North Carolina Beaches - Brunswick County

Bald Head Island:

Light House on Bald Head Island

Once a hideout for notorious pirates like Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet, Bald Head Island offers a different kind of refuge for those seeking asylum from the everyday. This no-cars-allowed island can be your family’s vacation hideaway secluded from commercialism and touristy distractions. Reachable only by ferry, Bald Head is Brunswick’s most resort-styled island. Here, as you explore the island by bike, boat or golf cart you’ll be treated to varied natural landscapes, including pristine sand dunes, beaches, maritime forests, and salt marshes. Bald Head Island is an eco-lovers paradise, so preserved and conservation friendly that 50% of North Carolina’s sea-turtle nesting takes place on its shores. Slightly up-scale, and always inviting, Bald Head Island is as unspoiled as it is charming.

Calabash:

Seafood Capital

First thing you’ll notice as you arrive in Calabash is its vast variety of seafood restaurants. In fact, the town proudly holds the title of “Seafood Capital of the World” due to the town’s national famed signature seafood preparation—Calabash style. Shrimp, clams, fish and oysters are coated in a light batter and quickly fried to lock in their freshness. Which of the family restaurants in Calabash holds the original recipe? No one truly knows—but all taste equally authentic and delicious. If you prefer, reel in your own catch on a deep-sea fishing adventure, or simply watch the fishing boats come to dock. An abundance of unique shops—including a Christmas Shop—golf courses, close proximity to Myrtle Beach and a charming small-town feel complete the picture for a vacation that’s full of savory experiences.

Caswell Beach:

Oak Island - Holiday Weekend

This section of Oak Island is a place you can truly unwind in classic beach-vacationing style. Spend a day visiting the lighthouse—one of the brightest in the United States with a beacon that reaches about 24 nautical miles offshore. Do some surf-casting and reel in a fresh catch for dinner, or simply relax on the beach and stroll at low tide to search out fine shell specimens. You and your family may find yourselves with the beach all your own as Caswell is the least populated of all our Island beaches. In fact, the only commercial establishment here is the Oak Island Golf Country Club. But as remote as Caswell may sound, it’s really only a mile or so from all the shops and restaurants of Oak Island. So, if your perfect vacation is a quiet, secluded beach that’s only a minute or two from all the conveniences, Caswell Beach is calling your name.

Holden Beach:

Holden Beach Sunset

Named one of the best family beaches in the country by National Geographic Traveler magazine, Holden Beach offers small-town charm and unspoiled beauty. Navigate a kayak or canoe along the picturesque Intracoastal Waterway, and keep watch, for you may glimpse endangered loggerhead sea turtles as they surface for air. In this naturalist’s—and wildlife—haven, you’re sure to find something to delight your whole family— from spotting dolphins in the surf to playfully chasing ghost crabs with flashlights during an evening stroll. Have lunch on-the-deck at one of several restaurants that sit beside the Intracoastal Waterway. Here, you can watch shrimp boats cruise by as they make their way to and from the ocean. And, don’t miss the North Carolina Festival by the Sea, a celebration with arts, crafts and seafood that draws people from all over.

Ocean Isle Beach:

Ocean Reef at Museum of Coastal Carolina

Ocean Isle combines low-key relaxation and family adventures at every turn. Venture along the shore, and scan for signs of sea turtles and hatchlings journeying to the ocean. Or catch a wave just beyond the pier—one of Brunswick surfer’s favorite spots. Visit The Museum of Coastal Carolina to experience more sea life, with a life-size diorama and touch tanks. Around town, you’ll find lots of things that make a beach vacation great, such as restaurants and hangouts with outdoor decks. If you time your visit right, take part in the North Carolina Oyster Festival, where you can shuck a bucket or two and take part in judging the Oyster Stew Cook-Off. Enjoy the award-winning Silver Coast winery, specialty shops, and more. Bring your family for a refreshing vacation, and discover what awaits on Ocean Isle Beach.

Sunset Beach:

Sunrise at Sunset Beach

At the tail end of the Brunswick Island chain, Sunset Beach has the distinction of being the Southern-most surf in North Carolina. But while it may be last in geography, many find it a the top-of-the-list for a quiet, old-fashioned, retro, beach vacation. A walk to Bird Island is always a family favorite. For almost a mile, the beach houses give way to one of the most untouched shorelines in Brunswick where all that separates you from the surf and marsh is a wide stretch of beach and dunes. Discover sun, moon and stars at the Ingram Planetarium, or by simply taking in the sunrise or sunset, both of which can be seen over the water several months of the year due to the island’s unique positioning. Come to Sunset Beach to reconnect with nature— and with your family as well.