Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

By: Jennifer Weiss

Topsail Island, located just off the North Carolina coast near the mainland towns of Sneads Ferry and Holly Ridge, is the perfect place for a peaceful getaway. The island is all about the conservation of its natural beauty and the preservation of its natural resources. You will not find high rise buildings obstructing the breathtaking views of the ocean, but you will find an abundance of ideally situated vacation rentals that have all amenities you need for a memorable and relaxing trip.

A vacation rental in North Topsail Beach is the ideal place to stay if you want to be near miles of pristine, white sandy beaches and some of the best golf on the island. With the North Shore Country Club, a four-star golf course, less then five minutes from your accommodations, you can enjoy the perfect beach and golf vacation without venturing to an overloaded, run-of-the-mill vacation city. When the golfers in your family want to hit the links, they can make the short trip to the course while the rest of the family loads up on beach towels, which come with the house, and makes the short walk down to the sand. Nobody in your family could simply ask for a better vacation experience with everything so conveniently located.

South of North Topsail Beach you will find Surf City, which is the commercial hub of the island. Stay close to all the attractions and unusual shops on the island with a Surf City vacation rental that has a fully-equipped kitchen and a deck that overlooks the pool and the ocean. Soak in the breathtaking views of the water, and when the call of the ocean becomes too load to ignore, make your way down to the beaches that are perfect for boating, surfing, jet skiing, swimming, and simply relaxing. If you want an exciting adventure out on the water, you can find boat cruises, boat rentals, charter fishing, and jet ski rentals nearby to satisfy your appetite.

Topsail Beach is only accessible through Surf City and is generally considered the quieter section of the island. While there is a small downtown shopping area, this is the area where you can enjoy oceanfront property in a largely undeveloped area. The stretches of beach are quiet and secluded, providing the perfect atmosphere for anyone who wants to get away from the crowds and back to the peacefulness of unspoiled natural beauty. Relax in the large gazebo that sits amidst the sand dunes as you watch the sunrise or your children playing on the beach. Take the short walk to the sound pier, from which you can dangle your feet into the water and cast a fishing line. The slow pace will comfort and soothe your body as the stress of your everyday life slowly melts away.

The different parts of the island each offer something new to visitors, whether it be particular beaches, a variety of activities, or much needed seclusion. While the location of your vacation rental is important, there are other amenities that can make particular accommodations even more desirable. If you are traveling with children, a condo or home rental that has TVs and DVD players is perfect for those times when you want some personal time without interruption. Pop in their favorite movie and then retreat to the shaded porch swing for a couple hours of serenity as you listen to the sound of the waves or the rustle of the leaves around you.

Spending the day at the beach is an always entertaining option for every member of your family, but when the wind kicks up and the water becomes too rough for swimming, you will need another way to spend the day. To keep the kids appeased on your vacation, try a cottage rental that has a pool with direct views of the ocean. Rest on the deck around the pool, listening to the waves crashing in, as the kids jump in and out, happy to have another water-filled afternoon. And when you want to send pictures to a family member or tell them about all the fun you are having, log on to the wireless internet that comes with your vacation rental so everyone can stay up to speed on your Topsail Island vacation.

Topsail Island vacation rentals allow you easy access to all this exciting island has to offer without giving up the convenience and amenities of home. Before planning your next trip, look into a condo or home rental so you can enjoy the vacation you always imagined.

By: Rick Chapo

Stretching from Ocracoke Inlet to Beaufort Inlet on the North Carolina coast, Cape Lookout National Seashore is the southern-most section of the famed Outer Banks. The Cape, which gives the seashore its name, has been identified on charts dating back to the earliest explorations of the New World. Spanish, English, Dutch, and French explorers, traders, settlers and pirates all knew and feared the Cape and its shoals. The history of the Cape Lookout region reflects its ties to the sea and its importance in the early sea-borne economy of the nation.

Today Cape Lookout is better known for its outstanding recreational opportunities. Surf fishing, sea kayaking and backcountry camping draw visitors from across the country. For the less adventurous, beachcombing and shelling are favorite pastimes.

The 56 miles of undeveloped beach also provide nesting sites for a wide variety of shorebirds including the endangered piping plovers. Loggerhead sea turtles find the dark deserted beaches ideal for nesting as well.

Cape Lookout Trivia

1. Cape Lookout National Seashore was authorized in 1966 but was not fully established until 1976 when the state of North Carolina officially transferred the property to the National Park Service.

2. The seashore contains 56 miles of undeveloped beaches on four barrier islands. The number of islands within the seashore varies with how many inlets are open or closed following storms.

3. The islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore are located between two and three miles off the mainland shore.

4. The only part of the park reachable by road is the Visitor Center on Harkers Island. A boat trip – either on your personal boat or one of the commercially operate ferries – is necessary to reach any other part of the seashore.

5. Cape Lookout National Seashore is one of the few places on the East Coast where you can experience the magnificence of a dark night sky. The stars appear to shine brighter and seem a little closer when the only artificial light source of any consequence is the periodic sweep of the lighthouse beam.

6. There are no hard surface roads on the islands. Any vehicle ferried to the barrier islands must be able to handle the deep sand of the open beach. “Beach driving” at Cape Lookout National Seashore is to be taken literally.

Cape Lookout Attractions

1. Beginning Memorial Day weekend and continuing through Labor Day, a variety of ranger-led programs are offered daily. These programs include talks on lighthouse history, surf fishing demonstrations, horse-watching hikes and guided walks through historic Portsmouth village.

2. On Shackleford Banks graze a herd of Banker Horses. These small horses freely roam the nine-mile island as their ancestors have done for centuries. The stuff of legends, their very existence sparks the imagination with stories of storms and shipwrecks.

3. Just south of Ocracoke Inlet is the Portsmouth Village Historic District. Walking the sandy lanes through Portsmouth transports you back in time to an Outer Banks village of the 1930’s. Here it is easy to understand what it was like to live by the rhythms of the tides, weather and seasons.

About the Author: Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals – makers of outdoor writing journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more.