier! Stop by to grab some Italian ice and bring it out to the ocean to grab some sun. Fun flavors happen around the holidays like their 4th of July “Rainbow USA” and they offer refillable koozie cups.

10. Scoops Ice Cream

Probably one of the cutest Ice creams stops on our list with a perfect VW van photo op right out front. Scoops are relatively new to the Salter Path area near Emerald Isle but if your vacation rental is nearby this may be a better option on this side of the island! They are also one of our only local shops that are serving soft-serve ice cream in lots of fun flavors. 

We love all of the options that the Emerald Isle area gives us for cold treats. So if you haven’t tried these Emerald Isle Ice Cream shops yet, stop by for a serving and a smile! 

Love,

PDL Beach Properties

Why is Emerald Isle, NC called Emerald Isle?

Many of our visitors often ask if Emerald Isle is named after Ireland’s famous nickname, “Emerald Isle.” They also wonder if our Emerald Isle in North Carolina was somehow founded by an Irishman. Let’s dive into some history and found out!

View of Emerald Isle from Flyover with the Atlantic Ocean on Left and Bogue Sound on Right.

Where is Emerald Isle?

Emerald Isle is located within the Crystal Coast, also known as the “Southern Outer Banks,”  in North Carolina on the Bogue Banks. This 12-mile stretch of island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Bogue Inlet Sound. Travel to the island is made easiest by using one of two bridges that cross Bogue Sound. Of which, the Cameron Langston Bridge is the most direct route to Emerald Isle. 

History of the Town of Emerald Isle

As much of American History can tell us, Native Americans inhabited this land before the Colonial Times. However, settlers soon realized the fishing and marine life of this coast was extremely valuable.

Fishing Grounds in the 1900s off of Crystal Coast NC.

Many whalers and fishermen made the island their hunting grounds until in 1920, Mr. Henry Fort acquired ownership of this land. His goal was to create a brand new Summer tourist location but was unable to finish his development. 

Fishermen dragging the marine sound in Bogue Sound, NC (1917).

Upon Mr. Fort’s death, his daughter, Ms. Anita Maulick sold lots of Emerald Isle land to 7 individuals. Each individual agreed the land should remain family-oriented. Therefore, they limited commercial development on the island to make way for single-family homes. In 1960, ferry service began from North Carolina’s mainland, and finally, in 1971 the Cameron Langston Bridge was complete. Allowing tourism to Emerald Isle to skyrocket each Summer and more development to continue over time.

Watercolor Map of the NC Crystal Coast by Artist MoJoFineArt

So..Where did Emerald Isle get its Name?

Before development began to block out the island as a new tourist destination, a Florida consultant visited. During his flyover of the island, the lands of North Carolina with its lush maritime forests against the sparkling blues of the ocean gave him a brilliant idea. Hence, the name “Emerald Isle” was born. These maritime forests inhabit incredible flora and fauna such as Sea Turtles, White Egrets, Wax myrtle, Holly, and Sea Oats. They are also essential to the island’s shoreline as a windscreen and protector of the constant movement of the coast. The name Emerald Isle was born and stands to remain a beautiful indicator of the incredibly diverse wildlife and coastal estuaries along the Crystal Coast. 

Ocean front cottage in Emerald Isle NC
See Turtle Cottage in Emerald Isle, NC

No matter its name, Emerald Isle is one of USA Today’s Top 10 NC Best Beaches. 

From its small southern town feel to its town slogan, “Nice Matters,” Emerald Isle is the perfect family beach getaway in North Carolina. It has thousands of Emerald Isle Vacation rentals for large groups to small, more than 75 public ocean beach access sites, more than 25 public sound access sites, and maintains more than 350 public beach access parking spaces on or near the oceanfront. With Emerald Isle’s key town value to maintain a family beach small-town atmosphere and the many events held throughout the year, this is the perfect North Carolina beach to visit. 

If you are searching for your perfect vacation rental property in Emerald Isle, contact PDL Beach Properties today! If you’d like to learn more about Emerald Isle, read this list of fast facts provided by the town of Emerald Isle.

