How about a Wedding at Topsail?

Many people come to Topsail to have their wedding, particularly in the offseason. Housing can be easily found and your wedding can either be at the beach or at one of the nice churches on the island. It can be a memorable occasion, as these people discovered at the after wedding reception which appears to be at Gilligans. See more of the wedding party pictures here.

The Christmas Parade at Topsail

Rand Burchfield is a great realtor here on the island. We found this story on his blog:

Well, the third and final parade of the season (for The Rand Burchfield Real Estate Group, anyway) was Saturday, December the 6th. We put a holiday wreath on the front of the truck, lit it up and we were off to Topsail Beach from our main office in Surf City! Joining us were team members Linda Blackburn, Judy Carlton, Bob Ramsey, Dot Cotman and myself and Kathy. Not able to be with us were Justine Warner (our executive assistant) and Bill Hunt, a long time associate and buyer agent. As you will note from the photos, Lilly and Pearl had a grand time, all decked out in the reindeer antlers. Pearl is actually starting to enjoy the limelight a little bit!

Our last event of the year will be a food drive for the North Carolina Food Bank, to be held on December 20th in the Food Lion parking lot in Hampstead. We call it “Feed the Need.” This year in particular, there are a great many more people turning to the food banks all over the state and the country, I would imagine. You can help locally by just bringing canned food and dry items (nothing frozen or needing refrigeration) to the collection point. We will transport it to the Food Bank. Easy for you and so helpful to those of our citizens who may find themselves without this holiday season. Please come and help!

Topsail Elementary School Earns Top Honors

Despite being so close to the beautiful beach and ocean, Topsail schools are rated very highly across the state. In fact, in 5 top categories (Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, History) Topsail High School ranks in the top 5 across the state.

Now, South Topsail Elementary has distinguished itself as one f the best 15 elementary schools in the state.

As WECT channel 6 in Wilmington reports:

South Topsail Elementary receives state award
Posted: Dec 12, 2008 11:45 AM
Updated: Dec 12, 2008 01:25 PM

Courtesy: Pender County Schools


Posted by Debra Worley - email

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - South Topsail Elementary has received the state's Real D.E.A.L. Award.

South Topsail is one of 15 schools in the state to get the award that stands for dedicated educators and learners.

The schools were selected for the honor on the basis of excellent teaching and learning conditions and outstanding student achievement.

The school was recognized for its high test scores and positive environment for teachers and staffers during a conference in Cary.

This is the first time a Pender County school has been honored since the award began four years ago.

"I am extremely honored to receive this recognition on behalf of the staff of South Topsail Elementary School," said Principal Anna Maria Romero-Lehrer in a press release. "We have high expectations, and a warm, nurturing environment conducive to learning for everyone in the school."

A complete report on the results of the 2008 Teacher Working Conditions Survey results compiled by the New Teacher Center at the University of California in Santa Cruz will be available at www.ncteachingconditions.org in January 2009

Christmas at the Beach - in Full Color

The Topsail Advertiser has picked one of the most delightfully decorated homes on Topsail Island to post on their cover. Here is their story about this lovely house:

What requires more than 7,000 energy efficient LEDs, more than 2,300 feet of wiring, 20 surge protectors and 96 man-hours to create?
Bryson and Pierce's dynamic sound and light show!

December 10, 2008 - 1:00 PM

Carrie Bryan


Christmas came to Surf City on the evening of December 1 at the home of Sterling Bryson and Glen Pierce, when the switch was pulled to illuminate a multitude of lights at their Shaes Landing residence.

Glen Pierce designed and engineered the system, upgrading from last year's 4-channel GE Christmas-In-A-Box to a 16-channel light controller connected to a "Monster Brain" that has a built in mini MP3 player.

The mini MP3s uses a compact memory card with sequenced songs that sends a signal to the monster brain telling it when to turn on and off each of the 16 channels. The monster brain's "line out" sends the music to an FM transmitter, and then from the transmitter to a 200-watt stereo to power the outside speakers. The FM transmitter is a legal FCC transmitter that transmits the music on 101.5 FM up to 150 feet from the house.

There are more than 7,000 energy efficient LED lights in the display, more than 2,300 feet of wiring (equaling about a half mile), and 20 surge protectors. Read more.

October Sunrise

A young couple from Ohio decided to take a week away in October at North Topsail beach, staying at "Answer to Prayer". They wanted some time to relax before their first child was born. The beach was so peaceful and quiet, not too many people to share the sand with. They could walk the beach and relax. They had a thrill one morning to watch an incredible sunrise! Being October it wasn't 6:30 but rather 7:30 - 8:00.
After a sunrise like that who wouldn't want to be awake.

One of the fun things you can do when pregnant at the beach is dig out a hole for you belly and lay on the sand and soak up the sun. Did you ever think you could sleep on your belly again?

Lots of peace and quiet before the baby. Who knows maybe they will be back with their little one next year.

Kayak in the Topsail Sound

Kayaking in the wetlands in the Topsail Sound is great exercise and it also gives you an upclose and personal view of nature's beautiful wetlands. Birds, fish, and the bright sun bring you to a world that is spectacular.

But what do you do if you didn't bring your kayak or you want to try it first before you commit to buying? Rent one and launch it from Herrings.

Herrings is the best outdoor outfitter on the island.

