The Spot Run, and the Festival Built On It
Moving to Topsail Island: What to Know Before You Buy
Topsail Island is not one town. It is three, spread over 26 miles and two counties, with different prices, taxes and rules. And roughly 56 percent of North Topsail Beach can’t get federal flood insurance, which catches buyers out.
Where to See Holiday Lights on the Carolina Coast
Enchanted Airlie and Lake Linda’s are the two big ones, and Enchanted Airlie sells out, so book early. Where to find holiday lights from downtown Wilmington to the smaller beach towns, plus the boat parades on the waterway.
Your Guide to Holiday Events on the Carolina Coast
Boat parades instead of sleigh rides. The 2026 dates for the NC Holiday Flotilla, Enchanted Airlie and Wilmington’s riverfront drone shows, plus when our own towns light their trees.
Fall in Holly Ridge: Why Autumn Might Be the Best Time to Look Here
Holly Ridge sits between Wilmington and Jacksonville, ten minutes from Surf City, and it is growing faster than its schools can keep up with. What fall shows you about the town, and the school capacity question to ask before you buy.
Sneads Ferry, NC Real Estate: A Waterfront Buyer’s Guide
Sneads Ferry is a working shrimping village on the New River, not a barrier island beach town, and that changes what waterfront means here. Deep water access, dock condition and flood zone are the three things to check before you buy.
Picking Your Own Oysters on Stump Sound
Oyster season on Stump Sound runs October 15 to March 31 and you do not need a license. Where to get to the water, what the rules actually say, and the one almost everybody breaks.
Is Hampstead a Good Place to Live? An Honest Local Take
Hampstead is unincorporated. No town government, no town taxes, no town services. Here is what that actually means day to day, plus honest drive times on US 17, where the bypass really stands against NCDOT’s published dates, and the school capacity picture.
Fall on the Carolina Coast Is the Season Locals Keep
Labor Day empties the beaches from Topsail down to Carolina Beach, and the best three months on this coast begin. Warm water into late October, better fishing, and parking rules that don’t work the way most people assume.
Surf City at the End of Summer
The water holds in the mid to low 70s through most of October, the paid parking winds down, and the crowds go home. September and October are the months locals keep for themselves on Topsail Island.
Is Carolina Beach, NC a Good Place to Live? A Local's Honest Take
People visit Carolina Beach for a week and wonder if they could actually live here. Here's an honest local's take on what daily life is really like — the good, the trade-offs, and who tends to move here.
Your Ultimate Guide to a Surf City & Topsail Island Summer
Explore the ultimate guide to summer activities in Surf City and Topsail Island, NC. Find the best spots for surfing, beachcombing, dining, and family fun.
The Peninsula: Surf City’s Hidden Jewel of Sound-Side Living
Soundfront homes at The Peninsula in Surf City, NC — the quiet side of Topsail Island, where the water is behind the house and the sunset faces you.
Accolade: Coastal Living Redefined on Topsail Island
New construction at Accolade on Topsail Island, NC — homes set among maritime forest and live oaks, with Intracoastal access minutes from the beach.
Light Up Your 4th: A Guide to Coastal NC’s Best July 4th Events
Where to watch 4th of July fireworks on the North Carolina coast — Surf City, Topsail Island, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Wilmington.
Your Guide to the Best Parks
The best parks in Surf City, Hampstead and on Topsail Island — playgrounds, boat ramps, sound access and shade, with addresses and what each is best for.
Score Big with Family Fun: A Guide to Local Youth Sports
Youth sports around Surf City, Hampstead and Topsail Island — the leagues, rec programs and where families sign up, for anyone moving here with kids.
Pelican Sound: Your Gateway to Intracoastal Living
Homes for sale in Pelican Sound, Hampstead NC — a small waterfront community off Sloop Point Loop Road with the Intracoastal Waterway at the doorstep.
Sweet Escapes: Your Guide to the Best Local Candy, Ice Cream & Treats.
Where to get ice cream, candy and treats around Surf City, Topsail Island, Hampstead and Holly Ridge — the local spots worth the stop, town by town.
Pelican Reef: Coastal Living at its Finest
Homes for sale in Pelican Reef, Hampstead NC — a gated waterfront community on the Intracoastal Waterway, minutes from Topsail Island and the beach.