Tell me about Topsail Island, NC

[Bibbidi]

DMIL just won an auction for a week rental at a house on Topsail Island. We've never been, not familiar with the area at all. 14 of us will be going sometime between September and end of April next year--what time would be the best to go? What is there to do? I'm thinking late April for spring break, but DMIL also mentioned going for Thanksgiving as a getaway then. Thoughts?

 

[HamTown]

There are three towns on Topsail Island: Topsail Beach (the most southern), Surf city (middle) and North Topsail Beach.

Topsail Beach is almost all single family homes and there are few "touristy" things to do during the offseason. My family has been going there since I was a child and we absolutely love it but we know it's not for everyone.

Surf City has the most restaurants, shops, etc. Most everything is open year round. It is the most crowded, but still nothing compared to places like Virginia Beach or Ocean City.

No. Topsail Beach has lots of condos and is the only place on the island to have public changing areas. It is across the inlet from Camp Lejeune Marine base and has quite a large military component.

There is an arts festival the 3rd weekend of October each year. Topsail was used as a missile testing site before WWII and there is a small museum explaining the history of that program. There is also a sea turtle hospital but I don't think it allows visitors during the winter months.

If you're looking for a quiet place with a nice wide beach, Topsail is a great place. If you have access to a small boat, there are large sand bars in the sound on the south end of the island that are great to explore at low tide. There is a public access at the extreme south end of the island on the sound side where you can walk to the inlet and a bird sanctuary. The island is growing that way so it would be a REALLY long walk to go all the way around now, but it's pretty amazing to go out there and see all the unspoiled beach front.

 

[MKCP5]

OMG !!! My FAVORITE place in the world!!!!!!! We have been so many times. PM me for specific questions. Where did you win an auction for time there? I want to win one!!

 

[ShannonMB]

Oooh, that's MY spot! My family has been going there for years -- it is our beach vacation place. The first poster gave you everything you need to know, but I just wanted to chime in and tell you we love it there! True there's not a whole lot of activities right in the vicinity, but that's what we LOVE about it. A house right on a sublimely beautiful beach -- nothing much to do but listen to the waves crash, feel the sand between your toes, boogie board, swim out to where you can't touch then start thinking about sharks and swim as fast as you can back to shore (well, that's what I do ). My sis and her hubby went on a deep-sea fishing charter one time and caught a ton of fish, including a 6 foot shark . There is some shopping in Surf City and lots of good restaurants, and you can rent jet-skis and that type of thing. But mostly we just chill. It's basically the opposite of a Disney vacation.

We like to go in July or early August. In fact, we are headed there mid-July this year, and I can't WAIT! We prefer the heat of summer because all of us really like to be in the water, which is best (for us, at least) when it's nice and hot. I've never been any other time, but I'm sure it's beautiful year-round.

Have a great time!!

 

[tar heel]

I'm glad to see this post. My family is going to Topsail Beach for a week this summer with more than 60 of my DH's relatives! Fortunately, we have six houses. Can anyone suggest a restaurant that might accomodate all of us for one meal? Also, is Food Lion the grocery store or is there something else? I need to order hamburgers and hotdogs for the night our family is cooking

Thanks!

 

[cheshireqt]

My best kept secret is out! If you can go in Sept I think I would go then while you can still enjoy the beach. Thanksgiving time-frame through April you can enjoy the sound of the beach but probably would be too cold to enjoy the water.

 

[HamTown]

There is a Food Lion just across the bridge from Surf City and just across from No. Topsail Beach in Snead's Ferry. There is also a locally owned IGA on the island in Surf City and a small gas station/market in TB but both of these have significant markups.

I can't think of a restaurant that could accommodate 60+ during the summer crunch time. The Breezeway in TB is the only one that even has that type of capacity. You could always call now and see if they would reserve a night for you. They are a fried seafood type place right on the sound.

 

[Maybelle]

Where can you fly into...we are thinking about a NC vacation.

 

[tar heel]

You would fly into Wilmington.

 

[bayleebugs_mom]

I used to live in Jacksonville and this is always where we went to swim! I love it here. One of my very dear friends and I spent a lot of nights on the pier watching people fish. The beach was always clean and not too crowded. I would give anything to be there right now!

 

[tar heel]

The realtor we're working with suggested I try Christopher's in Snead's Ferry for our group. Do you Topsail experts know that restaurant? Assuming you do, would you recommend it? Tell me about it.

Thanks.