Rent a kayak and go on the sound, or get really good and kayak-surf the waves. You can also rent beach cruisers (bikes) and utilize the bike lane which runs from the county line (about the 9 mile mark) to the south of the island.

They also carry a full line of rods and reels and all types of bait. The girls will love the "Life is Good" clothes line they carry. My wife went in there and spent more than an hour trying on "cute little things". I found a great pair of reef walker shoes at a good price.

Check their web site out here.

Autumn with Topsail Returns!

A funtastic fall festival returns this month to Topsail.

In it's 20th year, the festival brings a carnival atmosphere together with neighbors who enjoy the warm fall weather on the island.

You may have thought that Topsail Island is alive only in the summer, but in fact, it's becoming a lively place all year round. Many fishermen and seniors come down in the fall season which usually stays pretty warm in the daytime up until Thanksgiving.

Then families come down for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

There are also a significant number of people who come down for the entire winter. One couple, staying in North Topsail Beach, sold their home in Cleveland a few years back once their youngest went to college. They now live 6 months in a rental in the Florida Keys during that low season (the summer) and then stay on Topsail Island in our low season (the winter). They love living at the beach without having to have the worries of beach home ownership.

For more info on the Autumn with Topsail Festival click here.

Why Rent a Vacation Home?

This is an excellent blog from here on the benefits of renting a home for your next vacation (as opposed to going to a hotel):


vacation homes rental. In order to keep the cycle of our life running smoothly, we need to oil it frequently. It means, being human, we all are subject to boredom from our dull, monotonous routine, and need to fuel ourselves with a change in environment. What else can be a better solution than planning a vacation with your near and dear ones, to rejuvenate yourself? This way you can deal with your work pressures in a constructive manner. And while planning for a vacation, you should pay special emphasis to the comfort level and convenience. You may find a large number of options, regarding accommodation such as hotels, motels etc. But the best way to make the most of your vacation is vacation house rental.

The vacation house rental is worldwide known for its innumerable benefits. No matter, where you decide to spent your vacations whether you are planning to visit beautiful beaches of Florida or an exquisite vacation at Santa Barbara, you can find the provision of vacation house rental at all places. Now, let us discuss in detail why you should choose for vacation house rental over any other accommodations.

While planning a vacation some of the most important features that need to be considered closely are finances, comfort, etc. And vacation house rental offers you the best deal, both in terms of rates, as well as, convenience. It can be bungalow, apartment, condos or villas. A vacation house rental is relatively cheaper, as compared to hotels, motels, or other accommodations. These are specially conceived to make you feel at home and catering you with a soothing vacation. Some other benefits of the vacation house rental are as follows:

• Inexpensive

• Privacy

• Ample space

• Additional benefits

A vacation house rental is usually situated at a near distance to most of the tourist attractions. You will be entrapped while surrounded by the surreal beauty of the place. Several vacation house rentals are situated at a waterfront location, which adds to the tranquility. It caters you with a fully furnished kitchen, so that you will not have to rush with pangs of hunger in search of a restaurant for breakfast. You can save a big sum of money and relish home made food. A vacation house rental offers you dining rooms, living rooms, terrace where you can rest and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

All in all, a vacation house rental makes you feel as if you are in your very own home. For all these comforts, you need to put in some efforts. To find the best deal and additional amenities you can search online sources. There you can find innumerable individuals, and travel agents, offering vacation house rental at nominal rates.

Where to Eat at Topsail: Restaurant Reviews

Are you coming to Topsail Island and are looking for the perfect place to eat?

Check out the Restaurant Reviews page where you can find almost every restaurant reviewed, along with addresses and pictures to find the place.

Click here.

Sunrise: Is There Any Better Way to Start the Day Than at Answer to Prayer?

This is a picture of the sunrise from off the deck of Answer to Prayer.

When you get up in the still of the morning, pour a hot steaming cup of coffee, and step out onto the deck as the sun rises, you experience a peacefulness and clarity that you never get back in the city.

Things come into focus, possibilities flood in, favorite memories replay in your mind, thankfulness overflows in your heart.

God put the sunrise there for you. Why not come and enjoy it. Contact Answer to Prayer here.

Time to Make Vacation Plans

You know you are going to want to get away to the beach next summer. Now is the time to plan it while the week you want is still open.

What if your plans change? Most places only require a 10% deposit more than 6 months out. That means only a couple of hundred dollars to reserve your spot. Then you can call your sister/mother/friends now and see if they can come with you. They can arrange for the week off now before all this vacation week is taken by someone else at their office.

What happens if they want to come but can't get the week you've reserved but can get another week? Most places, including beach4rent.org will let you change your week this far in advance.

And you can all discuss how much fun it is going to be when you get together for the holidays.

Indigo Marsh - Off Season Specials

I don't mean for this to be an advertisement but since I like Indigo Marsh so well, I thought I'd share the off-season specials that they are running now. This is what they sent me in an email:

Indigo Marsh

Off Season Specials!

1/2 Price Wine on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Includes all Bottles and Glass Wine!
Also...
Get a FREE Petite Mixed Greens Salad
with every entree!
And...
As always, if you are seated before 6:00 you get a
FREE dessert along with the FREE salad!

