Swansboro is a small waterfront town at the western edge of the Crystal Coast, where the White Oak River meets the Intracoastal Waterway. It is not a big beach resort, and that is the point: the best part is the old port center, the boardwalk, and the easy shift from shops and docks to marsh, paddle trails, and barrier-island sand.
The town was laid out in the colonial era and still has a walkable historic district of low wooden buildings, porches, small shops, and water views. It makes a good slow stop if you are driving between Wilmington, Emerald Isle, and the rest of the coast.
The stronger reason to give it a day is Hammocks Beach State Park. The park's mainland visitor area is near town, and ferries or paddling routes lead to Bear Island, a long undeveloped beach that feels very different from the more built-up resort strips nearby.