 

[Promomx2]

It's alittle north of Topsail, but check into going to Atlantic Beach, Emerald Island area. Great aquarium there, fort and then in Beauford, you take a boat out to little islands where wild horses are and it's absolutely beautiful.

 

[mafibisha]

It's alittle north of Topsail, but check into going to Atlantic Beach, Emerald Island area. Great aquarium there, fort and then in Beauford, you take a boat out to little islands where wild horses are and it's absolutely beautiful.

We love this area too!
Its newer & fresher, with more restaurants and shopping!

 

[tar heel]

I'm must full of questions. We're now looking at doing North Carolina barbecue our first night. I see there's something called Holly Ridge Smokehouse. Is it good? Is there another place that would be better?

 

[IvyandLace]

Wow! I'm shocked at the amount of people who have responded to this message and have expressed that this is *their* place! My family has been going to Topsail Beach every summer for the past 13 years...my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews always rent a home to share and enjoy the unspoiled aspects of a true family beach. My husband and I just got back from a trip to the Myrtle Beach area and were shocked at the gawdy "touristy" nature of the place!! One of the things we love about Topsail Beach is that there are few tourist-trap places in the area...if you *love* a beautiful beach, love to surf or deep-sea fish and want to make lasting memories with a true beach adventure, you can't do any better than Topsail Island.

We are skipping our summer vacation to Topsail in order to attend my nephew's graduation from high school but are excited to try Topsail in September this year!!! We've always wanted to go at this time of year but were never able to because of kids in school at that time. September's prices can't be beat!!

Hope you enjoy your vacation...let us know how things went!

IVY

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I'm must full of questions. We're now looking at doing North Carolina barbecue our first night. I see there's something called Holly Ridge Smokehouse. Is it good? Is there another place that would be better?

My Dh's family gathers in Topsail every July. The Smokehouse is one of their favorites and can easily accomodate 60 people. They have a "buffet" on Sunday nights I believe. We really like Max's Pizza and usually end up at the seahorse cafe for breakfast. My DH's aunt told me that the weather in September is wonderful. I've only been there in July and so far the weather has been great! I can't wait for our trip this year!!!!! Only about 6 weeks to go There is another restaurant just off the bridge but I can't remember the name. I'll have to post back.

Ok... it's Batsons galley.

 

[mafibisha]

Wow! I'm shocked at the amount of people who have responded to this message and have expressed that this is *their* place! My family has been going to Topsail Beach every summer for the past 13 years...my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews always rent a home to share and enjoy the unspoiled aspects of a true family beach. My husband and I just got back from a trip to the Myrtle Beach area and were shocked at the gawdy "touristy" nature of the place!! One of the things we love about Topsail Beach is that there are few tourist-trap places in the area...if you *love* a beautiful beach, love to surf or deep-sea fish and want to make lasting memories with a true beach adventure, you can't do any better than Topsail Island.

We are skipping our summer vacation to Topsail in order to attend my nephew's graduation from high school but are excited to try Topsail in September this year!!! We've always wanted to go at this time of year but were never able to because of kids in school at that time. September's prices can't be beat!!

Hope you enjoy your vacation...let us know how things went!

IVY

Gosh, I'm not a huge fan of MB (we prefer Hilton Head!) but I know there are alot of fans on this board. MB isn't all gawdy.
Yes, MB offers many more restaurants, VERY cute putt-putt and lots of shopping! But MB also offers countless newer and fresher types of accommodations (condos, hotels, motels, houses) in every price range, where Topsail is simply an older beach town with mostly older homes. It is what it is, they are what they are.

Now, NORTH Topsail has some STUNNING newer homes on the beach but they're not usually not rented. They do however have a few condo complexes that are newer and nice.

As much of life, to each his own.

 

[pjb0216]

We love Topsail! It is beautiful and quiet. The perfect place to relax. Wilmington isn't that far away (maybe 30-45 minutes???) and we go there maybe once during the week we stay there to shop and eat. We have taken the kids to the Battleship there and they love that.

 

[watkinsme]

You would fly into Wilmington.

You can also fly into jacksonville - they have a lot more flights now

 

[lecach]

We're heading down there Friday if you need me to check anything for you. My Mom has a condo in Hampstead (about 15 minutes from Surf City) so I have been down there a lot. Lots of cool stuff to do in Wilmington and it only takes 30 minutes to get to. We eat at the Crab Pot a lot. And go to River View in Sneads Ferry. When we're down we usually just hang at the beach. But the aquarium at Fort Fisher isnt too far, the battleship in Wilmington and the downtown area are neat.