Area Beaches
Bald Head Island
Bald Head Island, North Carolina, is located two and a half miles off of the North Carolina coast, is well-known for its seclusion and peaceful way of life.
Getting to Bald Head Island is an escape within itself. Accessible by private ferry or yacht, automobiles are maintained in a secured lot in Southport, while you load your belongings onto a passenger ferry. A short twenty-five minute ferry ride brings you to a striking island paradise. With fourteen miles of sandy white beaches awaiting your pleasure for sunning, beach-combing or life's simplest pleasure – walking. A championship golf course designed by George Cobb lines the center of the island with challenging holes. The stunning maritime forest boasts ancient live oak, cedar and palm trees. A tidal salt marsh remains sanctuary to many rare birds, wildlife and fisheries.
Bald Head Island is a truly wonderful place to take pleasure in nature. The scenic landscape features homes that suit your natural surroundings. Here you will find no high rises or neon lights. The homes on the island will capture your eye with their charming Nantucket appeal. Bald Head Island is one of the last unspoiled villages along the shore.
Oak Island
At twelve and a half miles long and about one mile across, Oak Island is the largest and most populated of the Brunswick County Isles. The town is committed to the preservation of the island and has won national recognition with its efforts. Yaupon trees, twisted live oaks, nature trails and unspoiled beaches together create a nature lover's paradise.
Freshwater wetlands, maritime forests and salt marsh along the beach strand form a complex ecosystem home to a wide variety of plant life and animals. Sea turtles are fiercely protected here and return year after year to lay their eggs.
Dedication to family-friendly activities, Oak Island is a fantastic place to live or pay a visit. With over ten miles of beaches, the island offers more than fifty public beach accesses, extensive sidewalks, several public boat ramps, picnic areas, parks, nature centers and walking trails.
Activities include walking on nature trails, golfing, boating, fishing, crabbing, clamming, shelling, or simply relaxing on the beach. Many colorful shops and dining options may be found here.
Situated half-way between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, the town of Oak Island is close to a myriad of cultural and entertainment activities, yet, it has preserved the hospitality and warmth of a small town.
Holden Beach
Holden Beach, an eight-mile long island in Brunswick County, is home to approximately 900 year-round residents. The island offers a variety of activities for those of all ages and has a strong tourist season that lasts from May through August. Much of the income for Holden Beach comes from this tourism industry, which increases the peak season island population to about 15,000 people.
Holden Beach, though primarily residential, is home to a variety of activities and businesses. On the island, you will find a fishing pier, two fish houses, numerous operating charter boats, restaurants, a post office, a seafood market, general stores and real estate agencies. The nearby mainland area offers additional souvenir shops, restaurants, ice cream shops, coffee shops and more.
In 1998, owners of oceanfront properties in Holden Beach, along with the town, sponsored a $1.2 million project to replace a 4.5 mile section of the dune. The new dune is 8-feet high and runs from the east end of Holden Beach to the 800 block of Ocean Boulevard West. Though this project helped to prevent erosion, the issue of erosion continues on the island and additional dune repairs and beach renourishment will also need funding sometime in the future.
One of the popular features of Holden Beach is the 8-mile sidewalk found along the main beach road. Residents and visitors enjoy walking and jogging on this well-maintained path. Holden Beach is also home to one of Brunswick County’s regional beach access points. This public beach access area offers a large 90-space parking lot, restrooms, and showers that are handicap-equipped. The handicap accessibility continues to the shore with a ramp to the beach, paid for with the help of a state grant.
The history of Holden Beach as a commercial fishing center can still be found today. Its proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean give Holden Beach the perfect location to excel in the commercial fishing industry. The eleven miles of beaches found on Holden Beach are peaceful and beautiful. A variety of cottages and condos are available for rent on Holden Beach, which offers a romantic setting that would be perfect for a honeymoon or other getaway trip.
Connected to the mainland by just one two-lane elevated causeway bridge, Holden Beach is known as the area's "family beach." In addition to family beach activities, there are also great opportunities for surf and off-shore fishing. Holden Beach is also home to a full-service fishing pier that will offer a fun fishing experience for anglers of all skill levels.
The widest point of Holden Beach is just one-half mile wide, so most homes found on the island offer great ocean views. In addition, oceanfront properties normally offer marsh and/or canal views, in addition to their breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
While you will enjoy the peace and quiet of this beautiful island, you will also enjoy the convenience of being just 15 to 20 minutes from nearby Shallotte, Ocean Isle Beach and Southport. In addition, Holden Beach is approximately 45 minutes from nearby Wilmington, and about the same distance to nearby Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Sunset Beach
Brunswick County's southernmost island, Sunset Beach, is a short three miles long and offers many visitors the perfect vacation getaway each year. Accessible only by a one-lane pontoon bridge that crosses a salt marsh, Sunset Beach is a quiet coastal village that consists primarily of beach houses.
Though Sunset Beach is a small island, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy while you enjoy your visit here. As you relish in the slow-paced lifestyle found on Sunset Beach, you can participate in outdoor activities, hang out at the beach or browse for souvenirs and gifts in area boutiques. Residents and visitors of Sunset Beach think the mixture of relaxation and activity is perfect – there is something for everyone in your family at Sunset Beach!
If you are an outdoor enthusiast, Sunset Beach will offer plenty of choices for you. A number of championship golf courses are located just minutes away on the mainland. If you prefer fishing, you will enjoy taking your boat out and trying your luck at getting the "catch of the day," or you can relax while you fish from the full-service fishing pier found on Sunset Beach. If golfing and fishing aren't for you, don't worry – some other options are also found on Sunset Beach, where you can walk to nearby Bird Island during low tide or venture into area waters for a kayaking trip.
If your goal in Sunset Beach is to relax, the beach is beckoning with its gently rolling waves and dunes covered with sea oats. You will enjoy searching the beach for shells and watching children build sandcastles and play in the surf. Another great option is to enjoy a quiet lunch from the deck of your rental home, with the sights and sound of the ocean as the background.
Other fun activities that everyone in your family can enjoy are browsing for gifts and souvenirs in the specialty shops and boutiques of Sunset Beach. When the shopping excursion is one, you can all enjoy a delicious seafood dinner at one of the area's popular restaurants.
Though Sunset Beach is small and quiet, you will also enjoy the convenient location between Myrtle Beach and Wilmington. Staying in Sunset Beach offers a great opportunity to retreat to a quiet island after spending a day in one of these nearby bustling cities. More than 2,000 year-round residents call the quiet coastal village of Sunset Beach home. Contact the Sales Department at Cape Fear Realty today, and you could join the group of proud owners that call Sunset Beach home.
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