Getting married in a few weeks and our honeymoon is going to be a week lounging on the beach in Oak Island (the week leading up to memorial day).

We've never been there before, we normally don't go that far south for beach vacations. The time of year encouraged us to go further south in search of warmer weather and water, as all we really want is a nice quiet week at the beach.

Anyone familiar with the town / area? Mostly looking for restaurant recommendations or ideas for things to do if we get a rainy afternoon.

Serious response: Not sure which end of the island you'll be on but Southport has some decent restaurants along the yacht basin.

May be helpful: http://oak-islandnc.com/

Hope you don't have high expectations.  



Take the ferry across to Carolina Beach and there is an aquarium.

Eat at Provision Company and Patronies Pizza at Holden Beach or The Boundary House in Calabash. Make sure you try Sunset Slush Italian ice. Go to Myrtle Beach if you like crowds and traffic. There's TONS to do there (shows, shopping, amusements, bars, aquarium), but it's mostly a tourist trap filled with trash, depending on when you visit.

Hit the USS North Carolina in Wilmington.

This.

 

I have a place at Caswell Beach on the same island.  I have been going to that island for almost 50 years so fire away if you have specific questions.  If you want to shoot there is a shooting range on 211.  http://www.yeoldegunclub.com/    

For places to eat here is my list.  On the island Turtle Island, Island Way, and Blue Water Point are the best places to eat but all three are pricey for dinner.  Pirates deck next to Food Lion is casual with lots of TV's and you can smoke since in is an outside bar/restaurant. For a burger go to Little Bits across from Food Lion. For coffee, latte's etc go to the Flying Pig.  Becky also has free wifi there.    In Southport for upscale food Mr P's on Howe st is the best followed by Fishy Fishy.   Provision Co has decent food self service beer and you sit on the dock.  If you eat lunch there get a seat at the bar and you don't have to wait for a table.  The owners(Paul and Maria) also have the Frying Pan restaurant across the street.  It has Calabash style fried seafood.  The best Italian place is Josephs which is at South Harbour marina.  

Stuff to do:  If you feel energetic you can climb to the top of Oak Island lighthouse. http://www.oakislandlighthouse.org/tour-information/      There are several kayak tour places there so you can get up close and personal to some gators.  You can take a day trip over to Bald Head Island and rent a golf cart and tour the island.  If you go to the end the water on the other side of the shoals is very pretty.  You can take the ferry to Ft. Fisher and go to the Aquarium.  You can drive to Wilmington and see the USS North Carolina and go to the Front St, Water St area in downtown.  Lots of nice shops bars and restaurants.  

If you golf there is Oak Island country club(public course)  as well as numerous other courses around the area.  Myrtle beach is about an hour west of oak island which is a tourist mecca.  That time of year is back to back bike week. the week of may 24 to the 31st(memorial day) is black bike week so stay away from there.  The week before is the traditional Bike week but it is still crowded.  

Brant McMullen of Ocean Isle fishing center has opened a ropes course off 17 at ocean isle beach.  

At the airport at oak island they offer plane rides as well as tandem jumps.  

Right now the water temp is 65.5 but by then is should be around 70

If there is something specific you are looking for  let me know.  If I am not on the ocean fishing I enjoy fishing in front of the house and drinking beer.

Be careful and cab It if you are drinking because they are strict.

Thanks for the advice! Definitely will look at menus for the recommended places.

We want to spend the week relaxing in a quiet beach town, sounds like we picked a good spot

I'm not sure how long this will be available:

Awe-inspiring B-17 bomber returns for tours at Oak Island

 
 

+1 on keeping your expectations low.

This weekend only.  We went and saw it.  Really cool but very expensive to go up in it.

That plane kept coming right over my house at Caswell.  Pretty impressive but $475 a pop it was an expensive ride.

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