A quiet evening in North Carolina.
By ISABELLA YORK
The lure of a warm Christmas is calling. After doing cold-weather Christmases for years, my family and I are looking into places where we can enjoy the sunshine rather than the snowfall. I do love the quiet moments of winter, such as cuddling with my children in front of the fire. But as the cold settles in and we prepare for winter, and as we air out the wool blankets and shop for down coats, we’re wondering why we can’t extend summer. So we’ve decided to take an extended Christmas vacation. This requires quite a bit of research, and since Christmas is about sharing good fortune, here is the fruit of our labor.
Topsail Island, NC
Topsail Island is 26 miles long and consists of three little towns: Topsail Beach, Surf City, and North Topsail Beach. Apparently in the 1700s, pirates used it as a base to ambush passing merchant ships! However, today it’s a quiet beach community with plenty of activities for the kids! They love touring the Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, where volunteers work with endangered sea turtles. Wildlife abounds, and there’s much to be seen just roaming the beach. Those looking for more action can try the easily accessible mainland towns of Sneads Ferry and Holly Ridge. Jingle Bells Shopping Village in Sneads Ferry looks like a fun place to spend an afternoon! It’s great for last-minute gifts, as they have gourmet foods and coffee, jewelry, books, and toys. If you need a Christmas tree at Christmas, pick up one of their local-special Crab Pot Christmas trees! They are made of crab pot wire and covered in lights and a few faux crabs, it is quite the novelty piece!
Seabrook Island, SC
Seabrook Island is a private island community in near the Charleston Harbor that welcomes guests. First-rate golf courses and tennis, horseback riding, a maritime forest, fine dining, a brand-new Beach Club. If you’re looking for a swanky Christmas, then Seabrook Island is the place to do it. Everything about this community is upscale, and we’re torn between renting the cottage with the lagoon view or the oceanfront villa. It seems more of a quiet, luxurious retreat than a playpen for Santa’s reindeer. Charleston is 30 minutes away and there’s much to do there with the kids. When you book a vacation rental with ResortQuest of Seabrook Island, they give you what they call ResortQuest Privileges, which are special discounts for everything from Charleston restaurants to water sports. Spending days in Charleston and then heading back to the haven of Seabrook Island sounds perfect.
St Petersburg, FL
St Petersburg seems to be one of those ideal places: A true beach town that has a strong foundation in culture. It’s the kind of place where frolicking on the hotel beach is encouraged! St Petersburg knows how to do a night on the town (and with the hotel’s babysitter service, you surely will have an opportunity to explore!). With so many first-class restaurants, lounges, and performing arts venues, Will and I may be cultured out by the end of our stay. Daytime activities also include six museums including the Museum of Fine Arts and Salvatore Dali Museum, which have intriguing exhibitions. If taking the family to nearby Disney World is not on the list, there is still plenty to do with the kids, including snorkeling, sightseeing cruises, and exploring the historic downtown. December temperatures average 70°F, which accounts for why the St. Petersburg tourist season is November through April. St Petersburg is a rare jewel that has something to please everyone in the family, and at affordable prices.
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz is surrounded by redwood forests, protected beaches, and wineries that run over the hills. While St Petersburg is hopping and rocking, Santa Cruz runs merrily along. It offers much, but without glitz and glamour. There certainly is luxury – check out any of the top-rated local spas – but it’s quiet luxury. It’s a very family-friendly area with many free things to do. I’ve always wanted to check out their famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Neptune’s Kingdom, an arcade that has modern games and blasts from the past. What a great way to spend a family afternoon! The kids are also eager to visit the Bamboo Giant Nursery and wander through the bamboo gardens, and I’ll be sniffing all the rare roses I can at the Roses of Yesterday and Today nursery. There are even marsh tours that Will could take the children on! My family enjoys nature as much as they enjoy the noise of video games, and Santa Cruz satisfies both interests with an abundance of things to do.
