Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

By Jennifer Weiss

Topsail Island is a 26-miles barrier island located off the coast of North Carolina approximately forty miles north of Wilmington. Consisting of three communities, North Topsail Beach, Surf City and Topsail Beach, this island is known for its thick forests, beautiful beaches, and an abundance of delicate turtles. A quiet, preserved place where nature is at its finest, Topsail Island is the ideal vacation destination to escape from it all and enjoy some of the finest surroundings in North Carolina.

North Topsail Beach is located in the northernmost part of the island and is generally considered the residential part of the beach. Since there are only two restaurants in this community, most visitors either make their way south to Surf City or back to the mainland town of Sneads Ferry for shopping and entertainment. However, the North Topsail Beach portion of the Topsail Island is the best place for fishing, so keep your eyes peeled from a prime on shore spot or for a charter company that can take you into these choice waters for a prized catch.

In addition to the amazing fishing, North Topsail Beach is also home to New River Inlet and Stump Sound, where you will find an abundance of cracked and broken trees, clams, oysters, and shrimp. For those seeking serenity and adventure, this is the best place to head for a calming atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, and various marine life. The best way to navigate through this area is via kayak or canoe, which will also give you easy access to the many passages that will take you to the sound and out to the ocean.

Situated on the center of the island and extending into the mainland, Surf City is the business center and commercial hub of the island. Here you will find numerous restaurants and shopping outlets to satisfy your hunger and your quest for the perfect souvenir to remember your vacation by. One restaurant that is an absolute must for any visitor to the island is Indigo Marsh, which offers a wide selection of fresh seafood, prime cuts, and freshly baked bread and pastries. Sitting on the Intracoastal Waterway, this casual fine dining restaurant offers elegance and ambiance after a long day soaking in the sun at Surf City’s beautiful beaches.

Maintaining and protecting the environment are of highest concern for those in Topsail Beach. This family-oriented beach community strives to preserve the beauty of the area for future visitors by prohibiting high rise buildings and conserving one of the best qualities of the town. The Topsail Turtle Project locates and monitors young loggerhead turtles until they can make their way out to sea, while the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle cares for and rehabilitates injured sea turtles until they are healthy enough to return to the ocean. There are turtle walks where visitors can learn how to protect turtles, and one of the highlights of any trip to Topsail Island is a visit to the Turtle Hospital, as it is affectionately called.

Staying on Topsail Island is an excellent choice if you want to surround yourself with unprecedented beauty that is not contaminated by the growth and development that plagues many great vacation destinations. Whichever part of the island you decide to stay in, you will find an abundance of Topsail Island vacation rentals that have all the amenities you need for an amazing and fulfilling adventure. Begin your search today for the perfect vacation rental in a secluded hideaway or near a pristine beach, and you certainly will not be disappointed.

HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Topsail Island vacation rentals for your next trip to Coastal North Carolina.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Weiss

By Fred Waters

Southern Pines, North Carolina is located approximately 60 miles south of Raleigh. It is adjacent to the world renowned Pinehurst golf resort. Many who come to this area for a visit or to play golf, end up falling in love with Southern Pines and the old southern town atmosphere.

Southern Pines was founded around 1820 as a train stop from the north and south. In fact, the railroad tracks run in the middle of the historic town. Through the year this charming town has developed into a resort community offering the best in golf and horse activities.

Many moved here to retire, but in the last decade numerous professionals, with their families, are escaping the urban sprawl for the tranquil lifestyle found in Southern Pines. Its eclectic neighborhoods surround a quaint and inviting historic business/shopping village with tree lined streets, restaurants to satisfy any appetite, coffee shops, art galleries and boutique shops that offer a full range of clothing and gift items.

There is always some activity going on downtown, such as the annual Blues Crawl, Spring Fest, Tour de Moore, Fall Fest and the New Years Eve celebration, First Night. If you like to commune with nature, within the city is the 500-acre Weymouth Woods, a wildlife refuge and long leaf pine forest offering hiking and educational nature programs. A popular attraction is the Sunrise Theatre, offering a variety of live music, avante garde movies and theatrical plays.

Southern Pines Golf Courses

Pinehurst may be known as the golf capital of the world, but Southern Pines also has its own world class courses. For example, there are three golf courses designed by the legendary Donald Ross. He is best known for designing the Pinehurst #2 course, which hosted two U.S. Opens recently. In Southern Pines he designed the Southern Pines Country Club, Pine Needles and Mid-Pines. Pines Needles has been home to the U.S. Women’s Open for a number of years. In addition, there are three Arnold Palmer courses, the Talamore, Mid-South, and The Carolina. In Southern Pines we have very moderate weather all year long. That means we’re always open for golf.

The Aspen of Equestrian Activities

Southern Pines is also known as a horse lover’s paradise. The area’s temperate weather and ideal sandy footing has attracted a large concentration of equestrian enthusiasts. What is commonly known as “horse country” generally refers to an area right around Southern Pines and includes the well known Walthour-Moss Foundation, which offers 4500 acres of longleaf pine forest dedicated to equestrian pursuits.

There are world-class trainers, the best veterinarian professionals available, and an abundance of tack shops and other proprietors serving horse owners and their needs.

Exceptional Real Estate Opportunities

Real estate properties in Southern Pines are available for every demographic category, ranging from upscale family sized homes in quiet, gracious neighborhoods to somewhat smaller retiree residences lining the fairways of the numerous golf courses in the area. On the outskirts of Southern Pines, you will find beautiful horse farms. For those who are looking for casual living in a golf community, horse country, or retirement venue, Southern Pines is a “must see” in North Carolina.

Southern Pines combines the north and south, old and new. It is especially appealing to both its residents and to those who visit. Southern Pines has a unique shopping hospitality. You can enjoy the quaint Broad Street downtown area, which looks the same as it did years ago, or you can visit the newer modern shopping areas. The attraction for the town is its horse farms, festivals, golf courses and street fairs. Anyone interested in combining city life with the charm of a small town will feel right at home.

Two of the most appealing features of Southern Pines real estate are the reasonable prices and the low property taxes. For those moving from big cities they are pleasantly surprised what their money can buy. You can get considerably more home and land for less.

Southern Pines, North Carolina is one of those rare finds where you have the best of small town living with the amenities of a city.

Fred Waters is author of the McDevitt Sotheby’s International Realty web site, where you can find the perfect Southern Pines Real Estate. We also have numerous listings in the Pinehurst area. Whether looking for a home, condo, farm or property, we have just what you want.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fred_Waters