While thousands of beach lovers head towards the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach, S.C. each year, those looking for a different type of vacation head towards the quieter paradise of the North Carolina Brunswick Islands.
Brunswick County consists of eight smaller islands each unique in their own individual way. For those wishing for a secluded beach vacation, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island and Bald Head Island are some of the more favorite picks.
Ocean Isle Beach boasts eight miles of serene and calm sandy beaches and a quiet, unassuming atmosphere for those who seek a quiet and relaxing vacation spot. It is home to the Museum of Coastal Carolina and an inviting pier at the center of the island. Those looking for day-trip excursions can travel by car and enjoy the shopping and area attractions of North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach within 30 to 45 minutes.
The smallest of the Brunswick Islands, Sunset Beach, brings to mind the perfect picture of a secluded island with its salt marshes and picturesque pastel-colored cottages that line the three-mile beach. Accessed over a one-lane pontoon bridge, it also offers gorgeous evening sunsets and a variety of championship golf courses.
Once a commercial fishing center in the 1920s, Holden Beach has turned itself into an ideal family vacation spot located on 11 miles of beaches. Home to popular festivals such as Day at the Docks, Oyster Festival and Festival by the Sea, it offers a full-service pier for fishing enthusiasts as well as retail shops and dining spots. Holden Beach maintains its quiet way of life with a commercial-free atmosphere by keeping all buildings smaller than 35 feet high.
For recreation lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, Oak Island offers over 50 public beach accesses, canoe and kayak-friendly areas, parks, playgrounds, picnic areas and hiking trails. Memorial Park offers a pier, butterfly garden and a short, wooded nature trail. Skate Park offers a place for inline skating and skateboarding for those of all ages. Though the 10-mile island is the largest town of the Brunswick Islands, it offers a small-town atmosphere that has kept families returning year after year.
Visitors to Bald Head Island must access it by a private passenger ferry that departs from Southport. Once on the island, visitors can only explore the island on foot, by bike or golf cart. The island is a renowned safe haven for wildlife and out of its 12,000 acres, 10,000 of them are dedicated nature preserves. The M. Kent Mitchell Nature Trail provides outdoor enthusiasts with a 20-minute scenic walk through the maritime forest and salt marshes.
Just over the bridge from Sunset Island is the town of Calabash, known to many as “The Seafood Capital of the World.” Easily accessed by the rest of the Brunswick Islands, Calabash is home to more than 22 seafood restaurants, many of them waterfront, that serve up fresh seafood fried “Calabash-style.” Over one million diners head to Calabash for it’s famous seafood each year.
Those looking for a break from the frenetic pace of their everyday lives head to the Brunswick Beaches each year to enjoy good food, shopping, recreational activities, and most important of all, to do absolutely nothing for a change.