Join our new Referral program and earn FREE food!
Reservations Recommended
910.328.2580

Indigo Marsh is located at:

602 B Roland Ave
Surf City, NC 28445
Phone: 910.328.2580
Fax: 910.328.2508

As I said before on this blog, this is my favorite restaurant on the island.

Answer to Prayer Is Now Available to Rent

Great news! The wonderful beach house Answer to Prayer is now available to rent at http://beach4rent.org . It is a 4 bedroom 2 bath home right on the beach in North Topsail Beach NC. See pictures and inquire at http://beach4rent.org.

Operation Bumblebee - A Top Secret Missile Operation on Topsail

Operation Bumblebee was a top-secret, experimental project to develop and test ramjet missiles conducted by the US Navy. Operation Bumblebee started at the end of World War II, and led directly to the deployment of the operational Talos, Terrier, and Tartar missiles. Wikipedia here.

Driving up and down the island you can still see the observation towers along the shore.

The National Park Service has more information:

At the end of World War II the Navy established the US Naval Ordnance Test Facilities at Topsail Island, North Carolina, for Operation Bumblebee, a top-secret, experimental project to develop and test ramjet missiles, which advanced the Nation's jet aircraft and missile programs. So successful were the tests conducted at the Topsail Island site that the ramjet proved its value, opened the way for the advance of supersonic jet aircraft design and brought the United States to the threshold of modern space technology with the Talos, Terrier, Tartar and Sea Sparrow missiles aboard naval vessels. Named after a bumblebee, which although aerodynamically unable to fly, does not know this and flies anyway, this operation lead to the maturing of supersonic aircraft and shipboard missile design in the mid-20th century.

Topsail Island was the third of three widespread test sites established along the Atlantic seaboard in the closing years of World War II, and the first permanent ground for missile testing. The Topsail Island site, placed in operation in March 1947, incorporated rigid structures that were designed and built for specific uses related to the assembly, firing, monitoring and perfecting of experimental ramjet missiles. The buildings associated with this testing, the Assembly Building, Facility Control Tower and Observation Tower No. 2 possess exceptional importance because they are the only aboveground resources remaining at these three sites where the Nation's burgeoning ramjet missile program grew from experimentation to maturity. The Assembly Building is a one-and-a-half-story masonry building and the Control Tower is a three-story reinforced concrete building. Observation Tower #2 is an unaltered example of the seven instrument towers erected on Topsail Island.

Read more here.

Local Surfer Coty Luetgens Becomes National Surfing Champ

The Topsail Advertiser reports that 18 year old Coty Luetgens won the men's national surfing championship in Huntington Beach California. TA reports:

Local surf competitor Coty Leutgens recently took the men's title in the 2008 Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Surfing America U.S.A. Championships.

Leutgens, 18, grew up in Surf City and learned to surf at a very young age. He began competing in Eastern Surfing Association contests around age 8, and said he was hooked immediately. He's now a sophomore at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, majoring in communications, and the school surf team captain.

The championships were held Aug. 19 to 24, in Huntington Beach, Calif. The competition pits the best surfers out of five districts from around the U.S. together to find U.S. surfing champs. The men's final for ages 18 to 29 was one of nine categories to compete.

Though Leutgens had been eligible to compete in the SIMA competition before, this was the first year he was financially able to enter the championship.

"This is pretty much as high as it goes as far as amateur competitions is concerned ... so it's really an honor for me. I won the (2008 Mid-Atlantic Regionals) in South Carolina, so I had some confidence going into it," said Leutgens, who practiced in California waves for two weeks before the competition. He also trained with the ESA All Star and the U.S teams.

Get the full story here.

Topsail Beach Vacation 2008: Their Own Words

I was hunting around the blogosphere and ran across the wonderful Ernst Family's blog. Interestingly, they had recently spent a second and a third vacation at Topsail and said so. Here is part of their story:

A few years back (2004), Dan and I went on our first family vacation. We looked online and found Topsail Island in North Carolina. It looked so nice and much less commercialized than Mrytle Beach. We made reservations (along with my parents and sister) and had a wonderful time that summer. So much so that we went again in 2006 (when I was pregnant with Claire). This summer, we headed over again and got to spend a week with Mom and Dad Ernst, The Indy Ernsts, and the Billingtons. We had such a WONDERFUL time! So many fun memories were made.

For more read here.

When you come to visit, many of your vacationing neighbors will be people like the Ernsts, because it's a family beach. Come on down and enjoy.

Read This Book!! Topsail Island: Mayberry by the Sea by Ray MacAllister

I read this book and ABSOLUTELY loved it. Ray McAllister has come to Topsail Island and captured its history, lure, beauty, and enchantment.

Here is a quote from his book:

"Why stay at Topsail Island?

It's easy to see why. Because of its small land area, Topsail has not been subject to the massive development of island communities like Nags Head to the north and Wrightsville Beach to the south. Indeed, it remains largely in the idyllic state those places knew half a century ago - a small beach town with few commercial trappings, a family haven...a paradise where it's possible to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean and set over Topsail Sound from the same cottage."

With chapters on real life pirates, secret military operations, the bear that swam to Topsail, the fishing, families who have returned yearly for a quarter of a century and more, it is a must read!

You can buy it here at Amazon.com or get it straight from the author at http://www.mayberrybythesea.com/

If you like MySpace try here.

