With dogs

Beaches

Each town wrote its own rule. Ocean Isle Beach: leash always, and no dogs on the strand from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Public accesses and public parking there are off limits all year. Holden Beach: off the strand from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 20 through September 10, and leashed outside those hours. Sunset Beach: a leash no longer than 10 feet, and off the strand from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Oak Island: a physical leash from March 16 through October 14. From October 15 through March 15, off-leash is allowed 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. where signs are posted, under visual and voice control, and not in the surf. A rental listing can disagree. The ordinance wins. Your dog does not get a vote.

Bird Island Reserve allows dogs and prohibits off-leash pets. That is separate from the Town of Sunset Beach. Nesting birds get the right of way.

Mountains

The Emerald Outback on Beech Mountain allows leashed dogs. The visitor center says Ruby Slippers, Witch's Tail, and Witch's Backbone are bike-only. A leash and a bike-only sign are not suggestions.

On the Blue Ridge Parkway, expect a leash rule and expect some buildings to be off limits. Confirm the current National Park Service pet rule. Grandfather Mountain State Park and the paid Grandfather Mountain attraction may not match each other.

Either region

Never leave a dog in a parked car. Sand, asphalt, and summit lots overheat. Pack water. A scenic overlook is not shade.