Barrier islands dot the North Carolina coast over several hundred miles, but five of the finest are in Brunswick County. Known for their family atmosphere and concern for the preservation of wildlife habitats, the beaches complement the thriving mainland towns where golf, history, entertainment, shopping and antiquing abound.

With forty-five miles of south-facing beaches, you’ll enjoy spectacular sunrises and sunsets, wide strands for walking and collecting shells, surf fishing or playing beach volleyball. Each island is different, but they’re all spectacular, and they’re all happy to welcome visitors.

Sunset Beach
Closest to Farmstead and southernmost is Sunset Beach, developed by a father and son team to reflect the quiet, family-oriented nature of the region. It is also the smallest - only three miles long. Accessible by bridge and a leisurely drive across a salt marsh spotted with long-legged marsh birds, Sunset Beach has a small, central commercial district which caters to residents and visitors. Sunset\'s wide strand and thick sea oats welcome hundreds of shore birds each morning along with beach walkers from the surrounding communities. Perhaps one of the beach\'s greatest charms is that it provides the only land access to undeveloped Bird Island which, like Farmstead, straddles North and South Carolina. The mainland side offers a variety of shops and services as well as the Ingram Planetarium.

Ocean Isle Beach
Ocean Isle Beach came to life in the early 1950s when a local youth newly returned from World War II purchased the island with the dream to develop a quiet family beach. He identified a centralized commercial district and planned the remaining portion of the eight mile island as residential. Waterfront was created by digging T-shaped canals across the island. From its early fish-camp days with access by ferry, the island has grown to incorporate public tennis courts, boat docks, specialty shops, Museum of Coastal Carolina, an inter-denominational chapel and full-service fishing pier. The island\'s annual Fourth of July parade and party is a favorite for residents and visitors. Each October, it hosts the North Carolina Oyster Festival. On the mainland side is a small airport, fire station and several restaurants and shops.

Holden Beach
A stone’s throw by water, but an interestingly circuitous route by land from Ocean Isle, the next beach community is 8-mile-long Holden Beach. Acquired for 50 shillings in 1756 by Benjamin Holden as part of 100 acres extending from Lockwood Folly Inlet to Bacon Inlet, the property was a commercial fishing center in the 1920s. Serious development was delayed when Intracoastal Waterway construction blocked access to the island. A simple ferry was installed in 1934 and development efforts were renewed. Today, the family resort image is carefully protected. The beach’s residents celebrate A Day at the Docks in March and Festival by the Sea in October. Traditional boat building continues on the mainland where shrimp and fishing boats bring their catch to shore. A fishing pier and several charter boats operate here.

Oak Island
The town of Oak Island is blessed by the ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and Davis Creek where kayaking is popular. Oak Island boasts three fishing piers and more than 70 water access points. The town limits include a commercial district on the mainland approach to the Oak Island Bridge. The town has an active turtle-watch program.

Caswell Beach
On the eastern most end of Oak Island is Caswell Beach, a quiet town with an intentionally limited commercial district. The town takes its name from Fort Caswell which was built in 1826 and seized in 1861 by Confederate troops who held it until 1865. The fort was used in the Spanish American War, WWI and WWII. It now belongs to the NC Baptist Assembly which has extensively renovated the site as a conference center and retreat. Another attraction of the town is the Oak Island Lighthouse. Activated on May 15, 1958, it is the most brilliant in the nation and second in the world with standard candle-power of 1,400,000 and the capacity of 14,000,000 to 20,000,000 candle-power. Owned by a non-profit organization, it is open for tours by appointment.

Bald Head
Bald Head Island at the mouth of the Cape Fear River on the Atlantic Ocean is accessible only by pedestrian ferry or private boat. Visitors and residents use golf carts to traverse the 12,000 acre island. One of the island’s best known structures is Old Baldy, the eight-sided brick lighthouse completed in 1818. It is the second of three lighthouses built on the island, formerly called Smith’s Island, between 1794 and 1903. Visitors may climb its 108 wooden steps for a panoramic view which includes pristine beaches and a championship golf course. The island is home to a dedicated group of volunteers who work with the Nature Conservancy to protect sea turtle nests.