7 Reasons To Visit Emerald Isle Beach in the Fall

If you can’t stand the heat…visit Emerald Isle Beach in the Fall! One of the best times to visit the beach is during Fall not only because of the cooler crisp weather but also the amazing deals & festivals you can find! It’s the perfect season to visit with your family or go on a weekend getaway with your friends. See our full list of reasons to visit Emerald Isle in the fall below!

1. Off-Season Pricing for all Vacation Rentals

Visiting the beach in the Fall and Winter is one of the best seasons due to price drops in all vacation rentals for the off-season. Typically searching through your preferred rental websites such as Airbnb or HomeAway for off-season pricing is the easiest way to find a lower rate! The Emerald Isle area has a ton of vacation rental homes that are either oceanfront or sound front and with these rates, it’s worth booking.

2. Family Holidays are easy – Everyone under one roof!

Fall family photos at the Beach

Fall is also a huge ‘gathering’ season with Halloween, Thanksgiving, & even Friendsgiving events. This is the perfect time to take your family holiday gatherings to the beach and allow everyone to remain under one roof. Also, for those of us with high-tension family gatherings, this is the perfect neutral zone to gather! We highly recommend getting away for the holidays at Emerald Isle beach. You can also find lots of fully equipped kitchens in these rentals for cooking huge meals together. What fun!

3. Less Crowding – No lines at your favorite restaurants!

As many of us know, the beach can get crowded! That’s why the Fall season is the perfect time to visit since there are so many activities and no lines. The beaches are crowd-free for beautiful sunset walks, fun photoshoots, and any of your favorite seafood restaurants are line-free! Time for some Crab Shack at Salter Path!

4. Golfing & Putt-Putt

Family playing Putt-Putt at Treasure Golf & Raceway in Emerald Isle

You have the greenways to yourself! The local golf courses in Emerald Isle and Beaufort are open and ready for players! We love visiting Star Hill Golf Club and playing a round of golf since they have 27 holes or offer a short 9-hole game. Another awesome golf activity is of course Putt-Putt! Lost Treasure Golf in Salter Path, NC has an amazing course and also has go-karts that are fantastic for the entire family!

5. Camping & Bonfires on the beach

The Emerald Isle Beaches are also great places to camp out. You can throw up a tent on the beach at night and some rental properties even have fire pits for smores. At Emerald Isle, there are also camping sites like the Holiday Trav-L Park Resort which is an oceanfront camping site that allows Full-Hookup Sites (up to 50 feet), Water & Electric Sites for RVs, and Water & Electric Sites for Tents (one 6 to 8 person tent). They also have an on-site Arcade, 3 direct beach access locations, and a snack shack on the beach.

6. Fishing along the Crystal Coast

Bogue Inlet Pier at Emerald Isle NC

Fishing tournaments like the Annual Gordie McAdams Speckled Trout Surf Fishing Tournament and the Swansboro Rotary King Mackerel Tournament during October are popular tourist attractions. You can also always find a great fishing spot off of the dock at Emerald Isle at the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier. Pricing at the pier is daily or seasonal. Daily Fishing Passes for Bottom Fishing are $12.50, you get 2 rods per person and children 6 and under are FREE & King Fishing is $25 with 4 rods per person. For reference, the North Carolina recreational fishing size and bag limits are listed on this website.

7. Fall Festivals!

NC Seafood Festival is typically on the first weekend in October and Emerald Isle City also does a Halloween Carnival. During November, Emerald Isle typically celebrates Thanksgiving with their Annual Christmas Parade. This year the Christmas parade is being held on November 30th at 3 pm on Hwy 58 off of Emerald Drive. Click here to learn more about the Emerald Isle Christmas Parade!

We hope you take advantage of this beautiful season and visit Emerald Isle for your Fall Vacation this year! If you are interested in a Fall vacation reach out to PDL Beach Properties and stay in one of our fully equipped rental homes in Emerald Isle. We can’t wait to hear from you!