Labor Day signifies the final days of summer. However, it's not too late to enjoy a week of warm weather fun and cool ocean breezes. Gather your family and friends and save over 40%* on your next weekly vacation rental in Emerald Isle. Check out some of our featured properties on special now!



High Times Cottage
$1250 reduced from $1585

Sea Angel
$3745 reduced from $4995

Sea Lark
$999 reduced from $1590

Double Dolphin West
$1500 reduced from $2120

Stay Sea's
$4525 reduced from $5325

Sail Away
$3950 reduced from $4675

Misty Dune
$875 reduced from $1030

A Beach Palace
$3995 reduced from $4995




View all of our Internet Bargains posted on our specials page and choose from an array of spectacular beach homes.

The Emerald Isle Realty family has been welcoming vacationers since 1962 and we would love to welcome you too! Mention this email when calling 866.615.6877 to book or when booking online.


*Discount applies to selected properties and new reservations only.

The 52nd annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament ended on June 19th with an interesting twist. In first place on the leader board all week and a shoe-in to take the top prize with a record breaking 883 pound blue marlin; the Citation with Capt. Eric Holmes was disqualified due to one crew member aboard the vessel that did not have a N.C. Recreation Fishing License..

Big rock President Randy Ramsey was just moments away from awarding the top three prizes when he decided to stop the Big Rock awards ceremony. Spending most of the past week in second place on the leader board with 528.3 pound marlin, the Carnivore with Capt. Ed Petrilli was declared the first place winner of the tournament..

Capt. Petrilli and the crew of the Carnivore accepted both the first place price and the tournament’s prize payout, a new big rock record totaling $999,453.

     Arguably, one of the most important decisions when planning a wedding is choosing a location. The wedding location establishes the event's character, sets the guest's mood and serves as an unforgettable setting for one of the most memorable moments in any couple's life. Therefore, the place where the joining of two families in love and commitment occurs must be a place worthy of such an exceptional occasion.

     Early on it was clear that we knew we wanted a beach ceremony at sunset followed by a celebration with a slightly vintage feel, using the natural colors of the local landscape, warm with candle light and overflowing with the sounds of laughter of those we love. Despite the fact that we live in Southern California where the cliff-side beaches of Malibu and it's pastel sunsets would seem to many as an ideal setting for beach-side vows--it didn't appeal to us--Emerald Isle, North Carolina did.

     Growing up in North Carolina, both of our families often vacationed on Emerald Isle in the summers and even an occasional winter or fall. As children, we both have fond memories of swimming, boogie boarding and fishing in the warm, deep green waters off the coast that would sometimes calmly wrap around you like a warm blanket while other times rise and fall in great swells. Recollections of the soft, warm, and sandy shore scattered with colorful shells and the gently rolling dunes dotted with feathery sea oats brought us back to the east coast for our special day.

     The date was set for April 12th and during the preceding summer our families decided to vacation together on the Island. We relaxed each day away sunning, reading, building sand castles and swimming while we spent our evenings together enjoying large meals and sharing stories and lots of laughter. It was the perfect setting for our families to connect and prepare for the exciting event that lay ahead. During a beach stroll one evening after dinner we spotted a large Victorian house hid partially behind the dunes but still grand in its presence and beauty. Most notably was the large setting sun that was painted on the house just under the eves of the roof. The feeling that this house was the perfect wedding location was nearly unanimous--we would get married at "The Anna Victoria"!

     Once the location was chosen, everything else fell neatly into place. My dress would be made of antique lace and the groom's suit made of linen and the wedding colors of olive, cream and brown would reflect the hues of the island's natural landscape. We decided that our parents and our ten member wedding party would share the seven bedroom house with us for the entire week leading up to the celebration and guests would slowly trickle in throughout the week to visit and enjoy the beautiful Carolina coastal town.

     Our guests from both out of state and abroad couldn't believe their eyes--they quickly fell in love with Emerald Isle and the surrounding cozy and quaint towns of Salter Path,Pine Knoll Shores, Beaufort and New Bern. The friendly locals and fresh sea food fare at the Crab Shack introduced many of our guests to sweet tea and hushpuppies for the very first time! The rural and undeveloped landscape of the island created just the kind of escape from the bustling city streets and urban rush that we had hoped for our guests.

     An old North Carolina saying goes, "If you don't like he weather, just wait a minute", and it couldn't prove to be more true than it did the week of our wedding. Upon our arrival to North Carolina a week before the big day it snowed and the days to follow were not any more promising. A storm front was pushing through the state and it brought with it very cold temperatures, rain and high winds. Nevertheless, we carried on as planned and hunkered down inside of the big beach house to wait out the storm.

     The day of the wedding all too quickly appeared as did something else that we had not seen all week--the sunshine! On the morning of the wedding at approximately 10:00 a.m. the clouds parted, the sun began to shine and the temperature rose into the mid-seventies. The stage was set for a perfect day and a perfect day it would be! The sunset ceremony and the celebration that followed was just as we had dreamed it would be--cozy but festive, relaxed and romantic, a little old fashioned and breathtakingly perfect.

     Looking back on our wedding day, we quickly realize that it exceeded all of our expectations. A perfect memory was made from a perfect combination of family, friends, and Emerald Isle. Though our childhood memories of beach vacations never let Emerald Isle slip too far way from our minds, the memory of our wedding week will always keep Emerald Isle near and dear to our hearts. Even though we live in sunny southern California, Emerald Isle will always be a place that we return to with family and friends year after year to recreate that same perfect combination of love, laughter and memories that will last a lifetime.

