While many are familiar with North Carolina’s Outer Banks and Carolina Beach, the state is home to another vacation gem: the Brunswick Islands.
About 45 minutes south of Wilmington, NC, and 45 minutes north of Myrtle Beach, SC, this chain of barrier islands offers a different kind of beach vacation. It’s a place filled with colorful vacation rentals and inns, fewer crowds, local eats, and family-friendly beaches.
What makes NC’s Brunswick islands so special is their proximity to one another. It only takes 45 minutes to get from one end of the chain to the other, allowing vacationers to essentially “island-hop” and experience different beach towns and attractions during their stay.
Southport, North Carolina
Once named “America’s Happiest Seaside Town” by Coastal Living Magazine, Southport, NC, is a historic maritime town overlooking the Cape Fear River and Intracoastal Waterway. Its history dates back to the 1800s and includes stories of explorers, wars, and pirates.
Southport is also a premier filming location, described as “one of its finest filming locations” by Hollywood. Films and TV shows you may be familiar with include Crimes of The Heart (1986), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), A Walk to Remember (2002), Dawson’s Creek (1998 – 2003), and Nicholas Sparks Safe Haven (2013). Many visitors enjoy taking a self-guided walking tour of the filming locations.
Begin your visit at the Fort Johnston – Southport Museum and Visitor Center, where you can learn all about the town’s history. It’s a small museum packed with great information about the area and includes an exhibit called “Southport on Film.” The front of the museum is also filled with brochures to help you find things to do and places to eat.
Next door, you’ll find the NC Maritime Museum at Southport, where you can learn about the town’s maritime history, including stories about pirates. This free museum includes interactive exhibits and activities for children.
Other popular activities include enjoying the waterfront park and pier, finding treasures at boutique shops, and boat tours of the Cape Fear River. Head to the Yacht Basin downtown area to enjoy a fresh seafood meal on the water. Restaurants include Fishy Fishy, Edgewater 122, Frying Pan, and the Yacht Basin Eatery.
Oak Island, North Carolina
Oak Island was named one of the Best Beaches in North Carolina 2024 by USA TODAY. The town has two fishing piers, twelve miles of dog-friendly beachfront, boat and kayak ramps, and local restaurants.
The Oak Island Pier is a popular spot for fishing and leisurely walks. At the front of the pier, you will find a bait shop and the Koko Cabana restaurant. Koko Cabana is a great spot to escape the sun, enjoy a drink, or grab a bite while enjoying the views.
The island also has a golf course, a nature center, and plenty of opportunities to go kayaking. Once you’re done playing in the sun, be sure to stop by Solar Brewing for a craft brew or cider.
Holden Beach, North Carolina
Holden Beach was also named one of the top beaches in North Carolina by USA TODAY for its “idyllic atmosphere.” Dr. Beach has also called Holden Beach the “Best Family-Friendly Beach Town in the United States.”
Outside the main beach, you’ll find delicious seafood restaurants like Provision Co., where you can enjoy a meal with views of the Intracoastal Waterway. If you want to explore the waterway, contact TourH2O for kayak rentals or a tiki boat cruise!
Once you get to the main beach area, you and your family can enjoy bike rides, Bridgeview Park, shopping for souvenirs, admiring the colorful beach houses with fun names, and spending some time at the beach!
You won’t find crowds at this beach, but you will find shelling and bird-watching opportunities! Holden Beach is one of the best places to find intact seashells– the perfect souvenir to take home!
Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Ocean Isle Beach was named the best beach in North Carolina in 2024 by USA TODAY. The town features local eateries, fishing opportunities, golf courses, museums, a zipline course, surf camps, and summer concerts.
Be sure to stop by the Ocean Isle Fish Company, an open-air restaurant and bar with gorgeous water views and delicious bites like soft-shell crab sandwiches. Enjoy an afternoon at the Museum of Coastal Carolina, where your family can enjoy interactive exhibits and touch tanks while learning about the area’s maritime life.
Wine lovers should head to the Silver Coast Winery, where they can enjoy award-winning wines made with grapes sourced from the mountains of North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. Enjoy a tasting, grab a bottle, and walk around the property and gardens.
Once you get to the main beach, there are seven miles of uncrowded shoreline and a fishing pier to enjoy. Due to its geographical location, Ocean Isle Beach is known for spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Sunset Beach is the southernmost Brunswick Island, very near the border of South Carolina. National Geographic once recognized Sunset Beach as one of the best beaches in the world. The town sits between beautiful marshland and the Atlantic Ocean and has beautiful beach homes, shops, a pier, and several restaurants. It’s another destination known for its gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.
The Sunset Inn was our home base for our “island hopping” adventure in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands. The rooms were romantic and cozy, with large screened-in balconies and marsh views. It was also an easy walk to the beach.
Sunset Beach connects to The Bird Island Coastal Reserve, where you’ll find the Kindred Spirit Mailbox– a local landmark and the inspiration behind the Nicholas Sparks novel Every Breath. To find the mailbox, head to the last beach access (go at low tide) and walk or bike the beach for approximately 1.5 miles. The Kindred Spirit Mailbox is hidden among the dunes, so if you reach the jetty, you’ve gone too far.
Once you reach the mailbox, open it, and you’ll find a journal filled with the thoughts, dreams, and fears of others who have visited. These journals are archived at the Univeristy of North Carolina at Wilmington Library, so be sure to leave an entry!
Other Notable Nearby Coastal Towns
NC’s Brunswick Islands is also home to the famous fishing town of Calabash, as well as, Caswell Beach, Bald Head Island, Leland, and Shallotte. These coastal towns, which can be found throughout Brunswick County, offer even more dining options, beaches, museums, and excursions for the entire family.
NC’s Brunswick Islands Vacation
A vacation to NC’s Brunswick Islands is not just another crowded beach vacation filled with hotels, commercial restaurants, and loud beach parties. These family-friendly destinations offer unique experiences and moments of connection.
Alexandrea Sumuel Groves is a nationally syndicated travel writer and founder of the Wander With Alex travel blog. Her work has appeared on MSN, YAHOO!, Euronews, and FOX, ABC, and NBC affiliates across the United States.
Alex travels to experience, eat, explore, and occasionally escape! She collaborates with destinations, vacation property management companies, and hospitality technology firms to provide her readers with exclusive insights and information.