Wrightsville beach, topsail, Wilmington, carolina beach?

Distance and cool shit to do in the short spam of one day

5/26/2011 1:37:17 PM

Topsail. Less crowded.

5/26/2011 1:38:14 PM

What kind of cool stuff are you looking to do?

If it's the standard beach, beer, fish, or golf then definitely go to Topsail. The Sea Turtle Hospital is pretty cool too. It says 2.5-3 hours on Google Maps depending on the address, but it only took us 2 hours while going 5-10mph over the speed limit.

204 Roland Ave is the Bank of America address right in front of a public beach access. There is plenty of free public parking on both sides of the bank with less than a block to the beach with a few beach stores, fast food, and restaurants nearby.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Raleigh,+NC&daddr=Topsail,+204+Roland+Avenue,+Surf+City,+NC&hl=en&geocode=FcDWIQId6hFQ-yn34FGfL1qsiTGt8BGKUraQZw%3BFf5NDQIdpcBg-yktLISklqKpiTHKlpJ0P38ndg&mra=ls&sll=34.433092,-77.532465&sspn=0.017096,0.038581&g=N+Shore+Dr,+Topsail,+NC+28445%E2%80%8E&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=8


[Edited on May 26, 2011 at 1:53 PM. Reason : and yes, way less crowded. though if you're day tripping over Memorial day get ready for traffic]

5/26/2011 1:47:09 PM

Quote :

"Wrightsville beach, topsail, Wilmington, carolina beach?"

[Edited on May 26, 2011 at 1:52 PM. Reason : oops]

5/26/2011 1:51:56 PM

Looking to walk around, a little water, a restaurant and a place to buy some random shit probably. I enjoy a more local and less commercialized experience if that makes sense

5/26/2011 1:57:53 PM

You'll enjoy Topsail then. Go to Sears Landing for lunch. A little pricey but I love their seafood sandwiches.

5/26/2011 2:04:59 PM

Quote :

"I enjoy a more local and less commercialized experience if that makes sense"

hipster alert

5/26/2011 2:13:56 PM

Single speed bike rental is a plus but not required

5/26/2011 2:18:58 PM

I would just bring my own fixed

Here is what I've found so far in my research.

---------------------------------------------
Wrightsville beach:
Travel Time: 133 miles, 2 hours
Things to do: Right off i40. Plenty of eating establishments.

Salt Marsh Kayaking. 2 hour kayak tour sounds fun. They say the rental site was hard to find but the staff was very nice and it was their first tour.

History museum: someone said, clean and very education, a great way to enjoy and learn about the area



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Wilmington beach:
Travel Time: 144 miles, 2.5 hours
Things to do:

Food: Front Street Brewery, The George, Elijah’s, Cafee Phoenix,

Battle ship NC, sounds cool never been on it.

Cape fear river boats sail around and you can eat on them

Zoo: Tote-em-in zoo 5811 carolina beach road. Now called tregemboro. Some person says they have liked it for years since a kid. Surprisingly large with a lot of animals. Apparently, they animals are well cared for. They rescue the animals and give them big enclosures etc. I think you can throw peanuts and corn at the animals. That sounds funny and horrible haha. I have read bad and good reviews.. 40 bucks to get in

New Hanover County Arboretum: free. Apparently a fun 30-1 hour stroll through free well kept gardens.

Burgwin-Wright museum and gardens.
124 market street.
Old school museum



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Carolina Beach:
Travel Time: 143 miles 2.5 hours

Board walk/Pier: Kure beach pier is the oldest fishing pier on the atlantic coast.
Estuarine reserves: logger head turtles mammals and shore birds on these 3 islands
Fort fisher historic site: tour trail ¼ mile long you walk around I guess
NC aquarium at fort fisher (interesting to me): 2500 animals on display

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Top Sail Beach (Surf City):
Travel Time: 147 miles. 2.7 hours
Things to do: Sears landing for lunch good food.
Things I hear: Less Crowded. It feels like you have your own private beach. Apparently they have great tasting shrimp.

Belle of Top Sail. It’s a boat ride. You see sunsets and dolphins. Food was good on ship. Apparently they have pirate cruises for 40. Cannon shooting, eye patches and sword fights.

They have a 2 hour cruise that is a ‘captains sunset cruise’ that starts at 530pm and is 30 dollars.

Belleoftopsail.com

There is a sea turtle hospital here

[Edited on May 26, 2011 at 2:24 PM. Reason : .]

5/26/2011 2:24:09 PM

You can go flounder gigging on Topsail too. Giggity giggity.

5/26/2011 2:27:39 PM

I'm confused by this "Wilmington Beach"....is this the riverfront?

5/26/2011 2:29:24 PM

i still don't understand the appeal of going to the coast w/o a boat

fuck sand

[Edited on May 26, 2011 at 2:31 PM. Reason : except to surf fish, of course]

5/26/2011 2:30:56 PM

Wilmington/Wrightsville are likely to be swamped. Topsail shouldn't be too bad, thats where I'll be. And Daddy Mac's at Topsail is delicious.

5/26/2011 3:32:58 PM

There are some excellent restaurants in Southport, and it's got a nice waterfront area if walking around is on your list. Closest beach to that would probably be Oak Island, or Bald Head.

5/26/2011 4:12:18 PM

Quote :

"i still don't understand the appeal of going to the coast w/o a boat fuck sand"

THIS. 190% THIS.

5/26/2011 4:16:38 PM

Thanks folks all suggestions help a lot

5/26/2011 4:17:05 PM

if you're going over memorial day I recommend you stay at home and go some other weekend

/debbie downer

[Edited on May 26, 2011 at 4:18 PM. Reason : you could leave at the ass crack of dawn and probably be ok though]

5/26/2011 4:18:23 PM

If I were you i'd head down 40east straight into wilmington and continue straight into carolina beach. On the way to carolina you will pass the zoo, which used to be called totemin zoo, but i forget what the new name is... keep going to carolina beach and I'd get some donuts at britt's on the boardwalk because they are awesome.
I'd walk out on the beach, hang out, play in the ocean etc...

then keep driving down that road and through kure beach...you will head into fort fisher which is pretty cool..museum, walk around the embattlements, go out on the beach etc...
keep going .5 mile and you can take the ferry over to southport

[Edited on May 26, 2011 at 4:20 PM. Reason : yea]

5/26/2011 4:19:39 PM