Lots of folks like to bring their dogs with them to Emerald Isle when the come on vacation. Many of the rental houses will allow dogs, but be aware that there are usually non-refundable pet fees that range from $100-$300 depending on the rental agency and the unit.

Please remember that Emerald Isle has a leash law: always keep your dogs on leashes and absolutely always clean up after your pet. Carry plastic baggies with you so that you can easily take care of your pet's poop.

We like our beaches to stay as clean as possible, and no one likes to step in dog poop, or worse, have their kids playing around it. Be considerate of others, and everyone can have a relaxing, enjoyable stay in Emerald Isle!

I thought I'd post a quick photo of what I meant by 'drowned land' in previous posts. This photo was taken down in the Emerald Isle Woods Park on the west end of the island on the north side of Coast Guard Rd. This area has stagnant standing water interspersed with grasses, bushes, and trees. This isn't a swamp, really, these are often very small chunks of land surrounded by higher, drier land.

Folks living in or visiting the Emerald Isle NC area should take note that the Emerald Isle Woods Park will be closed for 2 months to complete a storm water project.

That area of the island is one of the lowest in terms of feet above sea level, and there are many areas that are drowned land or which flood bad at times during heavy rain. The ongoing project will hopefully ease those issues. The official notice from the town states:

Please be advised that beginning May 5th the Emerald Isle Woods Park will be closed indefinitely due to construction of the Phase II Coast Guard Road Storm Water Project. We will attempt to reopen the Park as soon as possible, hopefully by July 4.

You don't have to go to the Bogue Inlet Pier to have a good day of fishing in Emerald Isle, you can try your hand at fishing from one of the public docks available. Our friend Ginger caught a 7 pound Hatteras Blue from the dock in the Emerald Woods town park on the west end of town. Note that you will need to purchase a fishing license (about $15) even if you are a local resident. Also, the Emerald Woods Park will be closed for a couple of weeks starting this week (May) for renovations.

You can choose from several different Emerald Isle vacation rental agencies. By far, the two biggest in town are Bluewater and Emerald Isle Realty, which offer over 1200 properties between them.

Also consider looking at Prudential Sun-Surf Realty and Shorewood. Most any Emerald Isle vacation rental that you are seeking will be available from one of these agencies, though keep in mind that June through September is high season and you may not be able to rent the vacation property you want at the time you wish to arrive, so book early if you can.

You can find Oceanfront, Oceanside (including second row and third row, usually have a nice ocean view), Ocean View, Soundside, and Sound View units. You can also choose from vacation rental homes, duplexes, condos, and apartments. Emerald Isle is a great place for a relaxed family vacation, so choose your price point and your location on the island, and you can't go wrong by spending a week or more in Emerald Isle North Carolina!

One of the last fishing piers in the area, the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier is one of the coolest places to spend a day or two in Emerald Isle. Located in the middle of town on the Atlantic Ocean side, you can buy daily, weekly, or seasonal passes. A great variety of fish are caught here, including mackeral, bluefish, and several species of shark. Find out more information, including what is being caught right now, at the Bogue Inlet Pier official site.

One of the cool things to do while you vacation in Emerald Isle and the Crystal Coast area is take a short jaunt down the island to Fort Macon, which is on the East end of Bogue Banks, east of Atlantic Beach at the very end of the island. The Fort overlooks both the Bogue Sound and Atlantic Ocean, and sits next to one of the widest beaches in the area. The Civil War era fort is maintained in near-authentic condition, and offers a few spoken histories integrated into the displays. Check out the beautiful views and enjoy a bit of history if you want to do something cool while vacationing in Emerald Isle.




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You really can have the beach and Atlantic Ocean as your backyard if you get an Emerald Isle vacation rental house in the front row. Just a quick walk from your relaxing deck across the walkway and down the steps. A great way to relax and play with your family and friends in the relaxing beautiful vacation playground that is Emerald Isle. This photo was taken around the 2200 block.

This little girl was playing down near the water's edge. We saw her run over and grab her sand castle bucket. She very determinedly turned it on its side and climbed upon it, then proceeded to dance atop it.

There is a Coast Guard station on the West end of the Island, down near The Point. We often see the boats flying by, sometimes off to a real emergency, or like this one, drilling in just off the coast.