When I was invited to explore North Carolina's Brunswick Islands for an article for the magazine, I was excited. Then I looked at a map and noticed how close they are to Myrtle Beach, just 40 miles away. I became a little less excited.
I am not a Myrtle Beach kind of girl. The thought of high-rise hotels spilling crowds onto packed beaches, bumper-to-bumper traffic and a seemingly endless lineup of pricey attractions competing for my time and wallet makes me a little twitchy. So while I was still looking forward to a beach getaway, I arrived with a bit of trepidation.
Then I rolled into Ocean Isle Beach.
There wasn't a high-rise hotel in sight.
My home base for the trip was The Islander Inn, a small beachfront hotel tucked behind the dunes. It was the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring. One of my favorite rituals was ending each evening on my balcony, listening to the waves and watching the last light fade over the beach.
I spent most of my time between Ocean Isle Beach and neighboring Sunset Beach, and the experience transported me back to the beach vacations of my childhood and later to those my husband and I shared with our children.
Fisherman were hauling in catches from the pier, families casting nets for shrimp in the inlet at low tide, bicyclists pedaling along the shoreline, miniature golf excursions and evenings capped off with homemade ice cream. It felt like a return to the classic beach vacations many of us grew up with.
There seemed to be an ice cream shop on every other corner. I happily became a regular at Ocean Isle Creamery, and as a self-appointed ice cream connoisseur, I give it my highest recommendation.
One of the area's most famous communities is Calabash, widely known as the birthplace of Calabash-style seafood. If you've spent any time along the Carolina coast, you've likely enjoyed this local specialty: fresh seafood lightly battered, perfectly fried and served golden brown. In a word, it's delicious, and you'll find no shortage of opportunities to sample it throughout the Brunswick Islands.
The Brunswick Islands checked every box on my beach-vacation wish list: beautiful, uncrowded beaches, easy public access, abundant opportunities to enjoy nature and outdoor recreation and a community-wide commitment to conservation.
And here's the best part. If Myrtle Beach does appeal to you or someone in your travel party, it's close enough for a day trip to visit Broadway at the Beach, catch a show or enjoy the attractions before retreating to the quieter pace of the Brunswick Islands.
Photo 1 One look at The Islander Inn and my fears of a Myrtle Beach-style experience quickly faded. Low-rise accommodations, sea oats and wide-open beaches set the tone for the rest of my visit.
Photo 2 Strolling the pier and watching fishermen reel in their catches transported me back to the beach vacations of my childhood, when the day's biggest decision was whether to head for mini golf or ice cream.
Photo 3 One of my favorite things about the Brunswick Islands was the pace. On the pier, people lingered, swapped stories and watched the ocean without constantly checking the time.
Photo 4 I arrived at Jinks Creek Waterfront Grille for the crab cakes and stayed for the sunset. As the sun dipped below the horizon beyond the marsh, the view proved every bit as memorable as the meal.
Photo 5 On my first visit to Ocean Isle Creamery, I met two young Brunswick Islands experts. Between bites of ice cream, they shared their favorite places, activities and traditions, proving that longtime visitors are often the best tour guides.
Photo 6 After picking up a bicycle, I headed to Sunset Beach to explore. The island's wide, hard-packed sand and laid-back pace made bicycling a favorite pastime for visitors and locals alike.
Photo 7 One of the things I appreciated most about the Brunswick Islands was the community's commitment to protecting its natural resources. At Sunset Beach, visitors can borrow a basket, collect litter during their walk and leave the beach a little better than they found it.
Photo 8 I stopped to admire this sandy masterpiece on Sunset Beach. Sandcastle building may be a childhood tradition, but these gentlemen proved you're never too old to play in the sand.
Photo 9 After pedaling to the western end of Sunset Beach, I made the pilgrimage to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. Tucked among the dunes, the beloved landmark invites visitors to leave letters, hopes, prayers and memories for strangers to discover, creating connections between people who may never meet.
Photo 10 No white tablecloths. No reservations. Just fresh seafood, waterfront views and a menu built around the day's catch. Waterfront Seafood Shack embodied everything I hoped to find in Calabash.
Photo 11 The dolphins refused to pose, the bald eagles stayed just out of range of my lens and I didn't mind one bit. The sunset alone made the evening cruise out of Little River worthwhile.
Photo 12 One of the sights that transported me back to classic beach vacations was watching people cast nets for shrimp in the inlet between Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach. It's a tradition that remains very much alive in the Brunswick Islands.
Photo 13 Would it really be a Gayle travel story without a wildlife photo? I spent my final hours on Sunset Beach enjoying the shorebirds, including this Least Tern, one of many species that call the Brunswick Islands home.
Photo 14 Every good trip deserves one unexpected discovery. Mine was Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens, where boardwalks meander through marshes and maritime forests teeming with wildlife. It was the perfect way to end my time in the Brunswick Islands.