A 26-Mile Sandbar With a Long Memory
Three towns. Two inlets. Sea turtles, fishing piers, and the slowest summers on the Carolina coast. Here's how locals would tell you to spend your week.
Quieter than the Outer Banks. Friendlier than Wrightsville.
Topsail (locals say "Top sul") is a barrier island tucked between Wilmington and Jacksonville. It's narrow enough that you can walk from the ocean to the sound in five minutes, and long enough that you can drive an hour without leaving. There are no chain hotels, no boardwalk crowds, and no high rises south of the bridge. What you'll find instead is fresh shrimp off the boat, sea turtle nests roped off in the dunes, and beach houses that have been in the same family for three generations.
Topsail (locals say "Top sul") is a barrier island tucked between Wilmington and Jacksonville. It's narrow enough that you can walk from the ocean to the sound in five minutes, and long enough that you can drive an hour without leaving. There are no chain hotels, no boardwalk crowds, and no high rises south of the bridge. What you'll find instead is fresh shrimp off the boat, sea turtle nests roped off in the dunes, and beach houses that have been in the same family for three generations.
Three Towns. One Island. Pick Your Pace.
Each town has its own rhythm. Find yours.
What to Do When You're Not on the Porch
The Island Knows How to Spend a Week
Eat well, move slowly, see something new. Our local guide is grouped four ways so you can find what fits the day.
A Few Things Every First-Timer Should Know
The basics. Nothing fancy.
Best months: May through October.
Sea turtle season: May to August.
Closest airport: Wilmington (ILM).
Pet rules vary by town. Leashes required.
The hard part isn't getting here.