BURGAW – With the rising cost of gasoline, it’s time to explore our Pender County backyard for things to do and see. Recently we examined the free activities available. This week we are going to explore the more inexpensive activities that abound in Pender County. Let’s start with Topsail Beach. At the south end of Topsail Island is Serenity Point. It’s a great place to go shelling. The south...

Nesting turtles are coming ashore - how you can help The ladies are in the house – or actually on the beach. After a bit of a late start those turtle moms are finally here and our Topsail Turtle Project volunteers are out at dawn looking for signs of nests. As of this writing we have nineteen verified nests on the island. Topsail is pretty much loggerhead territory, but the past few years have seen a green...

By Tammy Proctor, Pender County Tourism Director This may show my age, but I remember my father grumbling when gasoline went above $1 per gallon. Dad didn’t grumble much, but our family station wagon was a guzzler. It’s my turn to complain. With gasoline inching closer to $5 per gallon in our region, I think twice about extra trips in the car. For summer fun and entertainment, you do not have to travel...

Friday, June 3 - It's Memorial Weekend and we know some of our visitors are coming in early. While some visitors will start thinking about packing the car, others are unpacking for a long weekend or perhaps a week's stay. Either way, we want you to feel welcome. We want you to live like a local and enjoy Island Time - a time zone where you are not hurried or rushed. Whether it's your last night at the beach...

We’ve got the pot. You pick the spot. That’s the dinner bell ringing from Topsail Steamer in Surf City. With six locations and shipping nationwide, Topsail Steamer was once upon a time Topsail Island’s best-kept secret. The first location opened in Surf City in March 2017. The freshness of its food and the manner in which it is delivered has set Topsail Steamer apart. They clean, chop, and prep...