Many people who visit North Carolina's coast have ambitions no grander than lying on the sand, eating seafood, and shopping the outlet malls. On the other hand, there are those who would prefer a nighttime "turtle walk" on Bald Head Island, where they might see a giant loggerhead emerge from the sea and lumber across the sand to lay her eggs. And those who would travel the Roanoke River Paddle Trail, negotiating a labyrinth of streams by day and camping by night in a swamp home to minks, bobcats, barred owls, and black bears.

If you're a nature lover who'd like to discover a surprising array of wild places, then The Natural Traveler Along North Carolina's Coast is the resource for you. The book covers all the region's classic sites—Wright Brothers National Memorial, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Tryon Palace, historic Wilmington—but gives special emphasis to places that celebrate nature. Here, you'll discover the birder's paradise that is Lake Mattamuskeet. You'll see why the revamped North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is as impressive as any such facility on the East Coast. You'll be moved to explore the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum before your ferry ride to remote Cape Lookout.

Author John Manuel's introductory chapter on the natural history of the coast will familiarize you with the variety of habitats you'll encounter in your travels. He also provides hard information on dates of operation, fees, and directions, as well as sidebars on subjects of special interest and recommendations for restaurants and lodgings.