This book will increase the fun of your Topsail vacation by 50%

Where is the Best Place to Take a Beach Vacation on the East Coast? Yahoo Voters Pick Topsail Island!

Yahoo Answers is a forum where people post questions and then other people - regular people - respond. People can either give an answer or vote on the best answer already given. Well when somebody posted a question about where the best beach vacation was on the East Coast, somebody answered Topsail Island and enough other people voted for that answer, that it won.

Here is the exchange (which can be found here.)

Resolved Question

What East coast beach would you recommend for a family vacation? Any suggestions on where to stay?

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

We are on the way to TOPSAIL ISLAND in North Carolina next week. It is a family beach WITHOUT a carnival atmosphere and theme park attractions. There are many good and inexpensive seafood restaurants, small shops for souvenirs and two large grocery stores. If you put TOPSAIL ISLAND on Google, you will find more information than you want to know. If you are looking for a "beach" experience with miles of sand and a gentle surf, this is the place to look.

Of the Top 20 Golf Courses Rated by Metro Magazine, 4 Are Within a 45 Minute Drive of Topsail

If you like playing golf, 4 of the best 20 ranked courses from the Raleigh Durham Triangle to the Coast are located in or near Wilmington, which is a short drive (28 miles) from Topsail Island.

Here is the listing from Metro Magazine:

The Top 20 Courses: From the Triangle to the Coast

If you’re a golfer in the Metro readership region from the Triangle to the Coast, consider yourself blessed. There are so many great clubs and outstanding courses that compiling a definitive Top 20 list leaves too much for argument.

The selections are in alphabetical order, but three courses stand indisputably at the top nationally — Donald Ross’ masterpiece, Pinehurst No. 2 and Tom Fazio’s Eagle Point near Wilmington and Forest Creek in Pinehurst.

1. Bald Head Island – Southport; George Cobb, 1974.

2. Cape Fear Country Club – Wilmington; Donald Ross, 1924 & 1947.

3. Country Club of North Carolina – (Dogwood) – Pinehurst; Ellis Maples, 1973.

4. Croasdaile – Durham; George Cobb, 1961.

5. Currituck Club – Corolla; Rees Jones, 1996.

6. Eagle Point – near Wilmington; Tom Fazio, 2000.

7. Forest Creek – Southern Pines; Tom Fazio, 1996.

8. Governors Club – Chapel Hill; Jack Nicklaus, 1990.

9. Hasentree – Raleigh; Tom Fazio, 2007.

10. Hope Valley Country Club – Durham; Donald Ross, 1926.

11. Landfall Dye Course – Wilmington; Pete Dye, 1988.

12. North River – Beaufort; Bob Moore, 2007.

13. Old Chatham – Chapel Hill; Rees Jones, 2001.

14. Pinehurst Resort & Country Club – Pinehurst No. 2 (Donald Ross, 1907); No. 4 & No. 8 (Tom Fazio, 2000 & 1996); No. 7 (Rees Jones, 1986).

15. Pine Needles – Southern Pines; Donald Ross, 1927.

16. Prestonwood – Cary; Tom Jackson, 1988.

17. Raleigh Country Club – Raleigh; Donald Ross, 1948.

18. Tobacco Road – Sanford; Mike Strantz, 1998.

19. TPC at Wakefield Plantation – Raleigh; Hale Irwin, 1996.

20. Treyburn Country Club – Durham; Tom Fazio, 1988.

Did Anyone Say Golf? How About the Highest Rated Course on the Coast!

Did someone secretly say that they wanted to go golfing while their wife was sunning on the beach or shopping at the beach stores? Well how about 18 ...or 36...holes at the highest rated course on the coast!

There are a number of golf courses in the area. One of the best is North Shore Country Club located in Sneads Ferry just after you cross back to the mainland over the "high bridge" on the north side of the island (not the swing bridge in Surf City).

Golf Digest has rated this course a 4-star course. Visitors are welcome.

101 N Shore Dr
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
(910) 327-2410

Surf City - as Presented by NC Coast

NCCoast.com has written this little ditty about Surf City.

Incorporated in 1949, Surf City was the first official municipality on Topsail Island and remains its commercial center. This relaxed beach town is Topsail Island’s hub of shopping and entertainment variety.

Driving down NC Hwy. 210 from North Topsail, you parallel beautiful beaches as you pass oceanside vacation cottages and soundside marinas. Entering town via NC Hwy. 50, you cross the Intracoastal Waterway over one of the last swing bridges in North Carolina, sort of a working antique.

What Surf City lacks in sheer volume, it makes up in quality. The friendly, independent gift and art shops offer many locally crafted or inspired items with very competitive prices and the opportunity to find something out of the ordinary. Dining out is a pleasure here. Fine restaurants offer diners a wide array of fare from superb local seafood to pizza, Italian, gourmet, home-cooking, subs and burgers.

Surf City also has convenient supermarkets, nightclubs that bring live music to island evenings, and many choices of family entertainment. The kids love the miniature golf course, the public playground, and the island’s only water slide, all in Surf City. Everything for surf sports can be bought or rented here from boogie boards to surf boards and wind surfers. And the fishing can’t be beat, in the surf or at area piers. You may find Surf City vacation rentals that feature homes on the beach and within walking distance of the beach. Bring the family and expect the best vacation yet in Surf City, the heart of the Treasure Coast.

