Both North and South Carolina beaches made Dr. Beach’s top ten list of best beaches in the USA. Cape Hatteras was #4 and Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island was #8. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach was #1 in 2007. Its no wonder Carolina Beaches make the top ten list each year. The beaches here are outstanding. Cape Hatteras has the best surf on the East Coast. Its part of the National Seashore and perfect for beachcombing. Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island has been on the top ten list before. Its located on the southern end of Kiawah Island, 25 miles south of Charleston. You can play golf or tennis or take a nature tour of the Island. Enjoy great seafood. Go canoeing, Kayaking, birding or bike on the beach.

To read more about these Carolina Beaches see:

Cape Hatteras Island #4 of 2010

Kiawah Island #8 of 2010

Ocracoke Island NC - #1 best beach of 2007 – Take a ferry from Cape Hatteras to get here, 16 miles of sandy beaches, Big surf, Excellent water quality, good shelling on North shore.

I have camped mostly on Texas beaches and that is an experience all its own. There was one trip to Matagorda Island which is located on the Texas central coast line that I remember very well. Oh yea, the only way on and off the island?… Is by ferry boat.

I was taking a fairly large group of Boy Scouts on a backpacking trip. We had to hike from the Ferry Landing across the island from the Bay side to the Gulf side. It wasn’t a long hike, less than 2 miles.

We set up camp on the beach against the sand dunes to protect us from the wind. The beach was not very wide so we were not that far from the waters edge at low tide. Several of the boys and adults went fishing, exploring or swimming.

What made this trip so memorable was that when we awoke in the morning the tide was in and only one foot from the tents. That could have been one miserable campout if the tide had come in further. After that I always set up camp as far from the water as possible.

Backpacking or just camping on a coastal beach is an exciting experience. Be sure to have plenty of mosquito spray, water, a good wind break for your stove and a tarp for yourself. It can get very windy on a beach.

How much water should you carry on a backpacking trip? That can depend on several factors. Such as the temperature. The hotter the weather, the more water. Drinking plenty of water in the winter acts as an insulator and helps keep the body temperature up. Never let yourself get dehydrated. This is very bad. You don’t want to go there.

If you’re going to be near a source of fresh water, take a water filter/purifier and that will save you from carrying a lot of water. Water weighs 8lbs/gallon. It gets heavy in a hurry.

My rule has always been to carry at least 2 – 2Liter bottles plus a canteen and one extra quart bottle for a two day trip. More in extremely hot weather. Used coke 2 liter bottles work great and don’t leak.

Explore the North and South Carolina beaches and come to Texas for the warm Gulf waters and great seafood.

For more about backpacking and the gear that you will need, visit me at http://FossilBackpackingGear.com.

First of all, I am so glad the gas prices are down. Hope they don’t start rising again. Maybe this year, I will be able to go back to the beach for a long overdue vacation. The best time to go to the beach, I have found is right before school starts in August. The beaches are not so crowded then. Most people take their vacations around the 4th of July cause many factories shut down at this time of year for maintenance. Anyway, some good beach vacation getaway destinations in the South Carolina are: North Myrtle Beach, Isle of Palms or Hilton Head Island. These areas are more family oriented and quieter than other beaches. In North Carolina, the Outer Banks offer some beautiful secluded beaches perfect for getting away from all the hustle bustle of the city.