We've stayed everywhere from Hatteras to Corolla over the last 15 summers and I've taken my scanner the last few years. As much as the military air, coast guard/marine and even some of the public safety can be fun...even after 15-years I don't know enough local geography to make them exciting for me. Not terribly interesting to know there's an accident in a township whose name I dont recognize. I'm also not terribly familiar with military comms, so they may be more interesting to someone who is. From Corolla you pick up VA Beach easy, from Avon it's not likely.
I'll qualify that a little by saying that If something big is going (i.e. weather, military exercise, search/rescue, fire...) then of course it's all very interesting.
With that said, I've found the most interesting comms to be our local lifeguards, and believe it or not FRS/GMRS. When weather rolls through or there is discussion of people on the beach, then the lifeguards are fun...especially when you get the inside track on beach activity...and whether on the ride down or simply sitting on the beach, FRS/GMRS is always entertaining.
If not on the beach, then we usually park the scanner in the kitchen locked onto the lifeguard freq. If you do take it to the beach, be sure to get a bag to protect it from sand & spray, and be sure to take headphones so you can actually hear over the surf. This is especially true for Avon where the beach winds can be pretty extreme, both in noise and sand-blasting you and your scanner.
I'm actually debating whether to take mine at all this year given the low frequency of interesting stuff going on the last few years versus the hassle of packing all the scanner stuff (radio, antenna, bateries, charger, bag, headphones...). Whatever you decide have fun and if you're looking for any local traffic, food or beer advice, let me know.