7 Great Benefits to a Vacation

Here is a great blog on the benefits of taking a vacation and how to take it. You should read the entire blog because it is great but here is the start:

Summer’s almost over. Have you taken a vacation yet? If you haven’t, will you?

Acccording to a 2006 survey by Harris Interaction and Expedia, 36 percent of workers don’t plan to use all their paid vacation days, and 37 percent never take more than a week off at a time.
So to convince you to take a much-needed break, here’s my list of how vacations can benefit your health and mind. While relaxation and exposure to culture are obvious benefits, there’s a wealth of other rewards too:

1. Live longer

A State University of New York survey found that men who took annual vacations reduced their risk of death by 20 percent. Men who didn’t take any vacations in five years had the highest death rate and incidence of heart disease than any other men surveyed.
Improve your mental health

A study by Wisconsin Medical Journal found that women who took frequent vacations were less likely to become depressed, tense, or tired. Women who rarely took vacations were likelier to have stress at home and sleep less.

2. Revamp your relationships

I don’t have any fancy studies to back this one up, it’s just common sense. A real vacation is the ideal time to reconnect and revitalize relationships that have taken a toll from an on-call, always-on, and work-obsessed culture. My 9-hour work days and blogging duties have caused my relationships to suffer more than I’d like to admit. Yes, I too need a vacation.

3. Recapture your childhood

When was the last time you went out and play? I mean really play. Without worry of someone calling or interrupting you. Real vacations let you recapture that feeling of childlike exploratory freedom. You can wake up when you want, go to sleep when you want, and eat what you want. Most importantly, you can have fun without worrying about the consequences on work back home.

4. Gain self confidence

“Don’t put yourself on sale.” This is my favorite mantra from financial guru Suze Orman. While Suze’s target audience is directed to women, the advice applies to everyone. When you skip vacations, you put yourself on sale. If you have 2-weeks of paid vacation and don’t use them, you’re essentially working for free. By committing to a vacation, you declare to yourself (and to others) that you are important and deserve dedicated time for yourself.

Read the rest here.

A Great Place to Look for a Topsail Beach Vacation Rental

If your thinking about a beach vacation, you might want to check out Vacation Rentals By Owner, or VRBO. This is the site where owners rent their own beach homes. You can pick North Carolina, then coastal, then Surf City and then view the homes. Here is one VRBO home for rent.

Rent Jet Skis for Your Island Vacation

When you come to Topsail Island for your beach vacation, think about jet skiing. There is a great sound betwen the island and the mainland. The water is usually warmer than the ocean and there are little sand islands in the sound that you cn stop and visit.

MaknWaves rents jet skis for your enjoyment. I have never used them but I have jet skied in the sound and it is fun. The water is warmer than the ocean and generally smooth as glass. Their rates are $85/hour.

Call them at 910-340-5151 or check their web site at www.maknwaves.com

Why a Stay at Seas the Day on S. Shore Dr Is So Much Fun

Located just 1 mile south of the Surf City pier, you're close to all the activity, yet just far enough away to enjoy the tranquility that lives here also. As a matter of fact, you may note some of our guests jokingly refer to the "Buddy's walk". Buddy's is a bar/restaurant by the pier, which is a nice 1 mile walk on the beach. Some people, including my brother, myself and our two wives like to walk down to Buddy's at lunch time, watch the surfers by the pier, order oyster shooters, and... possibly a cerveza or two (that's Spanish for beer). Well, the walk back is now quite enjoyable. We often just come back, lay out a towel and catch some rays and a snooze. The Buddy's walk - a perfect way to spend a vacation day.

Seas the Day is BEACH FRONT. It is not a piano lot, or a view between two houses. It is direct OCEANFRONT property. At SEAS THE DAY you are on the beach. Sit on the beach in front of the house or sit on a marvelous deck just a few feet away from the crashing waves.

This beautiful 5 bedroom 3 bath home (sleeps 12) has a magnificent view. It is child friendly with a gate on the top balcony. It also has high speed wireless internet and extended cable for catching the BIG game.

My teenage son once walked up the stairs to the living room and said "This place just makes you smile!"

Do you like to bike or run? There is a bike shoulder on the main road the entire way from the north side of Surf City to the south tip of the island. The island is like 22 miles long, so you can get a good work out.

You can even bike for fun (like I do). Recently I rode my bike to the south end, and the smell of Jasmin and ocean air was unbelievable. I stopped on the far south point of the island and walked around the beach on the undeveloped point. I then rode back to Topsail Beach city hall and said hi to the ladies who worked there. (They had kindly sent me an invitation to pay real estate tax in their city even though my house was in Surf City. I graciously declined :-) but they were very pleasant.) I then rode back to Surf City and promptly bought an ice cream cone at DQ just to make sure I hadn't burnt off too many calories.

Believe me, this place is fun.

And I haven't even told you about Giligan's, just before the bridge on the mainland side and it's hilarious karaoke nights, or about Sears Landing and its award winning clam chowder made with sherry, or Indigo Marsh - the best restaurant overlooking the sound that you will ever find. Oh, and how about the fresh fish market (I mean right off the boat) behind the Crab Pot where you can get shrimp, flounder, shark or whatever they have been catching and take it back and grill it at Seas the Day.