- Dean & Joni Nelson

Our family learned about Emerald Isle from a friend of my sister who moved to North Carolina.  The very next year (1988) my sister and her family went for their first vacation.  The next year my husband and I, our two girls and my parents joined the fun.  In the years since various other family members have joined us for our annual jaunt to this peaceful place.  As time went by, some of us would venture down at other times of the year when we needed to find solice - either alone or in ones or twos.  My parents each spent their last summer beach visit at Emerald Isle surrounded by their whole family.

Traditions formed:  Yana's for breakfast; kayaking; fresh shrimp from the shrimp truck; fresh fish from 'the guy near the bridge'; Dairy Queen at night; feeding the turtles over by Rucker Johns; Fran's gift Shop, Bert's, mini-golf, go-karts, etc.

We've tried over the years to change our annual vacation venue thinking that a change of pace would be good.  Whenever suggested the response was immediate: a complete family strike!  We would of course travel and visit other places, but we ALWAYS had to have at least a week at Emerald Isle!

Our oldest daughter Erin found East Carolina University on the way home from the beach in 1998.  While at East Carolina she introduced Emerald Isle to all of her new-found friends.  Now they too come - often when we are there.

In April of 2006 Erin became engaged and announced that her wedding would take place on the beach at Emerald Isle.  

On 5/12/07 our daughter married Robbie barefoot on the beach at Pebble Beach in Emerald Isle.  What a truly wonderful experience.  Everyone we dealt with was wonderful.  Cathy Smith who manages the clubhouse at Pebble Beach, the wonderful gals at Dee's Flowers, Kell Killian the caterer, Robbie Caswell the photographer; everyone. The folks at Emerald Isle Realty who helped us find the perfect house with an elevator for our physically disabled relative. It was a perfect day. 

When I asked our daughter why she chose Emerald Isle for her wedding she responded "the best times of my life took place there. It's where we loved each other best. I grew up a little bit more every summer at the beach. It's where I learned that Robbie could become a real part of our family. It is my fantasy place."

This past week, our younger daughter Paige, who is 24 took her first 'real adult' vacation by herself.  She could have chosen any where in the world.
She chose Emerald Isle.  "I wanted to start my own tradition at the most special place I know."  "I can go everywhere else later on."  "This year is special and I want to go to my favorite place first."

In short, Emerald Isle is part of us now.  The traditions started in 1988 will live on beyond my sister and myself to future generations.  First, second and third cousins have created memories here. These memories are forged and have created a common ground strengthening our family bonds.

Sincerely,
Cathy Worthington

     How do you put into words something that means the world to you, something that you begin to plan the minute you cross the bridge off the island? 

     It all started in 1988 with an Emerald Isle Realty Brochure, the Point, and a beach house named SeaWatch with two families on their first adventure to Emerald Isle, NC. The smell of the sea, the feel of the sand between our toes, boogey boards, body surfing… the ocean captured me and it hasn’t let me go yet, and I know it never will. 

     The ocean at our doorstep enabled me to be closer to the sights of the sounds of the ocean. I would walk out the door, and stare at the waves as if something magical was going to happen at any moment. 

     In the 21 years I have been coming to Emerald Isle I have witnessed its magic in the form of a dolphin playing in the waves, a flock of pelicans flying over, ghost crabs crawling across your toes, sea turtle trackings and God’s fireworks lighting up the night sky and sometimes the afternoon sky during a storm. 

     This year I did something I have never done before. I stayed out every night until eleven waiting for a sea turtle nest to hatch. Unfortunately, I left on Saturday and I found out that 63 hatchlings erupted on Monday. Oh I was so close to viewing something I had hoped for every year! Maybe next year… 

     Whether it be at SeaWatch, or another beach house the week at Emerald Isle is magical because of the people you are with each year. These experiences are not just mine to share, they are my husband’s and sons, my sisters, my daughter-in-law, my aunts and cousin, my nieces and nephews, my dad and my closest friends. The week at the ocean brings family and friends together which I am forever grateful. 

     Seashells, shark teeth, star fish, sand still in the bottom of your flip flops, Elly’s fudge, Food Lion receipts, and lots of pictures always find a way home with you, but it is the wonder of the tides and the surf that will never leave your heart..

- Jane Rastetter

Spring is here and the sun is out! Book your new reservation for 2 nights and get the 3rd night FREE! Offer good thru the Beaufort Wine and Food Festival, 4/21-4/25. Guests arriving for the festival will receive a wine lover’s gift basket.

Book this unbeatable deal today and mention the “3 for 2” special.

Call our vacation experts today at 866.615.6877, or visit our specials page for more information.

*Discount applies to selected properties and new reservations only.

   As our first day at the Boat House came to close, we stood in the radiating glow of the most surreal sunset any of us had ever seen. It was like the yellow, to pink, to orange was fusing the house into Bogue Sound. We watched until the last sliver had slipped below the horizon and then gathered around the long table for dinner. We were family, but not ones who always vacationed together. This trip to Emerald Isle would make us all vow that we’d do it again!

   My mother and father came, which surprised me as my dad had triple-bypass heart surgery just 3 months earlier. I was so proud when I saw him walking up the steps in a 3-story home that had a lift. Two of my aunt’s came, one who made the best breakfast casserole ever and the other, who loves photography and bends and moves about for shots in such ways as to make us all laugh, but her photos are always priceless! My sister, niece and great-niece came down to add more beauty to the beach and sisters’ husband came down later in the week with his new boat. Then there was my brother-in-law and his family…he was the life of the party! We were a mixed bunch, but somehow everyone gravitated towards the same ideas of what to do as the days went by.

   We went to watch another family member in a civil war re-enactment at Fort Macon. In general, we enjoyed every minute of each other’s company and the expanse of beauty that is the Crystal Coast especially Emerald Isle!

We are family, and we can hardly wait to vacation in Emerald Isle together again!

-Jackie Diprim

The Diprimo Family stayed at the Boat House from April 12-18th.