Topsail Island sits about 40 miles northeast of Wilmington. The 26-mile-long barrier island off the North Carolina coast is home to three charming seaside towns: North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and ...

Though it’s located on a barrier island shared between Pender and Onslow counties, all of Topsail Beach falls within Pender’s boundaries. The beach offers 20 accesses to the beach and 9 to the sound.

When Mother Nature brings chilly weather to Topsail Island in the winter, you won't see a lot of people in swimwear relaxing in beach chairs, watching their children build sandcastles. But there's ...