Emerald Isle
Nature
An Emerald Isle Experience: A Visit for Vacation
As promised, some of the natural areas on Bogue
Banks Island. For myself, I find the nature trails, forests, and parks
as compelling as the beaches themselves. The quiet, the seclusion, the
richness makes for a welcome respite from the relentless leisure of the
beach. These natural areas are different than what most of us are used
to; beach area wilderness is quite different from your typical inland
parks!
Emerald Isle Woods Park is a nice 41-acre park on
the sound side of the island. If you want to get a good feel for the
nature and ecology of a dry oceanside barrier island environment this is
a good start.
The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
on Bogue Island has a nature area outside of the aquarium itself. Very
marshy and wet, it displays coastal wetlands nicely.
Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area is adjacent
to the aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The barrier island's only
remaining intact maritime forest, it was donated to the state by the
grandchildren of President Theodore Roosevelt.
