Emerald Isle Beach

Emerald Isle Beach is a delightful place for a swim! The water is blue-green though not clear. Usually there are some bouncy waves and sometimes strong currents. The sand is nice and firm for building sand castles. Plenty of people crowd onto the beach in summer, some listening to loud music and smoking. There are plenty of cute families though to round things out. The loveliest time to swim in summer is around 5pm when the light is turning golden and the sun isn't so burny. 

If you swim near the Bogue Inlet Pier, make sure the storm drain water is not connecting to the ocean or there'll be bacteria in the ocean (most of the time it's not connecting). You can also enter the beach from many beach access boardwalks on Ocean Drive or the Emerald Isle Public Parking (see address below).
If you need an indoor activity during the hot middle hours of the day, go to North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores!
While on the Crystal Coast, check out Fort Macon State Park, an interesting and pretty place that is a 36 minute drive away.

Directions

Bogue Inlet Pier has plenty of (sometimes free) parking, located at 100 Bogue Inlet Dr, Emerald Isle, NC 28594.
Emerald Isle Public Parking is located at 203 Park Dr, Emerald Isle, NC 28594.
One of the beach access boardwalks is located at 4103 Ocean Dr, but there is no parking at any of these boardwalks.

Click on map for interactive view