You can play 18 holes at Coastal Carolina's only four-star golf course, North Shore Golf and Ocean Club (as per Golf Digest). Perhaps you would like to deep sea or surf fish...or maybe spend an hour with your spouse, strolling down the beach 1 mi to the pier and maybe even get a beer at Buddy's and watch the kids surf the waves. If that's not enough, did we mention riding jet skis on the nearby sound?

Surf shops that make me wish I was 18 again, Andy's and Island Delights that serve 50's style burgers and malts, the Surf City Wine and Cheese Shop (I go in for the weekly wine tastings and just the great smell!), II Bouchaines, and on and on. You won't want to leave.

FOR MY RESTAURANT REVIEWS AND THINGS TO DO ON THE ISLAND, GO TO BEACH4RENT.ORG

I still think OUR GUESTS SAY IT BEST:

"We loved the outside shower, complete wtih room for dry clothes and towels! Very kid friendly, my 13-month-old niece could wander around and the gates kept her safe. Topsail itself is so peaceful. We went to the sound side a few times to fish, canoe, and take the baby swimming. We golfed, ran, sailed (you have very nice neighbors who invited us!), and fished from the surf (caught sharks, stingrays, and a few fish). Such a great house -- plenty of space, well decorated, and everything you need in the kitchen for eating in!" Bonnie VA

Won't you be our guests?

This may be your only vacation this year. At Seas the Day, you will not be disappointed.

Indigo Marsh - The Restaurant on Topsail That I like Best

Indigo Marsh is located on the island near the Surf City Bridge in back of Max's Pizza parking lot. It is my favorite restaurant on the island. It is a 5 star restaurant with a fabulous view of the sound and wetlands. And I always like the food presentation.

Right now their menu entrees include:

Filet Mignon $34.00

Italian Ribeye $28.50

Salmon & Crabcake $26.00

Roasted Chicken $21.00

Pork Porterhouse $24.00

Seafood Étouffée $26.00

and Salmon $24.00

Their posted menu can be found here.

They are located on the island just past the bridge on the north side at

602 Roland Ave # B
Surf City, NC 28445
(910) 328-2580

Holidays (Christmas and Thanksgiving) at the Beach

Here's what one guest to our island said about her Christmas beach vacation last year:

We spent Christmas 2007 at your beautiful and comfortable beach house. It was a wonderful family Christmas for us and we felt very much at home. There were Christmas cookies and grand children all week long and loved every minute. Walks on the beach, sunsets and family. What could be better? Thanks for letting us spend our Christmas at your home. Hopefully we will be back soon.

Lucy D., Martinsburg, WV

Why don't you come down and see for yourself. Check out beach4rent.org, VRBO, or Rentabeach.com

Think Topsail Beach for Your Island Getaway

Are you looking for the perfect beach getaway? Try Topsail Island. It is one of the most beautiful and family friendly beaches in the world. Go to Beach4rent.org to check out rentals, restaurant reviews, and things to do. You can swim, surf, jet ski, bike, eat too much, and more at Topsail Beach.

Fishin' on the Vonda Kay

Shelley, one of our guests this fall sends in this report from the Vonda Kay (pictured above), one of the fishing boats taking vacations out deep sea fishing from one of our local docks:

The captain and crew of the Vonda Kay were great--even on our half-day excursion they stayed out an extra hour looking for fish. We hit pretty well in the first few hours but then things dropped off because Hurricane Hanna had scattered the schools.

But we got enough for a good black sea-bass dinner for seven people!

Saw a school of dolphins, the crew netted a "cannonball" jellyfish for us all to touch (the only jellyfish that is safe to touch), and my son caught the first red snapper the captain had ever caught around here. Unfortunately, it was about 14 inches too small...

Sounds like Shelly had a great time. To contact the Vonda Kay for your fishing excursion, call them at 910-545-FISH (3474) or check them out on my Things to Do page at Beach4rent.org

Thanks Shelley for sharing your trip with us.

Local Surfer Coty Luetgens Becomes National Surfing Champ

The Topsail Advertiser reports that 18 year old Coty Luetgens won the men's national surfing championship in Huntington Beach California. TA reports:

Local surf competitor Coty Leutgens recently took the men's title in the 2008 Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Surfing America U.S.A. Championships.

Leutgens, 18, grew up in Surf City and learned to surf at a very young age. He began competing in Eastern Surfing Association contests around age 8, and said he was hooked immediately. He's now a sophomore at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, majoring in communications, and the school surf team captain.

The championships were held Aug. 19 to 24, in Huntington Beach, Calif. The competition pits the best surfers out of five districts from around the U.S. together to find U.S. surfing champs. The men's final for ages 18 to 29 was one of nine categories to compete.

Though Leutgens had been eligible to compete in the SIMA competition before, this was the first year he was financially able to enter the championship.

"This is pretty much as high as it goes as far as amateur competitions is concerned ... so it's really an honor for me. I won the (2008 Mid-Atlantic Regionals) in South Carolina, so I had some confidence going into it," said Leutgens, who practiced in California waves for two weeks before the competition. He also trained with the ESA All Star and the U.S teams.

Get the full story here.

Wishing She Could Stay Longer

I got a call from Jeannie W. She and her girlfriends came down the day Hanna passed through for a 3 day getaway.

