Im sure some people on here have vacationed at one of the beaches in NC. My wife and I are probably going to be renting a house in Topsail Island with 6 other people this summer. How are the beaches in that area? Are there things to do? Good places to eat?

 

The beaches there are nice, alot better than it used to be back in the day. A few decent places to eat, but not much to do. Wilmington is about a 45 min drive away. Go there if you are looking for things to do or better places to eat. Historic downtown, battleship, things like that.

 

The beaches are nice, but Topsail has a pretty steep drop-off and bad undertow that red flags it a lot of the summer.

 

Oh really? I will have to let the wife know about that

 

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Even without red flags, the waters of the Outer Banks can be tricky. Also, I've heard more sharks and jellyfish are getting closer to shore there. Don't want to discourage you from the water, but if you use common sense you'll have a great time!

 

I live 7 miles from Topsail Island- we go to Surf City-there are no lifeguards but compared to the other beach-most of the time the undertow is not bad. They are not considered part of the outer banks they are the barrier islands. Outer Banks is about 40 miles north of Topsail. Unless there has been a big storm there is not big drop off in the ocean there. If fact we are considered in the Topsail district.

 

Thanks for the info. Im not too worried about jellyfish because we normally go to ocean city, MD and in the last few years the jellyfish have been ridiculous so were are kinda used to them.

Since we are traveling from PA I would have preferred the outer banks simply because its closer but to find a place that would fit all of us it was much cheaper in Topsail Island.

 

In surf city they have ramps or stairs to get over the dumes to get to the beach-(not much when it is high tide) A good restaurant- Ricks is good (sneads ferry) They have a website. Where on topsail island are you going-

 

We have been going to Topsail Island for 5 years (since moving from Pa) and rarely had problems with jellyfish nor do they put up any flags to warn swimmers- Swim at your own risk. They do have beach patrol that rides up and down the beach in a atv.

 

We found a place on new river inlet road in north topsail

 

Outer Banks is a nice "family oriented" beach. When I was kid, Myrtle Beach was our yearly vacationing spot. You don't notice it when you're younger, but it has a dirty, trashy, redneck atmosphere.

 

You will probably be passing Rick's to get to North Topsail. I will have to check that out-when are you planning this trip. I am now in Florida until 2/1.