100 Charlie Medlin Dr Suite B, Surf City, NC surfcitysmash.com
Larry's Deli-que
Topsail Beach
See ad page 55
718 S Anderson Blvd, Topsail Beach, NC (910) 928-8010
Chinese Fancy Sushi
Seafood
Seafood
Southern Style
Seafood
Topsail Beach
See ad page 51
124 N New River Dr, Surf City, NC fancysushisurfcity.com | (910) 328-1121
Fishmonger's Honest Seafood
Holly Ridge
756 E Ocean Rd, Holly Ridge, NC 28445 (910) 803-2224
Maine Lobstah Shack
Surf City
411 Roland Ave, Surf City, NC 28445 mainelobstahshack.com | 910 548 6789
Southern Roots Grille
Holly Ridge
See ad page 51
552 East Ocean Rd, NC-50, Holly Ridge, NC (910) 803-0773
Riverview Cafe
Sneads Ferry
See ad page 43
119 Hall Point Rd, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 (910) 327-2011
"Mom's English Tea" by Janet Sessoms
WILMINGTON
Often known as the Port City, it retains its historic colonial character as it remains a quaint and charming community that is vibrant with culture. The arts scene itself is an integral part of that cultural dimension. There is the treasure of the 1858 Thalian Hall juxtaposed with the new 1600 seat Wilson Center. This large theater is host to the Wilmington Symphony and touring Broadway Shows as well as national and international entertainers. Live music is a staple at establishments throughout the greater Wilmington area.
Wilmington, home to a quite substantial Screen Gems Studio, has become known as the Hollywood of the South. It is also home to a significant creative writing community. The University of North Carolina Wilmington is nationally ranked for both their creative writing and film curriculums.
Accompanying its diverse cultural activities, a diversity of dining establishments exist throughout. Restaurants with locally fresh seafood and ingredients proliferate. Small locally owned restaurants with particular cuisine offerings, and a multitude of pubs, taverns and oyster bars pepper the town and its nearby beaches.
In summary, Wilmington has a multitude of attractive offerings for residents, potential residents and visitors alike. From its sandy coastal beaches to its waterfront on the Cape Fear River, it offers free water based entertainment year-round. Its art and music scene provides the cultural experience of a large city in a small town atmosphere. If you’re looking for a place to relocate, retire or just to visit for a weekend, Wilmington is a great place to be.
"Path to the Church" by Janet Sessoms
CONSIDER YOURSELF CORDIALLY INVITED.
Discover our unique, hand-chosen selection of furniture, rugs, accessories, wallpaper, art, lighting & more.
FEATURED BRANDS
Honoring the heart of your home
We are a home furnishings shop located in Wilmington, North Carolina curating unique and quality interior goods. We have a strong belief that beauty is a positive force and life is meant to be lively — which is why we create space for vivacious design. With a force in bold, bright, and refined, our selection celebrates the joy of living and the rarity of you.
Little Greene / Thibaut / Schumacher / Louise Gaskill Lighting / Hickory Chair / Wesley Hall / Made Goods / Worlds Away / Villa & House / Loloi / Rowe Furniture
GREATER WILMINGTON
REICO
HART & HILL
Candy & Company
The Davis Community
Platypus & Gnome
Ogden Tap Room
Porter's Neck & Figure 8 Island
While surprisingly still an unincorporated community, it is blossoming commercially. Its nearby resident and nonresident visitors can enjoy a growing array of cuisine choices, appealing boutiques and gift shops and specialty stores. If you're a nonresident visitor, it is definitely worth visiting to browse the shops and enjoy the culinary offerings of the community. Nearby is Figure 8 Island--a barrier island geographically just north of Wrightsville Beach and tucked between the Intracoastal waterway to its west and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. Long a quite appealing summer colony, it now is emerging as an upscale year-round island residential community.
