While it’s easy to spend a full vacation relaxing on the beach or on the golf course, visitors who spend some time off the sand or the greens will discover that the Brunswick Islands are brimming with enticing attractions. From the historic museums and lighthouses, to the casual fishing piers with island-wide ocean views, these are the “can’t miss” destinations for visitors who love a coastal adventure.

Oak Island Lighthouse

Oak Island Lighthouse

The Oak Island Light, which is famed as one of the newest and most unusual lighthouses on the East Coast, is easy to spot thanks to its towering location in the Caswell Beach community. Opened in 1958, this unique structure features a skinny exterior and three color blocks of light gray, medium gray and black, and is topped off with a four 2.5 million candlepower aerobeacon lenses that create quick bursts of light every ten seconds. Visitors are free to admire the structure at any time, and can even take a tour to the second floor in the summer months. Distinctive for its contemporary structure, the Oak Island Lighthouse is a truly iconic landmark along the Brunswick coastline.

Oak Island Nature Center

Nestled in between oak trees, native pines, and salt marshes thriving with wildlife, the Oak Island Nature Center is a great destination to discover the Brunswick Islands’ wild side. At the center, visitors can learn all about this diverse local landscape through exhibits on area shorebirds, reptiles, butterflies, and the local ecosystems that call the Brunswick Islands home. A number of programs for visitors of all ages are offered throughout the summer for a deeper education, and visitors will want to linger on the grounds of the center which features picnic areas, nature trails, and a stunning fishing pier and observation area on the edge of the water. Beautiful inside and out, the Oak Island Nature Center is a gem of a destination for nature lovers everywhere.

Bird Island

Serving as one of 10 pristine sites that make up the North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve, Bird Island is a paradise for visitors who appreciate unspoiled beaches. This 1,200 acre site that’s located on the edge of the North Carolina state border features plenty of white sand beaches and high natural sand dunes to go around. Enjoy lazy beach days along the oceanfront, or have a wild adventure by exploring the salt marshes and tidal creeks via a kayak or stand-up paddle board. No matter how a visitor decides to explore Bird Island, they’ll be treated to endless natural scenery and beautiful waterfront terrain in every direction.

Oak Island Pier

Sunset Beach, Oak Island, and Holden Beach Fishing Piers

The Brunswick Islands are known for exceptional fishing, and anglers will find three fishing piers along the oceanfront that are wide open for visitors. The Sunset Beach Fishing Pier, Oak Island Pier, and Holden Beach Pier can all accommodate both anglers and sightseers, and visitors are free to enjoy hours of beautiful views and fantastic catches for a small daily fee. In addition, the three piers all boast on-site bait, tackle and gift shops, while the Sunset Beach Pier and Ocean Isle Pier also feature on-site grills for a delicious hot breakfast or lunch in between casting. With plenty of elbow room for reeling in catch after catch, and front row seats to beautiful sunrises over the ocean, the Brunswick Island piers are stunning attractions in more ways than one. 

Ingram Planetarium

The universe is waiting to be uncovered at the Ingram Planetarium, which is one of the more unique landmarks along the Brunswick Islands. Located in the heart of Sunset Beach, the Ingram Planetarium features an 85-seat SciDome Sky Theater, state-of-the-art high definition digital projection, and surround sound systems which make every show a fully immersive experience. Throughout the summertime, visitors can catch a wide array of shows including educational explorations of the skies above, purely fun laser and music shows, and just about everything in between. With an adjacent Paul Dennis Science Hall that’s filled with interesting exhibits, as well as an on-site Galaxy Gift Shop with space themed goodies, the Ingram Planetarium offers hours of fun, and is a great rainy day destination on the Brunswick Islands.

Museum of Coastal Carolina

Regionally famed as North Carolina’s only natural history museum that’s located on a barrier island, the Museum of Coastal Carolina makes waves with adventurous visitors thanks to its array of fascinating and ever-changing exhibits. Visitors can learn about the area’s nesting sea turtles, dig through the fossil pit on the hunt for treasures, touch sea stars and other sea critters in the Touch Tank, admire vast collections of local seashells and massive shark jaws, and study intricate dioramas of the local landscapes. Covering all of the area’s unique features from the offshore ocean reefs to the inland Green Swamp reserve, this all-encompassing museum is a great way to discover the local landscapes in their entirety with a hands-on and truly entertaining experience.

Ferry Landing Park

Situated on the eastern edge of Ocean Isle Beach, Ferry Landing Park is a popular destination for gorgeous sunsets and on-the-water explorations. This popular public park is situated on the site of the original ferry crossing to Ocean Isle Beach, which was once the only way to access this barrier island community. Today, the site is a gem of a find for visitors, thanks to its waterfront gazebo, picnic tables, fishing pier, and stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway. From birdwatching or catching a sunset, to setting off on a paddling trip through the calm waters, the great outdoors is easily explored at this favorite Ocean Isle Beach destination.

Intracoastal Waterway

When it comes to beautiful views, great fishing, and fantastic watersports, the Intracoastal Waterway is certainly a tempting destination that’s arguably just as popular as the miles of ocean-facing beaches. The Brunswick Islands offer multiple ways to explore this unique waterway as well, thanks to a number of boat tours and rentals, watersports shops, fishing charters, and other businesses that launch from the water’s edge. Enjoy a day of kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, or jet skiing for an active adventure, or just head to one of the area’s many waterfront parks or restaurants to take in a brilliant nightly sunset. With multiple boat launches situated in coastal communities including Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach and Oak Island, enjoying the Brunswick Islands’ second favorite body of saltwater is always a breeze. 

