Topsail Island Beach Vacation

My favorite spot?  The beach.  If I had money to spare, the first thing I'd do is buy a house on the beach in North Carolina.  A girl can dream and maybe someday it could become a reality, but for now I'll settle for an annual trip to a sleepy little beach town my family discovered seven years ago.

This summer we will be heading to Topsail Island, North Carolina, for the fourth time.  My mom discovered this place in 2008 when she was searching for a vacation destination for our whole family to go to and celebrate her birthday.  We immediately fell in love and it has now become "our spot."  We went back the next summer, but then took a little break because we had a few more kids!  Last year we decided to head back to Topsail Island with our now-complete family and opted to hit the road rather than take to the air.

The drive is approximately 16.5 hours from our home, but we are not crazy enough to drive straight through!  On the way out we stay two nights in a hotel so we can arrive mid-day on Saturday to buy our groceries and get settled into our house.  On the way home, we only stay one night in a hotel.  Getting home late on Sunday is okay by us.  By that point the fun is over and we are ready to get home.

So, why is this our number one spot?  This special place is for families looking for a relaxing beach getaway without all of the hype. All of the homes we have stayed in are in Surf City, which is part of Topsail Island.  We like the central location and proximity to shops and the fish market.  This sleepy little beach town is not your typical commercialized hot spot.  In fact, there are very few restaurant chains and no hotel chains located there.  Instead you will find local restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and ice cream shops, as well as a wonderful fresh fish market.  There are plenty of cute shops to browse through to find the perfect souvenir, too.

Soaking it all in

 Our family beach vacations are relaxing.  There is no schedule.  We choose to stay right on the beach, so each morning we have some breakfast and head down the steps to enjoy the sand and ocean.  The kids run around and splash in the ocean most of the day, but occasionally we'll take a walk on the beach, head to the pier, or walk into town for a treat.  Last year we were fortunate enough to be just a few houses down from a beach access point where they released several sea turtles who had been staying and healing at the turtle hospital.  What an amazing experience for our whole family!  

Sea Turtle Returning Home

Staying on Topsail Island is quite budget-friendly.  My parents have always gone with us, so we split the price of the house.  You can get some amazing deals if you're willing to go early or late in the summer, but the peak prices are quite reasonable as well.  The beach homes have a full kitchen and we take full advantage of it.  This is especially helpful when managing our son's food allergies.  When we arrive we stock up on groceries and prepare most of our meals, which helps keep our budget in check.  We hit up the fish market late every afternoon and pick out what we'll cook for dinner.  There is nothing better than fresh seafood!

Beach Front Home

Ultimately, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to get away as a family, make some awesome memories, and soak up the sun.  We have begun to understand the magic of having "a spot" to visit time and time again.  The kids can envision where we're heading and love reminiscing about the last trip and the places they just have to visit again.

We would recommend this vacation to anyone with children, young, old, or somewhere in between.  Our beach vacations have been so manageable with young children.  Having a home on the beach helps with nap schedules, potty breaks, and times when the kids just need to eat, grab a quick drink, or take a little break.  We don't have to pack up our beach equipment multiple times a day or worry about finding an open spot.  It is truly about as relaxing as it can get with small kids!  

Relaxation