A Slower Family Escape on North Carolina’s Coast

In North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands, life moves a little slower. In this region, pastimes—like fishing, shelling, kayaking, and golfing—play out on their own timeline, with room in every day to catch one more fish, walk or paddle a little further, or get in a few extra strokes on the green.

It’s this quality that makes the Brunswick Islands so well-suited to family travel. Whether you’re traveling with young children, grandparents, or the entire extended crew, there’s always something to do (but never a sense of urgency). You get to decide your own pace, and the Brunswick Islands follow accordingly.

Rent a beachfront home on Holden Beach or Oak Island

Courtesy of the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority

You’ll find a handful of family-friendly hotels in the Brunswick Islands—a coastal region made up of five barrier islands, seaside towns, and wide, sandy beaches—as well as vacation rentals. A rental home on either Holden Beach or Oak Island will give you the space to spread out, plus all of the amenities needed for a comfortable beach day (laundry, outdoor showers, easy access to the water).

Start your hunt for the perfect place to stay by browsing the lists at either McClure Realty Vacations or Coastal Vacation Resorts at Oak Island. No matter which one you choose to make your base camp, you can easily explore other Brunswick County islands and beaches, all of which are within driving distance.

Courtesy of the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority

Enjoy a beach day on Ocean Isle Beach or Oak Island

Beach days are par for the course down in NC’s Brunswick Islands. Pack your tote bag with all the essentials—water, snacks, books, sunscreen, and fresh towels—and gather the lounge chairs and umbrellas; the sand and surf await on Ocean Isle Beach and Oak Island.

Ocean Isle Beach is a magnet for surfers, with the Carolina School of Surf and OIB Surf Camp offering lessons to those who want to learn the sport (or improve their current skill set). You can also opt to simply build sandcastles. Or watch baby sea turtles making their way from nest to sea if you’re in town for hatching season, which is July through October.

On Oak Island, the wide beaches are the star of the show. With more than 60 public access points, as well as two fishing piers, you’ll never be too far from the saltwater.

Explore Bald Head Island

Perhaps one of the most distinctive destinations within Brunswick County, Bald Head Island is only reachable by private boat or a 20-minute ferry from Southport. The extra effort is worth it, though. Once you arrive, it will immediately immerse you in the relaxed atmosphere of this no-cars-allowed island.

Rent a couple of golf carts or beach cruisers for the entire family, and set off to explore all of the beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests. Just don’t forget to swing by the oldest standing lighthouse in NC, Old Baldy. If you’re up for a challenge, count the 108 steps up to the very top, where sweeping ocean views will reward you.

Paddle around Cypress Cove Park

Leland is a lesser-known gem in Brunswick County, filled with natural beauty and waterways. Cypress Cove Park features 27 acres of wetlands and 1.2 acres of uplands, so the best way to get around is by boat.

Put in a kayak, canoe, or Jon boat, and keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife. (Pro tip: bring a pair of binoculars.) If you didn’t travel with your own vessel, rent one from Adventure Kayak Company in Southport.

Explore Southport

You may recognize Southport from the big and small screens—its picture-perfect waterfront and historic neighborhoods have starred in films like Safe Haven and TV shows such as The Summer I Turned Pretty. The destination is the kind of place that invites you to stroll, snap photos, and soak up its charm, one street at a time.

Amateur historians in the group may gravitate toward the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport. Film fans may be more interested in a film fact–filled golf cart tour with Southport Fun Tours. Let everyone choose their own adventure, but decide on a meeting spot for lunch—Edgewater 122 or Fishy Fishy Cafe.

Try Calabash-style seafood

Courtesy of the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority

In the Brunswick Islands, Calabash-style seafood is a way of life. The lightly battered and fried delicacy can be found up and down the coast, but first-timers should make a point to try it in the eponymous town of Calabash.

With everything from shrimp baskets and oyster baskets to flounder sandwiches and clam strips, the menu at the Waterfront Seafood Shack covers all your bases. The fried seafood, in its many forms, is best complemented with hush puppies, coleslaw, and a slice of pie (topped with ice cream, if you’d prefer).

Go fishing around Sunset Beach, Caswell Beach, Oak Island, or Ocean Isle Beach

Courtesy of the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority

No trip to the Brunswick Islands would be complete without a few hours spent throwing out a line. So, organize your fishing permits and gather your fishing equipment and bait.

You can certainly head to one of the area’s many fishing piers or even take a fishing charter out to sea—but there’s something about fishing on a peaceful tidal creek. Take the crew, with everyone holding a fishing permit, to explore the waterways around Sunset Beach, the backside of Ocean Isle Beach (off Jinks Creek), and the backside of Oak Island and Caswell Beach.

Visit the Museum of Coastal Carolina

The Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach is a place for the curious, who will delight in live touch tank feedings, aquariums, interactive crafts, and learning about all the ways humans can help care for the natural world. Check out the museum’s hours and programming calendar ahead of your visit and see if you can also fit in a trip to the Ingram Planetarium in nearby Sunset Beach. Its laser light shows and sky theater will entertain everyone in your party.

Find a new favorite flavor at a local ice cream shop

Sweet treats abound in the Brunswick Islands—so it’s easy to make after-dinner ice cream a nightly vacation ritual. Calabash Creamery has been serving flavors like chocolate-covered strawberry and brownie batter since 2003, and Ocean Isle Creamery is a seasonal hotspot. Over on Holden Beach, Saltwater Shanty is known for its sundaes, and you’ve got your pick of ice cream shops on Oak Island, from Lil & John’s Sweetreat Ice Cream Parlor to Frosty’s Ice Cream.

Go on a dolphin cruise from Southport

Courtesy of Rich Brents/Unsplash

There’s perhaps no better way to celebrate the end of a Brunswick Islands family vacation than a sunset dolphin cruise. Southport By Seaside Boat Tours can bring up to six passengers on its Sailfish vessel, creating a private two-hour experience full of photo ops and dolphin sightings. As you cruise along the coast, you may have a strong desire to return every summer—the enchantment of NC’s Brunswick Islands, particularly at golden hour, is powerful.