It depends on your preferences and needs. Carolina Beach is much more accessible on foot with many more shops and restaurants. To the north, Topsail Beach is one of my favorites and is my choice for day trips from the triangle. It's much less crowded than Wrightsville and Carolina, and the coast is impressive.
Overall, calm, turquoise waters and lots of access areas, so you won't have to struggle to park like you would in the others. The city may not seem like a big deal, but it has some amazing restaurants that you can read about in my Topsail Island food guide. You'll find Duck, North Carolina, just north of Kitty Hawk.
In fact, it's the northernmost city outside of North Carolina
.It got its name because of the popularity of duck hunting in the area in the 1900s. The beaches are reserved for residents and guests. There's a mile-long waterfront lined with shops and restaurants, and if you're in North Carolina, you might be familiar with Duck Donuts. The popular chain originated in Duck, North Carolina.
Do you want to know more about Duck? Learn more here. Topsail Beach is the southernmost of the three cities on Topsail Island. Located in Pender County, it's about 45 minutes' drive from Wilmington or an even faster boat ride. Topsail Beach is a quiet coastal town ideal for families, with restaurants, a lively live music scene, shopping and wide beaches.
The family memories you're dying to create are exactly what you'll find on Oak Island, which is located in the Brunswick Islands. Think of dinner followed by mini golf and ice cream. Think about biking and walking along the pier. And, of course, Oak Island's beaches and nature center. Topsail Island won the category of best beach, with Emerald Isle in second place and Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach as finalists.
Both destinations have stunning landscapes and abundant water activities, such as kayaking, rowing and surfing. Topsail Island is ideal for those who prefer a serene beach experience focused on relaxation and nature, including activities such as fishing and visits to the sea turtle sanctuary. Living in Charlotte, it's quicker to get to the beaches of South Carolina, which is where I grew up. Visitors rave about Carolina Beach's waterfront, which has that nostalgia-filled old-time beach feel.
Deciding between Topsail Island or the Outer Banks for a North Carolina beach vacation can be a challenge, as each location offers unique experiences, attractions, and atmosphere. But honestly, if I'm going to spend money to go to the beach, it won't be in North or South Carolina. This is also the most popular beach for teenagers and college students taking a day trip, thanks to local universities making it a more crowded beach. To compile this list, they looked at US News & World Report data on the best beaches in North Carolina and then used Google search data to determine which of these beaches are most interesting to North Carolinians. Wild horses couldn't let me go, that's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the Corolla North Carolina.
In fact, I had never been to a real North Carolina beach until my teens, when a dance competition took me to Ocean Isle. I know this group focuses on OBX, but I'm curious to know how OBX beaches compare to other beaches that aren't normally considered part of OBX, such as Topsail, Emerald Isle, and Bald Head. So when I came across this list of southern beaches, I thought that maybe a North Carolina or South Carolina beach would be near the bottom of the top 10. Readers nominated and voted for the best of North Carolina over a four-week period, which according to Hedinger and Riley included thousands of nominations and votes.