"We are having the best time" she said. "After Hanna passed through, the sun came out and it was beautiful."

"Can we stay a few more days?"

I understood just where she was coming from. The fall getaways with friends are great. The weather is very nice year round because of the Gulf Stream which warms Topsail with water coming up from the Caribbean. In fact, it's not unusual to be able to lay out in the sun until the first or second week of November and even later than then, the days are warm enough to walk on the beach, play golf, or go bike riding.

Unfortunately we were booked for all of September and most of October. I had to turn her down for a longer stay because somebody was coming in Tuesday afternoon just after she left in the morning.

Jeannie took it in stride. After conferring with her girlfriends, she said: "Well, we want to reserve for next year right now...for a whole week!"

You can check out the availability of A Breath of Fresh Aire, Amazing Grace, or Seas the Day by going to http://beach4rent.org, going to the page of the house you want, then clicking on the calendar icon at the bottom of the page.

Island Heroes

Neil Rodgers and his wife Renee would not want me to call them Island Heroes or any such thing. They're just good old regular folks who help in the middle of hurricanes.

You see, when the rest of us "head for the hills" when a hurricane comes, people like Neil and Renee are there helping people, clearing trees from important evacuation routes, rescuing people stranded, and then when the storm has passed, they come out and help us mainlanders rescue and rebuild our vacation homes.

Neil is a member and past assistant chief of the Hampstead Fire Department. The volunteer fire department that is. And Renee is his right hand man...or woman I should say.

I first met Renee several years ago when she was working for Century21 Action Topsail. A storm had come through in the off season and blown a window out of one of my places. She had driven by, seen the window, called me, and then went and taped plastic over the window until it could be repaired. She helped me many more times.

Neil has a maintenance company called Hampstead Maintenance. (Call them at 910-200-1120). They do great work for me, but it is what they do beyond that that makes them my heroes. They have gone over late at night to help tenants get in when they were locked out. A few weeks ago, my regular cleaning lady had gone on vacation and had a substitute lined up. I got a call at 5pm from newly arriving tenants who said the house hadn't been cleaned. I couldn't find the substitute, so at 7 pm on a Saturday night, Renee went over and cleaned my beach house.

Another time when I was living in Surf City in the spring to get a family member some needed help, Neil and Renee called many times to see if we needed anything.

Many times, Neil has dropped what he was doing to help me or a tenant in a pinch.

Neil and Renee - and many other year round residents - would give you the shirt off your back.

These are the people - along with the others, police, firemen, cleaning ladies, utility workers, that are the heros of Topsail Island.

The picture above, of Neil and a large flounder he caught in the sound, came from his kid.

Obviously very proud of dad.

UPDATE 9/8/08 Changed chief to assistant chief in story above and removed link to child's web site. UPDATE 9/9/08 Changed Surf City Fire Dept to Hampstead Fire Dept.

Here Comes the Sun

Hanna has passed and out came the sun. It's absolutely beautiful down here, so I thought I'd leave you with the lyrics to "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles:

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right

(Special thanks to Lyrics007 for these words.

Hanna Has Passed

We Made it...Hanna Passes

We made it. Personal reports from Topsail say that the eye of Hanna passed about 6 am. There was not a lot of rain and winds only topped at 45 mph.

One guest reported that Amazing Grace and A Breath of Fresh Aire shook all night (which it is supposed to do. It is on pilings. The swaying dissipates the energy from the storm)

A Breath of Fresh Aire sufferred a lost window and some shingles. Amazing Grace held up great and haven't heard about Seas the Day yet.

A friend from the Surf City Fire Department reported that they made runs all night but primarily to remove fallen trees from roads.

Thank God.

What it Looks Like from a Satellite 5 am

Hanna Advisory as of 5 am

000
WTNT33 KNHC 060854
TCPAT3
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM HANNA ADVISORY NUMBER 38
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL082008
500 AM EDT SAT SEP 06 2008

...HANNA MOVES ASHORE AS A TROPICAL STORM...

AT 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...THE HURRICANE WATCH ALONG THE COASTS OF
SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA IS DISCONTINUED...AND THE
TROPICAL STORM WARNING FROM THE SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTHWARD IS DISCONTINUED.

AT 500 AM EDT...THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS EXTENDED NORTHWARD TO
MERRIMACK RIVER MASSACHUSETTS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN
EFFECT FROM NORTH OF SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA TO MERRIMACK
RIVER MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS...ALL
OF CHESAPEAKE BAY...THE TIDAL POTOMAC...WASHINGTON D.C...DELAWARE
BAY...NEW YORK HARBOR...LONG ISLAND SOUND...BLOCK ISLAND...MARTHA'S
VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 500 AM EDT...0900Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM HANNA WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 34.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.3 WEST OR ABOUT 150
MILES...240 KM...NORTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AND ABOUT 25
MILES... 45 KM...WEST-NORTHWEST OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA.

