According to National Geographic, Wrightsville Beach ranks right up there with Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii and Florianópolis, Brazil as one of the 20 best surf towns.

In the introduction, reporter Tetsuhiko Endo wrote, “A great surf town is the nearly magical sum of consistent waves, inviting accommodations, friendly locals, fun nightlife, delicious food, and plenty of activities should the ocean go flat. The following is a list of the world’s best surf towns, picked not necessarily because they are home to the best waves, but because the sum of their parts makes them inviting for locals and visitors alike. Plus, for each town, locals tell us where to eat, stay, and play.”

The magazine voted Wrightsville Beach one of the best because: “The whole family can enjoy Wrightsville’s trademark mix of sleepy southern beach town and growing metropolis. Think catfish with caviar or barbecue with Beaujolais.”