Things to do in Topsail Beach and Surf City
We get asked A LOT…what else is there to do in Topsail besides the beach? Maybe you need rainy day activities or maybe you’ve had a little too much sun…but there are lots of things to do in the area in addition to our amazing ocean!
Here is a list we’ve put together that you may find helpful while you’re visiting Topsail, and it is our hope that you enjoy and love our little island as much as we do!
Keep in mind that because of Covid, a lot of businesses are currently operating a bit differently, so please visit their website or facebook page for the most up to date information. Many businesses in Topsail also run seasonally and may have reduced hours in the off-season and winter months.
Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Center, affectionately known as the Sea Turtle Hospital, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and preservation of sea turtles. Topsail Island is a Sea Turtle Sanctuary, so their work is very important to us — and to our oceans.
They operate regular visiting hours to tour the facility and to learn about the amazing work they do. The center is located on the mainland in Surf City at 302 Tortuga Lane.
When the turtles they treat have been nursed back to health, they will release them back into the ocean and it is absolutely amazing to witness! If you do happen to catch a release event while you are here, definitely arrive early as they are very popular events and it can be hard to see if you aren’t in the first couple of rows (or are short like me, or most every child!). It is worth the effort though, to see a sea turtle realize they are *home* again and shoot through the water in celebration.
We LOVE EMA! Our son had his 7th birthday party there and we just can’t say enough nice things about the family who runs it. They are amazing and they care so much about conserving our natural world, and especially sharing that love with future generations. Their mission is simply and perfectly: conservation education.
They run preschool, homeschool, and virtual school programs, as well as a touch tank aquarium here on the island. Inside the touch tank aquarium, you’ll find a fossil dig, shark station with shark teeth, digital microscopes, a reptile room (a favorite in our house), stingrays and more. They also have all types of classes for all ages.
3. Shipwreck Point Miniature Golf
Who does’t love mini golf?!? Shipwreck Point is located just off the island on the mainland in Surf City, and is definitely a favorite family tradition for families here. Our 5 year old shot a hole in one playing mini golf once, and it’s safe to say that since then miniature golf is a pretty competitive sport in our house. Shipwreck Point stays open late, so you can enjoy a nice, evening breeze while you play.
4. Topsail Beach Roller Skating Rink
Believe it or not, there is a roller skating rink in Topsail Beach!
Visiting the Topsail Beach Skating Rink will feel like a lovely little trip in time, to a simple spot with good, clean fun to be had. Established in 1964 by Topsail locals, you can bring your own skates or rent at the rink. Then just glide around while you enjoy the salty air blowing through the windows and listen to music from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s with a little country and beach music mixed in. Definitely a Topsail favorite, and it is worth check them out while you are here! Be sure to check their facebook page for the most up to date information on current hours of operation.
Located at 106 N Topsail Drive (on the island) in Surf City, Hot Mess Studios offers painting and pottery classes, as well at “Sip and Spin” events and as well as a variety of DIY craft projects you can take home same day. They operate by appointment only, but have 6 wheels to reserve for pottery groups or you can enjoy any of their painting and craft fun. You can book appointments online on through their website, but you can also call and set up a custom experience just for you.
6. Tiki Tours
Want to tour the area by boat, or go on a private shelling adventure? Tiki Tours can help! They offer an array of boat tours and privately chartered adventures you can embark on while visiting Topsail. Join in on a live music sunset party on the water, or charter your own private event! They can even help arrange your wedding on a private sandbar (and if you need a wedding photographer for your private ceremony, our wedding brand is Seaglass Studio!).
DAY TRIP IDEAS
There are a ton of great day trips you can take from Topsail! You don’t have to travel more than an hour or two from the island to experience some amazing family friendly sights. A few of our favorites are:
We love all of the NC Aquariums! They are all a little different, so if you’ve been to Pine Knoll Shore’s or Roanoke Island, Fort Fisher will have something new to offer. Located on the southern end of Pleasure Island (that is the island southeast of Wilmington where Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are), the Fort Fisher Aquarium is just past Fort Fisher State Historic site and the State Recreation Area.
Make sure to visit with Luna the rare albino alligator — she is beautiful!—or Maverick the majestic bald eagle. Maverick was in an accident as a young eagle and can no longer fly. He came to Fort Fisher with an all brown head, and his caretakers weren’t sure if he would grow his white feathers since he now has to live in captivity—sure enough he did. He is gorgeous and truly seems to enjoy the enriching activities his handler provide for him every day.
Fort Fisher Aquarium also has touch tanks, and several large floor-to-ceiling tanks with a large variety a ocean life. My kids love the sea turtles, the sharks (especially the little bonnethead shark!), and finding the tropical fish that look like characters from the Nemo and Dory movies.
The Battleship North Carolina is a memorial dedicated to those who served on the battleship in WWII and the missions it participated in, as well as a permanent exhibit to North Carolina’s WWII veterans. It was berthed in Wilmington NC in 1961 and was dedicated as a memorial in 1962. The citizens of North Carolina successfully campaigned to bring the battleship to NC after the plan to scrap the ship was revealed in 1958. At the time, my father was a young kid living in Chapel Hill, NC, and like many of his friends, used his own money to donate to the cause—he was given a lifetime pass to visit the battleship as a thank you!
There are nine levels to explore on the ship, including the mess deck, the engine room, and more. You can even climb on the big guns on the top decks. Our kids have always enjoyed visiting the battleship, just as I did when I was a child.