If you’re on Topsail Island and looking for things to do, we have plenty of suggestions. Whether you’re visiting for a few hours or a few weeks, the Topsail Guide Editorial Team has prepared a list of the places and activities you should work into your stay in the area.
#1: Explore the Island’s Piers
One of the most impressive views to be had of Topsail Island’s 26-mile-long coastline can be found on one of the island’s piers. Extending hundreds of feet into the Atlantic Ocean, each of the island’s piers offers views of the shore, surf, local anglers in action – and perhaps some of the marine life as well. While you never know what those fishing may pull up to the deck of the piers, many sightseers are able to catch a glimpse of dolphins, sharks, and occasionally sea turtles as well.
Best of all, the three piers are an affordable way to score those beautiful “Instagram-worthy” views for others to envy – and regardless of where you are on the island, you’re only minutes away from one as they’re spaced out quite well across the island’s shore.
Surf City Pier
112 South Shore Drive
Surf City, NC 28445
If you’re only visiting Topsail Island for a short time and traveling over the Surf City Bridge, the Surf City Pier is easy to find. As you cross over the bridge, you’ll see the pier immediately in front of you – or you can point your directions app to 112 South Shore Drive, Surf City, NC 28445.
As the island’s central pier, the Surf City Pier extends 937 feet over the Atlantic Ocean and features a 40-foot wide octagon-shaped viewing area at the end of the pier. The pier is open 24 hours a day from March through December, so it’s perfect for capturing sunrise and sunset photos, viewing surfers in action to the left (north) of the pier, and access to the pier for those 11 years of age and older is just $1 per person. If you’re planning to fish, be sure to check the current rates. At the time this article was published, fishing fees for those using the pier were $10 per person – and the pier house has a full shop loaded with bait, fishing supplies, bathrooms, food – and more.
SeaView Fishing Pier
124 Fishing Pier Lane
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
If you’re traveling onto Topsail Island from the northern end (coming in from Sneads Ferry over the Trooper Larry Walton Memorial Bridge on Highway 210), the SeaView Pier will be the closest pier to you. The SeaView Pier also has an adjacent hotel, but the same picturesque views (and arguably better fishing) can be had here as is the case with the Surf City Pier.
The SeaView Pier is also one of the longest piers in all of North Carolina, extending more than 1,000 feet out over the Atlantic Ocean. And, don’t let the name fool you – while many folks will be fishing at the SeaView Fishing Pier, spectator access is just $2 per person, making SeaView an excellent and affordable option for photographers, families, and kids that love to see what anglers might pull up next.
Jolly Roger Inn & Pier
803 Ocean Boulevard
Topsail Beach, NC 28445
Last, but certainly not least is the Jolly Roger Inn & Pier located on Topsail Island’s southern region in the town of Topsail Beach. Like the SeaView Fishing Pier and Motel, overnight accommodations are also available at the Jolly Roger Pier, but the pier is of course more oriented towards fishing and taking in the views of Topsail Island and the Atlantic Ocean.
With a full-service pier house, Jolly Roger Pier can help you prepare for a day of fishing, provide you with the bait you’ll need to secure a catch – or serve up some food and drinks to make your time on and around the pier a bit more enjoyable.
Access for spectators at Jolly Roger Pier is just $2 per person, and that access will have you able to walk out more than 850 feet onto the pier, providing one of the best sunset views the Island has to offer.
#2: Slow Down at Soundside Park
Partially underneath the Surf City Bridge, Soundside Park has plenty to offer! With a large playground, several fishing platforms, boat launch ramps, and several restroom facilities – Soundside Park is a great place to stop at once you’ve made it into Topsail Island. You can stretch your legs after too much time in the car, smell the ocean air and get one of the best views of the Intracoastal Waterway, or “ICWW” as it’s often called.
Soundside Park
517 Roland Avenue
Surf City, NC 28445
Editor’s Note: Even as locals to the area who live very close to Hampstead’s Kiwanis Park, we love bringing our family out to Soundside Park because it simply has more to offer. The playground is new, there are covered picnic tables and overall – just a lot more going on at Soundside to keep ourselves and our children busy and content.
