Make the drive on over to Ocean Isle Beach and you will find there is plenty to do. Perfectly positioned in North Carolina’s beautiful Brunswick County, Ocean Isle Beach is best described as a small and welcoming town that provides travelers with a warm reception and all sorts of exciting activities. Whether you have a family, are single, retired or of another demographic, you will find there is always something fun and exciting to do at Ocean Isle Beach. From lovely white sand that is perfect for sunbathing to warm water, world-class restaurants and all sorts of additional amenities, there really is something for everyone at Ocean Isle Beach.
Have A Blast At The Beach!
Spending a vacation by the beach means different things to different people. Some enjoy soaking up the sun while sipping a drink in a comfy chair on the lovely white Ocean Isle Beach sand.
Others favor beach vacations as they provide a golden opportunity to enjoy water sports ranging from snorkeling to boating, swimming, parasailing, fishing and beyond. Others have a blast playing in the sand, building sandcastles with their little ones, tossing the football around, playing volleyball or tossing the frisbee. Some prefer to spend their time on the water, kayaking, jet skiing or getting a tan on a boat.
One thing is for sure: You will leave the noise, traffic, bright lights, advertisements and other stresses of the rat race behind as you enjoy your time away from the 9 to 5 grind at Ocean Isle Beach.
Play A Round At The Best Golf Courses Near Ocean Isle Beach
If you love golf or are even slightly interested in it, you will have the time of your life in Ocean Isle Beach. Even those who prefer miniature golf over traditional golf will have a ball at this scenic getaway. Be sure to check out River Country Mini Golf, located at 1 E. First St. Here, you will find an 18-hole miniature golf course that everyone in the family is sure to love. The course has a jungle-themed area where you can play amidst elephants, zebras, giraffes and additional animal-oriented decorations. Even if you are a halfway decent golfer who has played dozens of traditional courses, you can benefit from a miniature golf round at River Country Mini Golf as it provides a fantastic opportunity to practice your putting stroke.
Those who prefer to “swing the sticks” on full-size golf courses will gravitate toward Ocean Isle Beach’s Brick Landing Plantation Golf Club. Experienced golfers far and wide rave about this course’s quality and beauty. The 18-hole course starts and finishes along the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway, providing gorgeous coastal scenery that is the perfect visual backdrop for 18 holes of golf. If you play a round at Brick Landing Plantation Golf Club, be sure to stop by The View restaurant where you will find some truly delicious hot eats and cool treats. Play the course on Sunday and you will have the opportunity to chow down at the restaurant’s Sunday Brunch between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Explore The Shallotte River Swamp Park
Though the prospect of visiting anything with the word “swamp” in its name might not seem like the optimal use of your limited vacation time, the truth is Ocean Isle Beach’s Shallotte River Swamp Park, located at 5550 Watts Road, is well worth the visit. Bring your significant other, your family or your another traveling partner to this local attraction and you will find there are plenty of fun activities including quite the informative tour. In fact, the park even provides scenic zipline tours, Riverwalk trail self-guided tours and eco-tours on swamp boats. The zipline tours last a couple hours, providing an eye-popping aerial adventure you will never forget. Additional Shallotte River Swamp draws include its reptile sanctuary, an aerial obstacle course, arcade games, an ice cream shop and countless picture-perfect photo opportunities for sharing on social media.
Visit The Museum of Coastal Carolina
Located at 21 East Second Street, the Museum of Coastal Carolina is the perfect place for your family to learn about our surrounding environment, natural science and local Carolina history. The museum is chock-full of activities everyone in the family is sure to enjoy. Aside from checking out historical pieces, the museum provides kids with the opportunity to feed animals, go digging for shark teeth, story time, puppet shows for the little ones and so much more. If you and your loved ones have even a slight interest in the world of sea turtles or the history of the Carolinas, you owe it to yourself to visit the Museum of Coastal Carolina.
Venture to the “Other Side” With an Ocean Isle Beach Ghost Walk
Visit Ocean Isle beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day and you will have the opportunity to partake in a ghost walk. Muster up the courage to take this tour and you will hear some truly spooky tales along with local myths pertaining to the South Brunswick Islands. This is your opportunity to learn about the local Ocean Isle Beach history and delve into the world of the supernatural in good fun. Interested parties should know tickets to the Sunset Beach Ghost Walk tour are typically sold about 10 minutes prior to the start of the show which starts at 7 in the evening between Salty’s Surf Shop and the Pier.
Take A Sip At The Silver Coast Winery
Vacation is a time to relax. Aside from lounging on the beach, taking a swim and chowing down some of the world’s best culinary creations, Ocean Isle Beach also presents visitors with the opportunity to taste some truly amazing wines at the Silver Coast Winery. The winery makes all of its own wine on-site. In fact, the winery has a vineyard on the premises. Head on over to the Silver Coast Winery after a morning or afternoon of swimming, snorkeling, golfing or fishing, taste a couple wines, tour the vineyard and you will feel as though you are in heaven. The Silver Coast Winery also features a barrel room, a gift shop and plenty more so be sure to carve out at least a couple hours to get the most out of this local gem.
Go Shopping In Cool & Unique Boutiques
If you are like most people, you plan on doing some shopping during your getaway. You work hard for your money so you certainly deserve to spend some of it on niceties at local Ocean Isle Beach shops. Be sure to check out Classy but Sassy. This cute boutique sells highly unique apparel, home décor, shoes and more for women and kids. If you plan on fishing, you will be ecstatic about the one-stop shopping experience provided at the Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Center. This store has everything you could possibly need to get the most out of your fishing experience. Aside from fishing tackle and additional supplies for fishing, Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Center also offers souvenirs, apparel, coastal gifts and plenty more.
Those on the prowl for a shop that has items for little ones, chic accessories or women’s apparel will love the selection at Victoria’s Rug Patch. Venture over to the Ocean Isle Beach Lowes Food Shopping Center and you will find a locally owned Surf and Java shop with tasty coffee, clothing, footwear, accessories and more.
Sample The Excellent Local Fare
Ocean Isle Beach has some of the region’s best seafood and other culinary delights. Whether you are looking for fish, Mexican, a gourmet sandwich or top-notch wine, you will find it at Ocean Isle Beach. Pelicans Perch is one of the many local restaurants held in high regard by Ocean Isle Beach-area residents and visitors alike. Positioned merely one block from the beach on East Second Street, Pelicans Perch has delicious tacos, salads, sandwiches and even live entertainment.
Fibber McGees, located between Sunset Beach and Queen Anne Street, is the perfect place to eat lunch or dinner. Treat yourself to Fibber’s tasty appetizers, order one of the restaurant’s signature wraps and you will agree the restaurant is worthy of its stellar reviews. If you prefer Italian cuisine, you will love La Cucina between Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach. In particular, La Cucina’s Bruschetta and Calamari are especially popular. Seafood-lovers will gravitate to Sharky’s Ocean Isle Beach. Open for lunch and dinner, Sharky’s Ocean Isle Beach has some of the area’s best seafood entrees, hamburgers and other tasty delights.
Check Out The Ingram Planetarium
Spend a couple days soaking up the sun, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, golfing and checking out the local highlights and you will reach the point where you just want to chill out. Bring the kids or your sweetie over to the Ingram Planetarium and you will be able to do exactly that. This is your opportunity to learn about the solar system in a climate-controlled setting you and your kids are sure to love. Here, you will find high-definition digital projection along with a surround sound audio system at the planetarium’s SciDome Sky Theater.