Southern Dream Towns and the Home of River Dunes

"A sailor’s joys are as simple as a child’s."   Bernard Moitessier

Not everyone desires to live in a big city and day dreamers longing for a high quality of life revolving around nature and the sea have found their dream come true in Oriental, North Carolina, one of Gun & Garden Magazine's favorite dream towns. This coastal North Carolina fishing village has expansive views of the Neuse River and is a town where sailboats outnumber people three to one. Crab shacks, shrimp boats and nautical stores adorn the town. 

Oriental North Carolina is also known for fun events such as the Oriental Dragon Boat Race which took place last month at River Dunes, Community Finder’s two time winner of a Bliss Award for Best Boating Community of the Year. Community Finder is a real estate review website which tracks and scores over 300 master-planned communities in the Southeast and Central America which includes over 50 boating communities. 

It’s no surprise that River Dunes was the perfect venue for this event. Its private Grace Harbor is positioned conveniently off the Intracoastal Waterway at Mile Marker 173. River Dunes Grace Harbor Marina is a state-of-the-art marina and was named Sustainable Community of the Year for going green though its zoning, planning and development process including recognition as a Clean Marina.

Features of the Grace Harbor Marina include: 

• Protected marina off an 1,100 ft boating access channel
• 124 Deepwater Boat Slips with utilities (400 slips are planned) 
• Outdoor Swimming Pool overlooking the marina 
• Fireside Hot Tub and Cozy Cabanas 
• Fitness Center with Steam Showers
• Laundry Facility
• Guest Cottages

River Dunes is a well designed waterfront neighborhood with elegant Lowcountry-style homes. The one and two story homes feature wrap around porches and balconies with stunning views of the Grace Harbor marina or Intracoastal Waterways. The floor plans also vary, each one catering to the desires of its owner, as one can choose a builder home or can decide to have a custom home built. Either way, a home can be built and designed by award-winning architects and builders.

Take a peek at River Dunes homes

This Inner Banks boating community is located about 40 minutes north of New Bern and 10 minutes south of downtown Oriental. River Dunes property owners are hugely active through their social clubs and volunteerism in the local community. One of the most significant events includes the annual Leukemia Cup Regatta which this year raised over $140,000 to help fund research and help families battling the disease.

Southern Dream Towns are typically in great locations and offer a slower place a life. The chance to laugh more, play more and reconnect with the great outdoors. In Oriental, the land masses are havens for fascinating bird life. The sea provides abundant fresh fish and shrimp. As the largest protect sound on the eastern seaboard, the waterways are a huge playground for sailors and boaters of all skill levels. 

The sprawling farmland and smell of the sea is undeniably soothing. Property owners at River Dunes love their piece of paradise scoring the community of whopping 94 out of 100! Whether folks desire a day boating trip to the Outer Banks, or a step back in time strolling through the historic Tryon Palace in downtown New Bern, River Dunes property owners have endless choices of things to do in their Southern Dream Town. 

If you’re searching for a boating community in one of the prettiest places to live in coastal North Carolina, be sure to navigate your way to River Dunes.

Contact River Dunes direct for more in at 800-975-9565 or email.