Before this trip, we honestly did not realize how much there was to do around North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands.
We expected beach towns, seafood, and a couple of relaxing days by the water. What we did not expect was how easy it would be to fill an entire trip with bike rides, wineries, waterfront dinners, beach walks, breweries, nature preserves, and random, brief moments that turned out to be our favorite parts of the getaway.
By the end of the trip, we were already talking about coming back in the fall.
If you are looking for a couples getaway along the North Carolina coast that feels coastal without feeling chaotic, we recommend the NC Brunswick Islands. Let us tell you why!
Couples Getaway in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands
North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands are made up of several coastal communities and beach towns along the southern NC coast, including places like Southport, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, Holden Beach, and Bald Head Island.
During our trip, we bounced among several of them, which made the getaway feel like a mix of a beach vacation, a coastal road trip, and a small-town escape.
Whether you are planning a romantic weekend, celebrating something special, or honestly just trying to escape your normal routine for a few days, there is a really good mix of relaxation, outdoor activities, food, and coastal charm throughout the Brunswick Islands.
Spend the Day in Southport
We ended up spending way more time in Southport than we originally planned.
It is one of those towns where you think you are done wandering around, and then suddenly you are on another street near the water, or stopping somewhere else for drinks because the weather is too nice to leave yet.
During the trip, we stayed at The Carriage House Inn, which made a great home base for exploring the area. One thing we especially appreciated was that they welcomed small-breed dogs, which meant Rue and Bea got to tag along for the getaway, too.
The Carriage House Inn offered bikes, so we spent part of the afternoon riding around town, which honestly turned out to be one of our favorite parts of the entire trip. Southport has that classic coastal-town feel without trying too hard to be trendy or overly polished.
There are huge trees hanging over the roads, waterfront views everywhere, little local shops, and enough restaurants and breweries nearby that you can pretty much build an entire day around wandering.
And somehow every street looks like it belongs in a Nicholas Sparks movie.
Take the Ferry to Bald Head Island and Visit Old Baldy Lighthouse
If you have extra time during your Brunswick Islands getaway, we definitely recommend looking into a trip over to Bald Head Island to visit Old Baldy Lighthouse.
One helpful tip we got from the staff at The Carriage House was to book ferry tickets in advance, as they might fill up quickly, especially during busier travel periods.
Even if you are only visiting for part of the day, Bald Head Island feels completely different from the mainland in a fun way. Between the coastal scenery, slower pace, golf carts instead of cars, and a visit to Old Baldy Lighthouse, it makes a really memorable addition to a couple’s trip around the Brunswick Islands.
Drinks, Pizza, and Waterfront Restaurants
A pretty large portion of this trip revolved around deciding what we were going to eat next, which feels very on-brand for us.
After biking around Southport, we stopped at Cape Side Brewing for beers and ended up staying longer than we planned because we weren’t in a hurry to be anywhere else. Plus, Rue and Bea were having a great time!
We also grabbed pizza at Dry Street Pub & Pizza one afternoon after a full day out exploring, and, truthfully, it hit exactly the way vacation pizza is supposed to.
During the trip, we also ate at:
Edgewater 122 was probably one of the most memorable dinners of the trip, just because sitting by the water after a full day out somehow makes food taste better.
Salt 64 seemed a little more date-night-ish while still keeping that relaxed coastal atmosphere that appeared to follow us throughout the entire getaway.
And yes, we absolutely judge beach towns by their pizza options, too. We do love our pizza!
Spend the Day at Ocean Isle Beach
We also spent part of the trip relaxing at Ocean Isle Beach, which turned out to be one of the easiest beaches to reach during our stay.
One thing we appreciated was how many public beach access points there were nearby, which made it simple to spend a few hours by the water without turning it into a whole production.
Honestly, sometimes the best parts of beach trips are the least complicated ones. Just finding a spot near the water, slowing down for a bit, and staying longer than you planned.
Wine Tasting at Silver Coast Winery
One afternoon, we stopped at Silver Coast Winery for a tasting, and it turned out to be one of those unexpectedly relaxing parts of the trip where you completely lose track of time.
The ambiance felt welcoming without being pretentious, which honestly made it more enjoyable. Nobody was rushing us through the tasting, and it paired perfectly with the overall feel of the trip.
It also gave us a nice break between beach hopping and exploring different towns around the Brunswick Islands.
Visit Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach ended up being one of the places we kept talking about afterward.
The beach itself is beautiful, but what really stayed with us were some of the quieter spots nearby, like the Kindred Spirit Mailbox and the wind phone.
If you have never heard of the Kindred Spirit Mailbox, it’s where people leave handwritten notes about grief, memories, relationships, hope, life changes, and, honestly, just being human.
Nearby, the wind phone gives people a place to speak to loved ones they have lost. It is simple, emotional, and somehow feels even more powerful because of how quiet everything around it is. As a couple who has our own grief journey, this was a magical place for us.
Neither place was touristy or commercialized. They just felt meaningful.
Look for Venus Flytraps at Green Swamp Preserve
At one point during the trip, we were walking through Green Swamp Preserve looking for Venus flytraps, which probably sounds extremely random if you have never been to this part of North Carolina.
But it turned out to be one of the coolest parts of the trip.
The preserve offers a completely different side of the Brunswick Islands beyond beaches and restaurants, and it reminded us of how much outdoor space there is to explore in the area.
Also, finding actual Venus flytraps in the wild somehow made us feel like children again.
Massages at Beachin’ Day Spa
At one point during the trip, we got massages at Beachin’ Day Spa, and afterward, we felt it was the perfect release from all the tension we may have brought with us.
That ended up being the perfect reset during the getaway, though. Between biking, exploring, beach hopping, and eating our way through the Brunswick Islands, having one afternoon focused entirely on relaxing balanced everything out really well.
Why We’d Come Back in the Fall
Even though we visited during spring, this whole area feels like it would be perfect during the fall.
Less humidity, cooler evenings, quieter beaches, outdoor dining weather, and fewer crowds honestly sound ideal for this kind of trip.
Especially for couples wanting a coastal getaway that still has plenty to do without seeming overwhelming.
Our Take on the Brunswick Islands
What surprised us most about the Brunswick Islands was how balanced the trip felt.
We were able to spend time outdoors, eat really well, explore different coastal towns, bike around Southport, relax at the spa, visit wineries, and still have downtime together without feeling like we were constantly trying to keep up with an itinerary.
It ended up being the kind of couples getaway where the smaller moments became the parts we remembered most.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
We think 3 to 4 days is a great amount of time for a Brunswick Islands couples getaway. That gives you enough time to explore multiple coastal towns, spend time at the beach, enjoy some waterfront dining, and still leave room for things like wineries, biking, or visiting Bald Head Island.
From our experience, yes. During our trip, we stayed at The Carriage House Inn in Southport, which welcomed small-breed dogs, allowing Rue and Bea to come along for the getaway. We also found many outdoor areas, beach towns, and walking paths throughout the Brunswick Islands that felt very pet-friendly.
Yes. Many people visit Bald Head Island as a day trip. Between the ferry ride, beaches, golf cart culture, and visiting Old Baldy Lighthouse, it makes an easy addition to a Brunswick Islands itinerary.