"Meezie's Garden" by Ricky Evans
PORTER'S NECK & FIGURE 8 ISLAND
Redefined Dining
H A N D C R A F T E D A R T C O L L E C T I B L E S F U R N I T U R E A N T I Q U E S B O U T I Q U E S
R E
Wilmington’s Premier Senior Living Community
Named after founder Champion Davis’ mother, Cornelia’s is a neighborhood restaurant featuring cooking with a modern twist. Menus highlight locally sourced comfort food, craft brews and creative cocktails from the full bar. We are open to the public and located in the gated Davis Community. The gates will open as you approach them.
Serenity Station Salon and Spa at the Davis Community is open to the public and provides luxurious, resort-style spa services. Our team of highly skilled and creative professionals is dedicated to meeting all your hair, nail, esthetician, and massage needs.
HAMPSTEAD
Nestled between the sandy shores of Topsail Island and the historic charm of Wilmington, Hampstead, North Carolina offers the perfect blend of coastal serenity and small-town warmth. Often called the “Seafood Capital of the Carolinas,” Hampstead tempts the senses with fresh-caught delicacies and breathtaking views of the Intracoastal Waterway. With its top-rated schools, thriving local businesses, and easy access to pristine beaches and natural preserves, Hampstead is more than a place to live—it’s a place to thrive. Whether you're kayaking through calm coastal marshes, enjoying a round at a scenic golf course, or savoring a sunset dinner by the water, Hampstead feels like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
"Intercoastal Vista" by Joanne Geisel
HOLLY RIDGE & SNEADS FERRY
HOLLY RIDGE & SNEADS FERRY
Holly Ridge is a small residential & crossroads community that leads one either east to Surf City or to Jacksonville to the north or to Snead’s Ferry to the northeast.
Snead’s Ferry is located on the inlet where the New River flows into the ocean. It is a town, first known as the lower ferrr, but renamed for Robert Snead, who settled there in 1791. Its early history is obscured; however, in the revolutionary war era, it did receive a license to operate a ferry and the first post road in the region did cross here. Moreover, being first settled along the shores, it always has been known for its commercial fishing. There still exist gray, weathered fish houses, lashed by many a salty gale. Its inlet is said to have aided the infamous pirate Blackbeard to slip silently in and hide his treasure from others.
Snead’s Ferry has much to offer visitors, especially if you are water oriented in your outdoor activities. Opportunities to fish abound. Bait, ice and tackle shops flourish. Restaurants serve outstanding seafood. Also, with its bridge to North Topsail, a primarily residential part of Topsail Island, Snead’s Ferry is enjoying the connection commercially.
Historically, Snead’s Ferry has focused on seafood. It is known for its annual Shrimp Festival. However, it is quickly becoming multi-faceted as it blends the old fashioned and slow easy ways of the old south with the fast moving pace of the new.
All Decked Out by Janet Sessoms
HOLLY RIDGE & SNEADS FERRY
Riverview Cafe
TIDE CHARTS & SOLUNAR TABLES
For The Cape Fear Coast
New River Inlet
Wrightsville Beach
Carolina Beach Inlet Federal point
Wilmington
SOLUNAR TABLE
Shallotte Inlet
New Topsail Inlet
Oak Island
Bald Head
Cape Fear River
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH
Asmall but growing residential beach community at the north end of Topsail Island that is connected to the mainland by a bridge near Sneads Ferry. It is quite family oriented and affords a multitude of water oriented activities—surf fishing, surfing, kayaking, kite flying, & beach oriented rest & relaxation, including painting, reading & sandcastle building. In addition to its family-friendly appeal, North Topsail Beach offers a serene natural setting that invites visitors to reconnect with the coastal environment. With its wide, uncrowded beaches and stunning sunrises over the Atlantic, it’s a place where nature sets the pace. The area is also known for its seasonal sea turtle nests, often protected by local volunteers, adding a sense of wonder and conservation to your stay. Whether you’re watching dolphins from the shore or enjoying a peaceful evening stroll along the beach, North Topsail Beach offers a slower, more mindful kind of vacation.
