From solving a maze on the beach to exploring a car-free island and discovering one of the world's most fascinating carnivorous plants, summer in North Carolina's Brunswick Islands provides experiences you won't find anywhere else. If you're planning a North Carolina beach vacation this year, make sure to add these unique coastal adventures to your summer itinerary.
For more trip tips and itinerary suggestions, make sure to sign up for our monthly Brunswick Islands newsletter!
1. Attend the NC Fourth of July Festival
The coastal town of Southport hosts the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival, one of the state’s most beloved summer traditions and celebrations.
Independence Day events include a parade, fireworks over the Cape Fear River, live wrestling, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and even more family-friendly fun. Combined with Southport’s small-town charm, the nine-day North Carolina 4th of July Festival creates an unforgettable summer environment you don’t want to miss.
For visitors planning a summer getaway, Southport’s proximity to Oak Island and other Brunswick Islands beaches provides the perfect excuse for a Fourth of July beach vacation while also enjoying one of the state’s signature events, waterfront dining, and historic attractions.
2. Visit a Car-Free Island
Experience life at a slower pace on Bald Head Island — literally. Cars are not allowed on Bald Head Island. Here golf carts and bicycles replace the usual beach day traffic. Plus, the island is accessible only by public passenger ferry or private boat, meaning you can truly escape and disconnect from every day.
When visiting Bald Head Island, explore the pristine maritime forests accessible by nature trails across the island, lounge on unspoiled beaches, kayak through tidal creeks, and visit the Bald Head Island Conservancy to learn about the native wildlife. A family island getaway to Bald Head Island is unlike any other on the East Coast.
3. Climb NC’s Oldest and Youngest Lighthouses
Only in NC’s Brunswick Islands can visitors experience both North Carolina’s oldest standing and newest built lighthouses.
Climb to the top of Old Baldy Lighthouse for panoramic views of Bald Head Island. Then visit the Oak Island Lighthouse for a guided tour and the story of its coastal history and unique construction. After climbing 131 ships ladder steps to the top, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of Caswell Beach that are difficult to top.
4. Leave a Message in the Kindred Spirit Mailbox
Tucked away in the sand dunes of Bird Island Coastal Reserve is the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. For over 50 years, the mailbox has stood as a welcome repository of people’s handwritten notes, reflections, hopes, and prayers. The tradition has become one of North Carolina’s most meaningful landmarks and has inspired thousands of travelers. This hidden gem even inspired the Nicholas Sparks best-seller, Every Breath.
The scenic walk to the mailbox, which most people start from the 40th Street beach access on Sunset Beach, provides you with unobstructed views of the ocean and a protected coastal habitat that remains a Brunswick Islands treasure. The over two-mile roundtrip is truly one of the most memorable beach walks on the North Carolina coast.
5. Visit the Guardians of the Dunes
Pay attention while driving along East Beach Drive near 55th Street on Oak Island and you might just catch sight of towering driftwood statues standing watch. Known as the Guardians of the Dunes, these creatures made from reclaimed materials have become beloved mascots on Oak Island. The sculptures come in all shapes, sizes, and figures and are the work of local resident Dean Russell.
Russell, who began collecting oddly shaped driftwood during his regular beach walks, never expected his art would delight folks of all ages. The figures provide a fun photo opportunity for all those who hop out of their vehicles to get a closer look. Paired with a beach walk, a sunset view, and dinner at a local restaurant, paying a visit to the Guardians of the Dunes is a summer bucket list must do on Oak Island.
6. Solve a Maze in the Sand
Beach walkers on Sunset Beach may be surprised to find their walk turn into a spontaneous puzzle after stumbling upon a larger-than-life maze in the sand.
The mazes are no small feat to solve, sometimes spanning up to the width of one third of a football field and each one never the same as the one before. The sand mazes are free to solve and the work of local resident Hunter Gibbes, aka. the Sunset Beach Maze Man. After spending between 45 minutes to two hours designing a unique maze, Gibbes stands back and watches as his mazes delight beachgoers of every age. What started as a family tradition for Gibbes, who has designed mazes on Sunset Beach since 2006, continues in honor of his late wife and with the goal of putting smiles onto maze-goers’ faces.
This summer head out to the 13th Street beach access around low tide and look out for the latest Sunset Beach sand maze. Gibbes usually completes about one maze a week in the summertime.