While The Town of Surf City does have paid public parking spaces available along Roland Avenue, you can enjoy Soundside Park for free when parking off-street in the large gravel parking lots.
#3: Shark Tooth Hunting
If you’ve visited Topsail Island before, you’ve probably seen an abundance of shark teeth available for sale – whether it’s a standalone tooth, made into a necklace, or incorporated into something more significant. While you could certainly buy something like that, we believe that the real fun is in the treasure hunt for these undiscovered fossils!
Best of all, sharks’ teeth can be found in all shapes and sizes and there’s a captivating charm about seeing everyone, from toddlers to retirees, filling their hands with relics that are thousands (and sometimes millions) of years old!
Editor’s Note: As residents of the area, we’re often making excuses to visit the beaches all along Topsail Island’s shores – and whether it’s a beach day, a fishing day, or just an excuse to go for a walk… Every one of us has developed a tendency to look down to our feet for shark teeth hidden in the sand. It’s much easier than you may think – especially if you know how to look for them!
The next time you’re on the beaches of Topsail Island, pay particular attention to the deep dark grey and black triangular shapes you see in the sand. With every tide cycle, thousands of teeth are uncovered and if you really get into the practice of searching for shark teeth, you’re likely to find favorite spots and tides to target.
We’ll create a guide for the best ways to find shark teeth on the beach in time – but if you’re eager to get out there and get started – our favorite spots are on the Southern end of Topsail Island, just to the North of the Jolly Roger Inn & Pier. If you go near the lowest tide of the day and pay close attention to those darker triangular shapes in the sand, you’re likely to find some!
As a bonus, treasure hunting the sands of Topsail Island isn’t always about the shark teeth you may find. Sand dollars and sea glass are also quite common!
#4: Rent a Boat (or Another Way to Float)
If you have the time to dedicate to a half-day or full-day boat rental, there are many options available in the $300 to $600 price range. The Editorial Team here at Topsail Guide has rented from a couple of the several popular boat rental agencies providing access to Topsail Island.
Surf City Boat Rentals
805 Roland Avenue
Surf City, NC 28445
Our first choice is Surf City Boat Rentals, which is actually located on the “mainland” side of Surf City to the left of the Surf City Bridge when accessing the island. In the past 4+ years we have rented pontoon boats at least 5 different times, and each time – we’ve been very impressed with the team at Surf City Boat Rentals. They’re easy to call and talk to, pay attention to weather conditions in advance of your rental, provide laminated maps with ICWW access, and are always happy to let you know the specifics of navigating your way around. Plan to explore the Intracoastal Waterway, Banks Channel, Nixon Channel, and other popular areas where you can anchor up along Lea-Hutaff Island or the sand bars for some private beach time.
When we last rented in August of 2022, we also learned that all of their boats now come equipped with Garmin GPS devices which were very helpful, allowing us to see routes the boat had previously taken and gave us active depth readings – and even helped us in finding fish! We’ve only rented their pontoon and tritoon boats, but they also have skiffs available.
You won’t be able to book online or view availability on their website, but they’re always happy to help when you call them at 910-352-2171.
Aquaholics Boat Rentals
412 Roland Avenue
Surf City, NC 28445
Another boat rental agency we’ve used in the past does provide online reservations and viewable availability – and that’s Aquaholics Boat Rentals. We rented with them last Summer for a smaller pontoon, and they’re also easily accessible (but from the island side) of Roland Avenue in Surf City.
The one downside that we’ve experienced with Aquaholics Boat Rentals was that at least for the pontoon we rented last year, the motor was smaller than what we’d become used to in renting with Surf City Boat Rentals – and it took considerably longer to get to the places that we were hoping to. With a limited-time rental and plenty of areas to explore, that’s one thing to be careful of if you’re watching the clock.
Regardless of who you choose to rent from (and there are others we haven’t used available, including Topsail Boat Rental), make sure you keep their regulations in mind. In our experience, you’re restricted to the ICWW and shouldn’t take your rentals out to the open ocean.
Of course, we’re all familiar with the fact that over time, things simply cost more. As the costs for a boat rental begin with spending several hundreds of dollars, that’s simply not always an option for those traveling on a budget.
