What You Need to Know About North Topsail Beach

We're beginning a spotlight series that focuses on the highlights of each of our three Topsail Island towns. We're going to give you an inside look at what makes each of our quaint maritime towns unique and what each has to offer you whether you choose to visit, vacation or live here. Each has its own personality and quintessential coastal charm and it's time you got to know them all a little bit better.
 
The first stop on our Topsail Island tour is North Topsail Beach, named such for its northernmost location on the island. How much do you know about this lovely seaside beach town? Let's find out!

About North Topsail Beach, NC

With a total of 10 squares miles of gorgeous barrier island beauty, it just makes sense that North Topsail Beach's town motto is "Nature's Tranquil Beauty"—which is exactly what you'll find here. Located in Onslow County and conveniently situation between the bigger cities of neighboring Jacksonville, NC to the north and Wilmington, NC to the south, it's the perfect location for being close enough to city life and its valuable amenities, but far enough away from the traffic, busyness and congestion of the urban lifestyle.

North Topsail Beach was incorporated in 1990 and was formerly known as West Onslow Beach and North Topsail Shores. North Topsail Beach was previously separated from the rest of Topsail Island by Stump Inlet, but time and weather have filled the gap uniting the town and making it more accessible to its visitors and vacationers. Situated comfortably between the Intracoastal Waterway and soundside waters on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, gives North Topsail Beach double the benefits when it comes to on-the-water activities and adventures. The calmer soundside waters are ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding, and canoeing while the more charismatic ocean side offers opportunities to surf, sail, and kiteboard the undulating and sometimes challenging waves of the Atlantic.

North Topsail Beach's population is under 1000 residents, but that number swells to 5x that size in the summer beach season. It's easy to see why the secret is out about Topsail Island and its beaches. You can't keep this much beach beauty and coastal fun in the sun under wraps for too long. Eventually, the word gets out and indeed it has. North Topsail Beach has been named as one of the best budget-friendly beach towns in the USA, making it even more attractive because it's affordable as well as beautiful.

It's not just vacationers who are beginning to know and love Topsail Island. Area real estate experts predict that the population of the Topsail area is expected to double by the year 2020. 

Attractions and Things To Do in North Topsail Beach

It goes without saying that the beach is the main attraction on NTB. But beyond the stunning coastline and pristine sands lies more to explore. Here are the top North Topsail Beach attractions and things to do.  

Permuda Island Coastal Reserve: Permuda Island is a small narrow island located in the extreme southwestern portion of Onslow County. The island is situated in Stump Sound, landward of Topsail Island. Permuda Island contains 63 acres of upland and is approximately 1.5 miles in length. The estuarine waters of Stump Sound protect the island as well as make it a paddling adventure of the best kind. Permuda Island may be reached only by shallow-draft boat. Because of thick vegetation, along with an abundance of snakes and insects, visitors are encouraged to enjoy Permuda from the water. Popular ways to enjoy the site are by kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Various public and private boat ramps are found along the sound side of Topsail Island as well as the mainland shoreline. Plan your visit to Permuda Island and read more about the coastal reserve by following the link.

Sea View Fishing Pier: Each Topsail town is home to its own fishing pier. The Sea View Fishing Pier in North Topsail Beach is one of the longest fishing piers in North Carolina spanning over 1000 feet. The Sea View Pier is located off of New River Road at 124 Fishing Pier Lane and was once known as Salty's Pier back in the day. Pier amenities include a fully stocked pier store at the bottom entrance and a restaurant located on the 2nd floor. King mackerel fishing at the end of the pier provides some reel big fishing and excitement. For the rest of us, spots, flounder, blues, Spanish mackerel, mullets, and the like provide fishing fun, a great family outing—and a if you're lucky, a pretty tasty catch of the day. They'll even cook up your catch for you! 

On-the-water activities: Because of NTB's close and convenient location to the passive and calm soundside waters, there are abundant opportunities to get out and enjoy them. Try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing or head out on an ecotour adventure. Get up-close-and-personal with the natural elements and the marine wildlife while you see the sights. Take a surf lesson in the Atlantic Ocean or paddle toward the horizon in an ocean kayak. 

Hunting for seashells, sea glass and shark teeth: Hunting for coastal treasures is favorite pastime of residents and vacationers alike. Seashells, sea glass and shark teeth are plentiful and just require a little bit of your time and a good eye. Check out our Topsail Island Shelling Guide for everything you need to know about coastal treasure hunting and seashell identification on the island. 

Nature activities: Whether you're dolphin watching or bird watching, there's plenty of marvelous nature to observe. Go out in the great outdoors and see what you discover on your explorations and adventures. Bring your camera!

Where to Stay on North Topsail Beach

If you're craving a North Topsail Beach vacation, we have the beach rentals just for you! With a nice selection of Topsail vacation rentals and amenities, you're sure to find your vacation-home-away-from-home. You'll enjoy the the comforts of home plus the luxuries of a vacation all in one place. 

You can search our North Topsail Beach vacation rentals and see what catches your eye. Let us know if we can help you or answer any of your vacation rental questions. It's never too early or too late to start planning your next Topsail beach vacation. 

Living in North Topsail Beach

If a couple of weeks on our island just isn't enough for you, then you might want to consider a more permanent option. You might want to start with taking a peek at our long-term rentals on Topsail Island. If island living is for you and you're drawn to the abundant natural beauty of the Eastern North Carolina coastline, you should consider perusing our Topsail Island real estate listings also. You're investing in sun, sand and surf and a lifetime of beach memories and experiences for you and your loved ones. 

As mentioned earlier, there's an upward buying trend expected here in the next few years and the housing market will most likely continue to be (and become more) competitive. Maybe now is the time for you to get serious about relocating or investing in Topsail Island before it's too late and out of your reach. We're here to help you every step of the way with our local experience and love of Topsail. Contact us for more information. We'd love to help you make your dreams of beach living a wonderful reality.