Sandpiper Stroll by Cathy Poulos
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH
SURF CITY
Anisland that is 26 miles of beautiful beaches. It is divided into 3 separate towns--Topsail Beach on the southern end, North Topsail on the northern end, and Surf City in the center. Surf City being the center of the island is positioned on both sides of the causeway bridge as well. It is the commercial center of the area. The North Topsail and Topsail Beach areas are primarily residential.
Topsail Island has a long and storied history of pirates visiting the island during that historical era. It provided the pirates good hiding. A story lingers in the lore that the infamous pirate Blackbeard buried treasure on the island in a place called “The Gold Hole”. Might the story be true and might the treasure still be present, who knows?
Historically, the island never was really inhabited but instead used by the native Tuscaroma people, or “The Hemp People”, who lived on the mainland and would take their animals there to graze. In time, other people started to visit the island for the beautiful beaches and prime ocean fishing.
During WWII, the US Army used the island for training and thereby developed the island somewhat--roads and a bridge. In 1948, when the island was returned to its owners, the roads and the bridge were intact. Development of the island thereby began and evolved into its present form.
Topsail Island today is still a relatively quiet community that enjoys its beauty and serenity year round. It has also become quite the seasonal magnet due its environmental attractiveness; and, therefore, bustles now with activity from spring to fall.
Topsail Island is truly a treasure. It welcomes visitors warmly. If you’ve not ever been there, add it to your list of places to visit.
Beach Play by Sandy Nelson
Market"
TOPSAIL BEACH
Acoastaltown located at the Southern end of Topsail Island.Its town center is reminiscent of historical crossroads style communities. It’s an area that is definitely beach oriented. Afterall, its eight miles of uncrowded Sandy beaches are a visual pleasure for beach walking, surf fishing, beach lounging, surf swimming, surfing, and bird watching. Like its sister beach community at the north end of the 26 mile Island, it is family friendly. Beyond the beach activities, there is biking, kayaking, paddling and boating. Activities like miniature golf & an arcade exist as well for family fun.
"Godwin's
by Cathy Poulos
TOPSAIL BEACH
CAROLINA BEACH & KURE BEACH
CAROLINA BEACH & KURE BEACH
(& Historic Fort Fisher)
Acoastalisland just south of Wilmington. A single bridge connects it to the mainland and a ferry at its southern end connects to Southport.
In short, it’s a family oriented beach community with a terrific boardwalk and surrounding area that features something for everyone--specialty food shops, good family restaurants, adult pubs and a myriad of gift shops. During the season, a special event is occurring each weekday night.
Kure Beach is a beautiful, relaxed neighbor to the south. Family oriented with old fashioned hospitality, it offers a beautiful beach and quaint ocean views.
Historic Fort Fisher was strategically located at the island’s Southern tip. A visit to its Civil War Museum allows you to step back in time. A pleasant nearby bonus is the NC Aquarium.
"Living the life" by Janet Sessoms
CAROLINA BEACH & KURE BEACH
CAROLINA BEACH & KURE BEACH
SOUTHPORT
Acharming town situated alongside the picturesque Cape Fear River that is able to enjoy both sunrises and sunsets.
Its discovery dates back to the 1500s; however, the town did not really begin to evolve until the building of Fort Johnson in the 1740s. The Revolutionary War brought a burning of the town by the British but the fort did remain. Thereafter, a town started to rebuild around the fort--it became known as Smithville. During the early 1800s, the town evolved into a fishing village as well as a military community. It also became the county seat of Brunswick County. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Fort Fisher aided by Fort Anderson guarded the strategic Cape Fear River that was essential for suppliers of the Confederate Army who used the infamous blockade runners to bring goods from abroad. After the Civil War, the town’s name was changed to Southport to aid in the attraction of shipping business in the late 1800s.
Its downtown district is filled with charming homes and shops with a late 1800s origin. The presence of these historic buildings in the midst of old stately trees lend a feeling of warmth to this village alongside the Cape Fear River. This feeling is reinforced by the friendliness of its residents.