7. Dine on World-Famous Calabash Style Seafood
No summer vacation to the Brunswick Islands is complete without a stop for authentic Calabash-style seafood. Originating in the fishing village of Calabash, this iconic culinary tradition features lightly floured, friend seafood, often served fresh straight from local waters.
From shrimp to clam strips, flounder to scallops, visitors can enjoy a Southern coastal staple that has influenced seafood restaurants across the country but is always best experienced where it began in Calabash, North Carolina.
Signature stops for Calabash-style seafood in Calabash include Beck’s Restaurant, Calabash Seafood Hut, and Captain Nance’s situated right along the Calabash River.
8. See a Venus Flytrap in the Wild
Did you know that the Brunswick Islands region is part of the small section of southeastern North Carolina where Venus flytraps grow natively? Indeed, the Venus flytrap was first discovered in Brunswick County in 1759 by then North Carolina Governor Arthur Dobbs.
Today visitors can venture to the Green Swamp Preserve in Supply to observe these spectacular plants growing in the wild. The site is managed by The Nature Conservancy and provides nature enthusiasts with the rare opportunity to explore a coastal North Carolina pocosin habitat, along a marked trail, where the indigenous carnivorous plant grows.
A stop at the Green Swamp Preserve is one of the greatest eco-tourism experiences on the Carolina coast and an unforgettable part of any Brunswick Islands vacation.
Visitors are reminded that removing a Venus flytrap is listed as a vulnerable species in North Carolina and it is illegal to remove one from its habitat.
9. Walk Among the Filming Locations of Summer Classics
North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands has served as the backdrop for countless film and television shows, including beloved classics and romantic dramas, throughout the last several decades. Many of the projects have been filmed in Southport where visitors can embark on self-guided, e-bike, or trolley tours of popular filming locations from films including Safe Haven, A Walk to Remember, I Know What You Did Last Summer and television shows including Dawson’s Creek and The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Another great stop for visitors exploring North Carolina film locations is the Fort Johnston Southport Museum and Visitors Center which houses an exhibit on movies and television shows filmed across town. The exhibit even features behind the scenes photos from the filming of Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven film adaptation where Southport played a starring role.
From strolling along waterfront Bay Street to the iconic Yacht Basin and visiting Southport’s historic sites, don’t be surprised if this charming coastal town already feels familiar.
Plan Your Summer Vacation to NC’s Brunswick Islands
Whether you decide to leave a message in the Kindred Spirit Mailbox, savor some Calabash-style seafood or climb to the top of a historic lighthouse, the Brunswick Islands provide summer experiences found nowhere else in North Carolina.
Start planning your coastal getaway and discover why generations of travelers return year after year for a bucket list worthy vacation on North Carolina’s southern coast. Request your free NC’s Brunswick Islands Vacation Guide to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are these activities free?
Most of the summer bucket list activities mentioned here are free to do, although tickets are required for the Bald Head Island ferry and Old Baldy Lighthouse. Check out our “8 Free Things to Do in NC’s Brunswick Islands” blog for more ideas.
2. Which of these activities should I book in advance?
Summer is one of the busier seasons in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands. We recommend scheduling your free tour to the top of the Oak Island Lighthouse up to 6 weeks before your visit, as well as purchasing Bald Head Island ferry tickets and Old Baldy tickets ahead of your trip.
3. Where should I stay to be near all these activities?
Wherever you choose to base yourself during your vacation to North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands, you won’t be further than an hour from any of the activities listed here. Get to know our islands and towns, then explore places to stay in the Brunswick Islands.
4. Which activities are wheelchair accessible?
Activities in Southport, including the NC 4th of July Festival and self-guided tours of movie locations are accessible, as most stops occur at street level. For more details about accessibility at the NC 4th of July Festival, visit our “NC 4th of July Festival: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go" blog.
The ferry to Bald Head Island is wheelchair accessible, but we recommend arriving early to allow staff to provide boarding assistance and lower any ramps.
There is a public walkway across the street from Oak Island Lighthouse which is wheelchair accessible.
All of three of the Calabash restaurants listed above are wheelchair accessible, with entrances at street level.
Beach wheelchairs are also available on Oak Island, Bald Head Island, and Sunset Beach. For more information, please visit our Beach Accessibility page.