Family-Friendly Resort with Spacious Beachfront Villas

Atlantic Beach lies on a barrier island in the heart of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, a low-key and well-preserved seaside tract that stands in stark contrast to some of the more developed seashores along the Mid-Atlantic. The mostly untouched lands protected by a nearby national seashore and national park—both within about 5 miles of Peppertree Atlantic Beach—drive home the area’s overwhelming natural beauty. A smooth, wooden boardwalk surrounded by sea grass and wild flowers leads directly to the beach from the resort. Awash in activity, the welcoming property adds to the tranquil, family-friendly environment with its lily-pad koi ponds, knotted-wood gazebos, and colorful playground.

The Atlantic Beach region remains untouched by high-rise buildings and bustling crowds, and the Peppertree Atlantic Beach resort embraces this private culture and coastal atmosphere in its homey villa accommodations. A lamp stand decorated with a vignette of lighthouses and a pair of framed sailboat prints contribute to the nautical motif, and fully equipped kitchens bring a touch of home to vacations. By day, there are plenty of ways to keep active or just relax on the property. After guests volley at the onsite tennis courts, a sprawling sun deck awaits, garnished with white lounge chairs and encircling a seasonal outdoor pool. An indoor swimming complex accommodates swan dives and synchronized belly flops during cooler weather.

Atlantic Beach: Peaceful Beach Oasis in a Historical Resort Town

Located 3 miles from the hotel on the eastern end of Bogue Banks, Fort Macon State Park is awash in historical monuments and ecological diversity. A Civil War fort stands sentinel among hundreds of acres of forest, dunes, and beach. The lives of 19th-century soldiers are put on display in the museum room, furnished with the fort's powder magazines, original cannons, and restored living quarters. Surrounded on three sides by water, Fort Macon State Park welcomes exploration of its salt marshes and estuaries, fishing in surf and inlet waters, or hiking on its 1.5 miles of ocean beach populated by more than 300 bird species.

A 306,000-gallon living shipwreck, a roaring mountain waterfall, and a jellyfish gallery round out the exhibits at the nearby North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, which illustrates the intricacies of aquatic life from the oceans to the president's saltwater bathtub. Touch pools encourage interaction between guests and the inhabitants, including stingrays, hermit crabs, and whelks.