Sunset Beach Swing Bridge & Museum

From 1958 until 2011, the only way to access the town of Sunset Beach was via this classic swing bridge that connected this barrier island community with the rest of the mainland. Replaced by the more modern Mannon C. Gore Bridge, today this iconic bridge and tender house has a new home on dry land, where it serves as the relatively new Sunset Beach Swing Bridge & Museum. At this distinctive site, visitors can admire artifacts from the Blockade Runner Vesta which ran aground on the local shoreline during the Civil War, admire the historic bridge up-close and in person, and learn about the roots of this thriving vacation destination. A popular gathering place and museum, the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge & Museum is brimming with fascinating stories and plenty of down home charm.

Ocean Education Center

Learn all about the unique wildlife that call the local waters of the Brunswick Islands home at this popular destination where education is fun for visitors of all ages. The Ocean Education Center is located just a shell’s throw away from the shoreline in Oak Island, and is a popular spot for visitors who want to explore the local North Carolina waters in-depth. The center features a wealth of information on all things ocean related, which includes special programs that highlight the area’s sea turtles, sea shells, crabs, jellyfish, and even sharks. With a host of programs held over the summer months, which includes weekly turtle talks and even ‘touch tank” programs where visitors can meet and greet with sea creatures, there’s always something exciting to discover at Oak Island’s own Ocean Education Center.

From the stunning landscapes of the Intracoastal Waterway, to the historic sites and landmarks that longtime visitors have come to know and love, the Brunswick Islands offer a world of attractions both on and off the beach. Spend a rainy day exploring the local museums, or plan an outing to the area’s wild parks and nature trails, and discover why the Brunswick Islands are so much more than just beautiful ocean shorelines.

Victory Beach Vacations

Victory Beach Vacations

Visitors who are on the hunt for the postcard-perfect vacation rental in the heart of the Carolina Beach or Kure Beach area will find an enticing selection and plenty of friendly customer service when they rent through Victory Beach Vacations. Based in Carolina Beach in the coastal Cape Fear region, Victory Beach Vacations has more than 100 vacation rentals in all shapes and sizes to ensure that every vacationing family can find their dream home away from home on the beach.   When you book your Cape Fear getaway with Victory Beach Vacations, the fun doesn’t end when you leave the beach, it continues with an array of privately-owned properties outfitted with all of the amenities needed for a fabulous beach vacation.   Jenna Lanier, General Manager, explains that her family first opened the rental and property management business in 2002. At the forefront of Victory Beach operations is Lanier’s mother, Caroline Meeks. Meeks is both the Broker in Charge and co-owner with husband, Buck Meeks, who manages the Field Services team with Lanier’s husband, Scott.   For nearly 20 years, the Victory Beach team has worked tirelessly to establish a network of top-of-the-line rental properties for Cape Fear visitors to enjoy. “As far as our properties go,” explains Lanier, “they are all updated, well-furnished and appointed. “We have always performed post-cleaning inspections and since the pandemic, have put freshly laundered duvets over all of the comforters between rentals.”   Lanier emphasizes how important the guests experience is “we strive to give our guests a relaxing, stress free, memorable vacation.” This emphasis on customer service has led to Victory Beach Vacations having a 4.8 Google rating with over 300 reviews by happy owners and guests.In addition to Victory Beach’s superior sanitation practices, the company offers properties for every type of visitor. Choose from luxury oceanfront houses and condos to more reasonbly priced 2nd row properties with oceanviews. Many properties include pools and hot tubs as well, perfect for outdoor entertaining, and many are dog friendly.   Lanier also notes that all properties are within walking or driving distance to Pleasure Island’s main attractions – Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. The former, as described by Lanier, is the more commercialized of the two destinations and features a boardwalk, outdoor dining options and a plethora of weekly activities including fireworks, live music, amusement park pop-ups, and movies under the stars. Kure Beach offers a more residential feel with its fishing pier, intimate restaurants and family favorite, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.More water fun awaits, too. “There is a harbor and a canal that feed into the intercoastal. We have several properties on the harbor so guests can bring their boat, kayak, [or jet ski] and travel between islands,” says Lanier.   A stay with Victory Beach Vacations is an annual pilgrimage for most. “A large percentage of guests are previous guests. Some even reserve the same property for the next year as they’re checking out,” Lanier says. “It’s almost like it’s their personal vacation home.”   Even before guests arrive at their vacation destination, the Victory Beach Vacations’ website greets them with a live beach cam and exquisite aerial footage of both Carolina and Kure Beaches. See for yourself by scanning the QR code and call Victory Beach Vacations at 910.458.0868 to book your Cape Fear getaway. Start making your memories today! —Grace Silipigni

Cape Fear Museum

Cape Fear Museum

The Cape Fear Museum, (shorthand for the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science), has been educating and entertaining visitors for well over 100 years. Founded in 1898, the museum is the oldest operating museum in North Carolina, and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Distinguished for its modern structure and Market Street location in the middle of Downtown Wilmington, the museum has a wealth of information on the history, wildlife and culture of the 50-square mile Cape Fear region. More than 50 thousand exhibits can be found within its brick and concrete walls, and patrons of all ages will surely find an exhibit or two that is engrossing, educational, and sheds new light on this essential coastal Carolina region.