But floating around the Intracoastal on a standup paddleboard or in a kayak rental can be a ton of fun, especially when the weather is right. We recommend taking a look at 50 South Surf Shop, On Shore Surf Shop, and Paddle NC – for renting paddle-based access, but others including On Shore Surf Shop and Surf City Surf School also rent surfboards, wakeboards, and other fun to enjoy at the beach, too!
#5: Support Locally Owned & Operated Businesses
If you’re on vacation or live in and love the area, it’s always fun to spend a little or a lot on remembering your stay in the form of souvenirs. Now, you’re sure to drive past several novelty stores decked out with giant alligators and sharks as you enter through their front doors – and there’s plenty to be enjoyed there, too.
At Topsail Guide though, we’re aware of the “small town” feel Topsail Island often represents, especially when you’re living here on a permanent basis or simply visiting out of peak season. There are hundreds of small, locally owned, and operated stores and experiences you should invest the time in exploring.
Our little ones simply love the Touch Tank Aquarium at Ecological Marine Adventures, and I’m learning that it’ll be difficult to get my wife out of BumbleBee Market in a hurry. If you’re looking for a quick eat, family friends of ours run the New York Corner Deli – and for a sweet treat, a Pelican’s Snoballs trip is sure to delight all ages on a hot day on the Island.
Touch Tank Aquarium at Ecological Marine Adventures
106 N Topsail Drive
Surf City, NC 28445
BumbleBee Market
330 N New River Drive
Surf City, NC 28445
New York Corner Deli
206 N Topsail Drive
Surf City, NC 28445
Pelican’s SnoBalls Surf City
204 N New River Drive
Surf City, NC 28445
Honorable Mention: Additional Activities & Things to Do
At Topsail Guide, our intent is to provide you with subjective recommendations written from a local perspective. Each year though, thousands of visitors come to the area, accumulate experiences and write about them, share experiences on social media – and in turn, the Internet pays attention.
There’s an incredible value in visitors’ reviews and personal experiences, so it wouldn’t be right for us to ignore those contributions when compiling a resource of “Things to Do” on Topsail Island for new residents and visitors.
TripAdvisor is one of the obvious sites you may have come across when researching things to do in the area. Their list is a little strange in that the #1 “Thing to Do” is literally Topsail Island, but there are some good recommendations if you look past that. Their list also includes some recommendations that aren’t actually on Topsail Island, but in the immediate area.
Additional activities from their list would include:
The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
302 Tortuga Lane
Surf City, NC 28445
Editor’s Note: The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center isn’t located on the island, but it’s a short drive (under a mile) from the Surf City Bridge. The Center also has a presence on Topsail Island throughout the year as they are often called in to protect local sea turtle nests, are regularly releasing rehabilitated sea turtles back into the wild, and patrolling Topsail Island’s beaches for tracks and turtles in distress.
The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is absolutely a “must see” as well, if you’re able to secure a time and tickets to drop in. It’s a very popular destination for visitors and locals alike, so time slots fill up fast. Once there though, you’ll learn more about the work Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center does, likely see some sea turtles in the Center, and will absolutely learn more about the turtles themselves.
Missiles and More Museum
720 Channel Boulevard
Topsail Beach, NC 28445
Editor’s Note: The Missles and More Museum is another recommendation from TripAdvisor users, and while it is located on Topsail Island, we left that off of our list as it’s a seasonal experience that’s only open from April through October each year. Visitors to the museum are treated to a wealth of local exhibits though, and you can expect to learn about many topics ranging from the history of Pirates who frequented Topsail Island (like Blackbeard) to innovative programs in more recent history like Operation Bumblebee and WASP, the “Women Air Force Service Pilots” program that was established during World War II.
Salty Turtle Beer Company
103 Triton Lane
Surf City, NC 28445
Editor’s Note: The Salty Turtle Beer Company is absolutely worth your time, whether you’re a craft beer fanatic looking for a local brew, or just want an excuse to hang out after a long day at the beach and relax. Located very near The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Salty Turtle isn’t located on Topsail Island – but is indeed very close.
With more than a dozen of their own beers on tap or ready to order to go, Salty Turtle’s Taproom also offers patrons a variety of snacks – and their staff is always willing to talk “suds” with you so that you can learn more about the beers available on any given day.