Topsail Island is the official name for the 26 miles of barrier island resting right off the North Carolina coast. Topsail Island is comprised of three stunning seaside towns: North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and Topsail Beach.
You can only access Topsail Island two ways. The first is via N.C. 210, which connects North Topsail Beach to the mainland. The other is by traversing the new (2018) Surf City high rise bridge, built in 2018 to replace the quaint but less efficient swing bridge that had served the island since 1955.
Today we want to give you a quick tour of the three towns of Topsail Island, each with a story to tell!
North Topsail Beach
North Topsail Beach is 10 dreamy miles of famously pristine North Carolina beaches. With very little commercialization, it's primarily residential, featuring a number of single family homes and condo complexes. There are some amazing luxury beach homes that will take your breath away (and yes, you can rent them!). NTB is the most dog-friendly town, too!
If you choose to stay here, you will want to hit the North Topsail Beach Town Park (465 New River Inlet Road). It has volleyball, tennis, basketball and a playground for little ones, as well as a short nature walk and fishing pier. And of course, there is a great beach access and some of the best shelling on the island!
Also in North Topsail Beach is the Seaview Fishing Pier, which not only has fishing, bait, and tackle... you can get a pretty good hamburger, too!
At this time, Ward Realty manages 56 beautiful vacation homes in North Topsail Beach.
Surf City
The "Gateway to Topsail Island", Surf City is just what you imagine when you picture a bustling little beach town! This is the most commercialized section of Topsail, so rent a home here if you like the idea of being close to everything. Surf City is a great place to stay and play in any season, and has plenty of year-round residents to keep it running smoothly.
Surf City it is filled with unique boutiques and award winning restaurants. There are also coastal necessities like surf shops, fishing stores, fresh seafood markets, and dining establishments that feature old fashioned home cooking.
Get some fudge at the Topsail Island Trading Company. Do some shopping at the Sandy Toe's Boutique or the Mia's Marketplace. Enjoy a meal at Daddy Mac's Beach Grill, or just hang out at the Surf City Ocean Pier.
Topsail Beach
Topsail Beach is the southernmost town on Topsail Island, just south of Surf City. A visit to the town of Topsail Beach is like stepping back in time. Here you can find roller skating, putt-putt golf, and the simple pleasure of a beautiful beach. One visit and you'll fall in love!
Topsail Beach is where you will find the infamous Missiles & More Museum, located at 720 Channel Blvd. Learn all about aviation, operations, and the history of this slice of American innovation.
Museum hours: April 30th through Mid May, Monday through Friday, 2 to 5 p.m. - Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day weekend, Monday through Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m. - After Labor Day weekend through mid October, Monday through Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.
Topsail Beach is also home to the Jolly Roger Fishing Pier, where you can always catch a fish and a sunset, or just play under the pier with your family.
Topsail Beach has mostly single family homes and a few duplexes. Ward Realty offers over 40 vacation rentals in Topsail Beach.
Enjoy the canals and neighborhoods. There is a quaint downtown area (on Anderson Blvd) with a few restaurants and gift shops. It is a really relaxed environment with no high-rise condominiums or over-commercialization. This is the beach where rest and relaxation are king!
Thinking about buying a beach house?
Come on, you know you have considered it! Year after year, you travel to Topsail Island and think, wouldn't it be great to own a home here? A place we can come back to, year after year, not only as an investment in our future, but a place to create memories for years to come! Ward Realty is not only perfect for helping you book a vacation rental. We have a real estate business as well, and would be more than happy to share our expertise with you as you research this exciting possibility.
Please read this blog post that will tell you more about how to go from being the renter to being the owner of a beautiful vacation rental home on Topsail Island.