HANNA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 22 MPH...35 KM/HR.
A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTHEAST WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD
SPEED IS EXPECTED TODAY AND TOMORROW. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE
CENTER OF HANNA WILL MOVE ACROSS EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA THIS
MORNING...ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT....
AND ALONG THE COAST OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES AND
SOUTHEASTERN CANADA ON SUNDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 60 MPH...95
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST
DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. HANNA IS EXPECTED TO LOSE TROPICAL
CHARACTERISTICS BY LATE ON SUNDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES...325 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE BASED ON SURFACE OBSERVATIONS AND
RECENT AIRCRAFT RECONNAISSANCE DATA IS 983 MB...29.03 INCHES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING ALONG THE ATLANTIC COASTS OF SOUTH
CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD GRADUALLY SUBSIDE TODAY. STORM
SURGE FLOODING OF 1 TO 3 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS IS EXPECTED
TODAY IN ALBEMARLE AND PAMLICO SOUNDS AND IN CHESAPEAKE BAY...WHICH
WILL SUBSIDE TONIGHT AFTER HANNA QUICKLY PASSES TO THE NORTHEAST.

HANNA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES
FROM CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH EASTERN PORTIONS
OF THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES...SOUTHERN NEW YORK...AND INTO SOUTHERN
NEW ENGLAND...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES POSSIBLE.
THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THESE
REGIONS.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE TODAY OVER EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA...EASTERN VIRGINIA...AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND.

REPEATING THE 500 AM EDT POSITION...34.4 N...78.3 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 22 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...983 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 800 AM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100
AM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER KNABB

What Surf City Looks Like Now

From the live web cam at www.rentabeach.com

Military Jets Flee South Carolina

The Air Force is moving its jets located in South Carolina to Ohio until Hanna passes. Several counties have issued "voluntary evacuation" orders. [What is a voluntary...order? We demand that you leave if you want to?] Link here.

Hanna Track

Gov. of NC Declares State of Emergency

Gov. Easley declared a state of emergency before Hanna is even near to North Carolina. Link.

Hanna Track

Web Cam View of Pier

Here's what the weather at the Surf City Pier looks like right now: link to web cam

Here is a web cam view of the Blockcade Runner hotel

North Topsail Beach Plans

Here is the message from Lydia King for the Town of North Topsail Beach.

More Blog on Hanna

Good visuals of the storm at here and updated news of the storm here.

No Evacuation Planned at this Time 9/04 10:13 p.m.

Evacuation is not being considered at this time, and we are still hopeful that mandatory evacuation will not be necessary. Check the Town of Surf City link here.

Message from Surf City about Hurricane

Here is a message from Zander Guy, Mayor of Surf City:

Hello, this is Mayor Zander Guy with an important message from the Town of Surf City.
It appears that Hurricane Hanna will be making landfall in our area as a category 1 storm which can produce winds upward of 80 miles per hour. We are expecting wind and storm bands to begin affecting Topsail Island early Friday afternoon. We are expecting the winds and rain to continue to build throughout Friday during the afternoon and into the night. Projections indicate that the strongest part of Hurricane Hanna should be over Surf City and Topsail Island around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Hanna is projected to move quickly north east once it makes landfall and should move past Surf City by noon on Saturday.

Please remember to remove your deck furniture, garbage cans, and any other items that may become dangerous and blown during Hurricane winds.

We will try to keep an update on the Town’s Web site and keep staff available to answer the phones, as long as we have internet service and the power and phones remain up.

Hurricane Hanna and Ike

Hurricane Hanna has now headed north and is forecasted to pass over Topsail Island.  Here is Hanna's track.

Surf City Mayor Zander Guy called all homeowners (via automatic messaging) and told me that Hanna would cross the island about 2 am Saturday morning (9/6/08).

What should you do?  If you are staying there and were going to leave Saturday morning anyway, then think about leaving Friday night.  If you're coming in on Saturday, then first make sure the storm has passed, then call the homeowner you are renting from to see if the house and island are okay for you to come down.  If there is no significant damage, then come on down.  In fact, there is often very beautiful weather after a hurricane passes.

Beach4rent.org - restaurant reviews

If you want to savor the best food and drink while on vacation on Topsail Island or in Surf City, then go to www.beach4rent.org to get restaurant reviews.  Find out which places are great, are fast, are great places to drink, and have great views.

Hurricane Hanna and Ike

I got a call from a guest who is coming to stay on September 6th.  She wanted to know what to do about hurricane Hanna and Ike.  First of all, we have vacation assurance that you can purchase for only $85.  If you have to evacuate in the first 3 days of your vacation, you get ALL of your money back.  If in the later days, then you get a pro-rata portion back.

But wait.  Hanna is now a tropical storm and Ike is headed to the Gulf of Mexico.  It's too early to tell if it will even affect Topsail Island.  But with the bravado that fake news anchors show in standing in the midst of hurricanes, one would think that the entire southern US is in the midst of a storm.  But in reality, a hurricane affects a very small track with its wind power, and a larger track with water damage.  Don't get me wrong, a hurricane can be devastating, but for a smaller directed area.

Keep an eye on the storm track and on what the local police are telling you, but don't let these anchor hounds ("we're standing in high winds right now...don't do this...we will walk to the water and see the whitecaps...etc") ruin your vacation unless the storm is actually coming your way.

Beach4rent.org - the place for your Beach Rental

Are you looking for the perfect beach getaway?  Try Topsail Island.  It is one of the most beautiful and family friendly beaches in the world.  Go to Beach4rent.org to check out rentals, restaurant reviews, and things to do.  You can swim, surf, jet ski, bike, eat too much, and more at Topsail Beach.