Ocean Isle Beach, NC ~ A hidden Gem
One of the most popular places for a Western Pennsylvanian to go on summer vacation is Myrtle Beach, SC. It is a mecca for beach goers, foodies, shopaholics, and entertainment seekers. Our family and friends have vacationed there for years while our kids were growing up. Then it got a little too hectic for us. The kids got older and didn’t need the kind of entertainment that the fast paced strand offered. Don’t get us wrong, we still love all Myrtle Beach has to offer, just in smaller doses.
We spent several years trying out new beach vacation areas on the East Coast, and then we stumbled upon Ocean Isle Beach, NC (OIB). The first year we went, I fell in love. It is an approximately 4.5 mile long barrier island just north of the NC/SC border. It is quiet, but with enough to do to keep vacationers of any age entertained.
Since OIB is on a barrier island, you have a choice of water front homes (ocean front or canal) to rent as well as homes in between. The first year, we chose a house two streets from the ocean, mostly because it was more economical. It was an easy walk to the beach because there is public access on every other street. We would just take our lunch and stay the day.
Since our first trip, we have been renting canal houses on the eastern side of the island. We’ve actually rented the same house three times (Hey, when you find one you love, why change?). Canal homes provide extra entertainment for our family. We take our jet ski and paddle board with us on vacation. There is nothing better than enjoying some quiet, peaceful time paddling up and down the canals looking at the homes and saying “hey” to the neighbors, or taking an afternoon run on the jet ski looking for dolphins to race!
The first day of vacation we buy our groceries for breakfast and lunch, but most days we will go out for dinner. Scott loves to make breakfast and vacation is his time for this. He takes time to plan out our daily breakfasts, and let me tell you, nobody in our family is complaining! Lunch is simple, usually sandwiches and snacks that we take to the beach. We are also big on happy hour with snacks and drinks before dinner. But dinner is for enjoying local restaurants and delicious foods. Whether you love seafood or want to try something different (Jamaican food at the beach? ~ You got it!), OIB has a wide variety of restaurants for your enjoyment. Our favorites include Crabby Oddwaters (technically in Sunset Beach, but close enough), Ocean Isle Fish Co, the Inlet View Bar & Grille, or Sharky’s for seafood, The Sugar Shack for Jamaican food (the jerk sauce is the best), and Fibber McGees, an Irish Pub, that has a large menu with a variety of items. At the end of the day, there are a few places to grab dessert, but the Ocean Isle Creamery is our go to place for a cool treat!
There is also some night life for those who are not too tired from jumping waves, or laying in the sun. If you are a competitive family there is putt putt golf at River Country Mini Golf, and Ocean Isle Golf. You can also find some action at the Ocean Isle Go Kart track to try out your race car skills. The adults can check out a band or sing karaoke at Pelican’s Perch, or have some cocktails and watch the sunset at the Tiki Bar in the Ocean Isle Fish Company.
If you are looking for more action, you can always plan some time down in Myrtle Beach. It is a 30-45 minute drive (depending on what end of the area you are looking to go). There is plenty of shopping, restaurants, and other attractions. So in my humble opinion, OIB has it all….location, relaxation, and good times!!