Fort Bragg, CA
Fort Bragg is a quaint little town that brings out the child in everyone. I’d love to explore Glass Beach, whose coasts are covered with millions of pieces of glass, smoothed by the constantly pounding waves. There’s also the Skunk line, which is an old-fashioned train that runs 40 miles over bridges and trestles, and passes through mountains. We find these snippets of living history really intriguing, so we plan to pack a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it. The Jug Handle Forest Preserve also offers a step back in time, with its pines and pygmy trees. After spending a day knee-deep in brush or on our best behavior on a centuries-old train, it’ll be very nice to retreat to one of the beautiful historic inns that line the streets of historic Fort Bragg. This town is steeped in history yet its quirkiness is enchanting.
Each Christmas beach destination here has its distinct flavor, from the peace of Topsail Island to the liveliness of St Petersburg to the quaint beauty of Fort Bragg. Choosing is going to be difficult, but there are many Christmases ahead of us, so we may get to experience all of them one day!
Isabella York is a working mother who loves to travel to new places with her family, especially coastal destinations. Along with raising her son, she works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of Artificial Christmas Trees as well as Christmas decorations.
I love Topsail island. It is a part time home for me. Spent last Christmas and new years there. Rest of my time I live in Miami. Had a neighborhood oyster roast new Years day.
The Belle of Topsail is a fun feature to do while there. not sure of winter schedule.
Some of my favorite places to eat are Thai Grill and Inglesias. For a gathering spot with friends love Quatermasters.
Cute little shops. Swing bridge beer and wine, topssail Trading Co for fudge, Bumblebees for boba tea, Starfish Gifts for gifts and treasures.
It is quiet and quaint.
Wilmington is just about 30 minutes away and boasts many additional attractions.
Had a place on Seabrook Island for 9 years.
Golf courses, tennis, horseback riding, a maritime forest, fine dining, a brand-new Beach Club are located on the island. One of my favorite spots was the crabbing dock. We would put our basket in the water baited in the morning and return in the afternoon to gather our catch.
The sunset is optimal in front of the Pelican Watch Villas. The shrimp boats return there in the eve with their catch to return to their docks up river and the pelicans and seagulls follow.The North Beach is the best place during the day. Wide open sand and an abudance of dolphins, starfish and sanddollars.
Seabrook abuts Kiawah island with its straw market you can visit.
Charleston is but a 30 minute ride and there is much to experience in this historic town.
As you head up Johns island the Angel oak is located there. It is the oldest living Oak this side of the Mississippi. The only tea plantation in the US is located there also.
Both are marvelous places to visit and stay anytime of the year.
Hi Donna,
How great to have a part time home like Topsail Island. I just checked out some Google images – so beautiful! Thanks for your suggestions. If I ever make it there, Bumblebees (a long-time favorite) will definitely be on my list of places to visit. Wilmington does look beautiful as well. The same goes for Seabrook Island, sounds like a terrific vacation spot or place to call home. Thanks for commenting!
Thanks so much for the kind words about our own little slice of Paradise.
We love it here on Topsail Island, and the off-season really is the time to be here! Empty beaches, great fishing, and – my favorite – OYSTERS! We even have a Christmas Parade in Topsail Beach, complete with a Santa Claus Ball – where you can enjoy an evening of dancing with Mr. and Mrs. Kringle themselves ;)
My family owns a great little Craft Beer and Wine store right in the middle of the island, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to find your favorite craft beers, specialty wines (don’t forget bubbly for the holidays). If we don’t have it – we can most likely order it!
All the business owners on the island would certainly love it if more folks came to visit between Labor Day and Memorial Day – the bridge is open year-round!
Hi Chris,
It does sound like somewhat of paradise. I’m now adding your craft beer and wine store to my places to visit list. I hope more travelers get to see the beauty of Topsail Island!
Great write up! Something about being at a beach at Christmas time that is just so awesome:)
Good to hear you enjoyed Isabella’s guest post, Thomas. And I can imagine it is. :) I haven’t had the pleasure of spending Christmas at a beach yet.
Another thank you for the great write up about Topsail Island. It is truely a special place to visit and live. As a realtor here for almost 8 years I can tell you we used to call it the best kept secret on the east coast. The secret is getting out, but it is still one of the most affordable places on the east coast to buy beach property. Come visit any time, but I agree with Chris that the off season is a great time to come.
Sounds like a place by the beach could be a great investment, in other words. Thanks for commenting, John!
Great post. Just to suggest Goa in India has also got some of the best beach locations around the world & is very suitable for budget holidays.