Not surprisingly, Coastal Living Magazine recently named Southport “America’s Happiest Seaside Town”
"After the Catch" by Cathy Poulos
OAK ISLAND
OAK ISLAND
Theseaside town of Oak Island shares the island with Caswell Beach. The island itself has been inhabited since the early 1800s when Fort Caswell was built on its east end in 1838. It developed slowly, but by the late 1930s, it began to seriously attract residents from surrounding areas to its ocean beaches and to its good hunting in the areas bordering the ICW.
In 1954, however, Hurricane Hazel dealt a serious strike and its devastating force left only 5 buildings on the west end of the island. But, the island residents were resilient and the small town recovered quickly. Bridges began to replace a ferry and a pontoon bridge to provide reliable crossing of the ICW and thereby aid development. This infrastructure has aided Oak Island into becoming a thriving beach community with good boutiques, good gift shops, and good restaurants emerging throughout the island.
Oak Island has become a coastal community definitely deserving of a visit.
"Mine!" by Janet Sessoms
OAK ISLAND
OCEAN ISLE BEACH
OCEAN ISLE BEACH
Thisbarrier island, originally owned by several families, was given its name in 1950 by the Williamson family. Then, in 1954, Hurricane Hazel struck the island hard and the ocean met the ICW. Only two houses survived the hurricane. From 1955 to 1964, the Sloane family was the only permanent residents. In 1959, the town became incorporated, and the ferry was replaced by a swing bridge. Odell Williamson was it’s first mayor. The swing bridge was replaced in 1986 by today’s causeway bridge. Like its cousins to the north (Holden Beach) and south(Sunset Beach), OIB consists of both a mainland and an island. Its beaches are truly spectacular and its marshes are charmingly picturesque. OIB has become increasingly popular year round with its good boutiques, gift shops and restaurants. Yet, it certainly beckons for seasonal visitors and weekend sojourners as well. Put a visit on your agenda and you will be pleased.
"Testing the Wave" by Cathy Poulos
OCEAN ISLE BEACH OCEAN ISLE
SUNSET BEACH
SUNSET BEACH
Brunswick County’s southernmost barrier island, it became an incorporated town in1963. Like its island cousins to the north, it consists of both a mainland and an island. Remarkably, Hurricane Hazel left the island unscathed. With its attractive ocean beaches on the island part and good ICW access for both the mainland and island parts, development soon began in earnest.
True to its name, Sunset Beach is known for its stunning sunsets over the water — a rare treat on the East Coast due to the island's orientation. It’s quiet, low-key, and family-friendly, perfect for those looking to escape the touristy crowds of bigger beach towns.
The town has a mix of longtime residents, vacationers, and retirees, all drawn by its peaceful atmosphere.
The town leaders smartly designated certain areas for commercial development to be able to maintain a family oriented ambience.
Sunset Beach is a quite attractive town for seasonal visitors and residents alike. Its continuously emerging quality boutiques, gift shops and restaurants alone merit weekend visitors as well.
"Old Sunset Beach Bridge" by Ricky Evans
SUNSET BEACH
CALABASH & LITTLE RIVER
CALABASH
Calabash’s identity seems to trace to 1691. Its surrounding area flourished with staple crops for several centuries. Around 1814, a branch of Little River was called Pea Landing and became an important shipping center. In 1883, a post office was opened and named “Village of Calabash”. The WWII years saw Calabash starting to open restaurants that highlighted seafood with a special flavor. This was the birth of “Calabash Seafood.
Calabash’s neighbor, Little River, was originally named ”Mineola” by Native Americans. The language translation is “Little River”. Historically, it is one of the oldest settlements along the Atlantic coast. Its shrimp harvesting & fishing business are business staples. Good seafood restaurants have long been a result.
Calabash & Little River in many respects are a single community except for the geographical fact that Calabash is in NC & Little River is in SC. Notwithstanding, these two charming riverfront communities together support the Shrimp & Fishing Industry with their seafood restaurants and associated Seafood Festivals--the Blue Crab Festival in May & the Shrimp Fest in October.
The communities have a thriving charter boat fishing industry. Little River also is the home of the only Casino Boat along the Carolina Coast.
Visit the area and enjoy a good time with seafood dining & shopping.
