BRUNSWICK ISLANDS

This vacation, get more beach for your blanket at North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands.

More than 45 miles of pristine, uncrowded beaches, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, world-class golf and a temperate year-round climate create the perfect vacation destination in North Carolina's Brunswick Islands. Each of the islands and surrounding mainland towns possesses a unique character, as well as a variety of activities sure to delight every member of your family, and they’re all just an easy drive away.

The beaches of the Brunswick Islands are the highlight of any vacation here. Miles of soft sand beckon both the young­ and the young at heart­ to spend a day building sand castles, collecting shells and fossilized shark teeth, racing the waves or simply soaking up the sun. And gentler waves are perfect for trying your hand at surfing, playing in the water for the very first time or discovering unique shells intact. Nature offers a special treat at the beginning and ending of each day: the Islands’ unique east-west orientation invites you to watch the sun both rise and set over the water.

Those visitors who wish to explore everything the area has to offer will find plenty to intrigue and delight. Lighthouses on Bald Head Island and Oak Island recall simpler, yet adventurous times, when navigating the waters around the area called for hard-earned skill, a bit of luck and a watchful beacon in the night. Birdwatchers will flock to Sunset Beach, a prime spot for birding, while Ocean Isle Beach and Holden Beach provide plenty of opportunities for fishing, water sports, and more. Southport’s historic buildings, Shallotte’s charming shops and Calabash’s world-famous seafood, ­combined with the area’s annual fishing tournaments and seafood festivals ­and a coastal way of life, treat all who visit the Brunswick Islands to vacation memories that will last a lifetime.

In addition to nature’s beauty along the ocean’s strand, golfers of every skill level will find natural splendor on each of the more than 30 championship golf courses in the Brunswick Islands. Challenging world-class courses designed by greats like Arnold Palmer, Rees Jones and Dan Maples offer beautiful views, mild temperatures, impeccably maintained courses and golf at its unrushed best.

And the Brunswick Islands’ plentiful accommodations, including hotels, motels and condos and homes with full kitchens, make it easy to reconnect with friends and loved ones as you relax and re-energize. Take advantage of lower gas prices and an abundant selection of rental homes­, share a fully furnished beach house with friends or family and make your vacation not only enjoyable, but also economical. Save even more during your vacation getaway by preparing your favorite meals right at “home” in spacious and fully equipped kitchens.

Tranquil beaches. Championship golf. Activities and accommodations to fit any interest and budget. Take advantage of the paradise that awaits just a short drive away in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands, where you’ll find more beach for your blanket.