Wanderlust World Wanderlust World On a narrow barrier island at the eastern edge of North Carolina, the small town of Pine Knoll Shores experiences nearly perfect summer weather. The temperature rises to a balmy 78 degrees while the Atlantic Ocean -- which constitutes the town's entire southern boundary -- reaches 80 degrees. The sunny days, sea breezes and warm waters attract visitors in droves; it's therefore wise to book your affordable accommodation well in advance.
On Salter Path Road, Atlantis Lodge rents one-room efficiency suites overlooking the ocean. The rooms feature a kitchen, dining and living area, as well as sleeping area with double or king-size beds. Each room has a patio or deck with views of the water, and some rooms also allow pets. The motel has beach furniture and umbrellas available for you to use down at the shore. Alternatively, take a dip in the motel's outdoor pool.
In Atlantic Beach, 4 miles east of Pine Knoll Shores, Hollowell’s Family Motel offers cozy rooms two blocks from the beach. The available rooms vary from double rooms with kitchenettes to two-room apartments. All the rooms provide wireless Internet and cable television. The rooms are offered nightly or weekly, and are more expensive during peak popularity and travel times: at the end of the week and in the summer months. The motel also has an outdoor pool.
Next door to Hollowell's Family Motel on East Fort Macon Road in Atlantic Beach, the U-shaped Sea Shore Motel wraps around a private parking lot that encircles a fenced, in-ground swimming pool. The motel's pool is near the road, but tall landscaping makes for a private swimming experience. The comfortable rooms offer basic amenities, including cable television. Drop your bags off in one of the double-occupancy rooms before heading the four short blocks south down Beaufort Avenue to the oceanfront.
Farther east on East Fort Macon Road, Crabbe Inn Motel touts a "fun over fancy" experience. The rooms are painted in the same bright colors, including pink and teal, as the motel's exterior. Underwater murals cover the interior walls of the rooms, which have air conditioning, kitchenettes, cable television and free wireless Internet. Double to studio efficiency rooms -- some pet-friendly -- are available. Outside, the motel has a vibrantly colored patio with shaded seating, and a waterfront barbecue area.