Southern Shores, NC

Nestled between the peaceful sound and sea, just north of Kitty Hawk, rests the quiet residential town of Southern Shores. The area is a private community town by choice as locals seek to keep commercialism at bay. Established in 1979, the four square mile area offers no public beach access. However visitors don't come to Southern Shores for that. Uniquely, what most attracts visitors to this beautiful community is the hiking a bicycling trails it offers to the public. While, only about 2,200 residents live in the area year round, builders are seeing an increase in the demand for larger, more upscale homes for the town. And while the town itself doesn't own any of the private land, as most of that is owned by individual property owners, two civic organizations own the rest of the land. These associations use the land for wildlife areas and recreational purposes.

The network of paths used for recreation such as walking, biking and jogging, provides a fun day trip through the area. Bringing a backpack filled with a delicious deli sandwich from Tommy's Market and Cafe and hike through the beautiful green area to find the perfect spot for a picnic. There is more than just trails that wind through the scenic forestry of the beach; Southern Shores also has a private country club for the golf enthusiasts, where the public is allowed to play. These activities, unlike common "beach attractions" still brings in a population of nearly 10,000 people throughout the summer season.