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Dip your toes into the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy a weekend on the beach with the family. Overnight in some of the Holden Beach best areas to stay and spend your days relaxing, exploring, playing sports, or shopping.
Holden Beach is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area located in southern Brunswick County, North Carolina. The surrounding areas, called the Holden Beaches, include islands and picturesque beaches that bring in families and couples searching for a fun getaway.
Impressive wildlife and pristine beaches draw in vacationers yearly. Yet these North Carolina blue water and white sand beaches are known for being less-crowded beach destinations than Atlantic Beach further north.
In this guide, you will learn more about some of the Holden Beach best areas to stay in for your next visit. Discover which of the Holden Beaches can set the scene for a getaway that ticks off another place from your travel bucket list.
Holden Beach
Holden Beach is an ideal beach getaway for family-friendly vacations outside Wilmington or Myrtle Beach. Located only around three hours outside of North Carolina’s capital of Raleigh, families and friends can easily pack up the car and visit for the day, weekend, or longer.
This adorable beach town has a single street lined with houses, aptly named Ocean Blvd. Some of the Holden Beach best areas to stay in include oceanfront hotels and Holden Beach rental homes.
Holden Beach is nicknamed “the family beach” and offers activities the entire family can enjoy. Like eating ice cream, going bike riding, swimming in the ocean, and playing in tidal pools. Explore the Holden Beach fishing pier also known as the Holden Beach boardwalk that stretches on for 510-feet. Daily, three-day, and seasonal fishing permits can be purchased.
Families looking for a refreshing thrill will get a splash out of waterslides at the Magic Mountain Fun Park. Boat tours and fishing charters depart regularly, allowing visitors to see Holden Beach from a completely new perspective.
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is one of the smallest beach towns in the area. The small-town vibes of Sunset Beach make it feel homey and is another great area to stay in when visiting the Brunswick Islands.
A short thirty-minute drive outside of Holden Beach, Sunset Beach is located on the southernmost barrier island. A quaint little beach town, this is a perfect getaway spot for couples or families looking to spend quality time with one another.
There are seemingly endless options of scenic golf courses, wetlands admired by bird-watchers, and soft sand beaches ideal for building sand-castles and enjoying the sun.
Bird Island Coastal Reserve
The Bird Island Coastal Reserve is located beside Sunset Beach and is an undeveloped area dedicated to the preservation of the wetlands and species in the area. It is a fantastic spot to visit when checking out some of the Holden Beach best areas to stay in.
This protected reserve is the breeding ground for loggerhead sea turtles. Between May and August, female turtles come to lay their eggs on the pristine beaches, a natural phenomenon any age will enjoy witnessing.
The Bird Island Coastal Reserve also boasts many species of birds, interesting flora, salt marshes, sand dunes, and white sandy beaches available for the public to check out.
Oak Island
Oak Island is another one of the best areas to stay near Holden Beach. This island is adjacent to several other must-visit spots making it an ideal place for families to purchase vacation homes.
This island features two fishing piers, the Oak Island Pier and the Ocean Crest Fishing Pier. It also has more than sixty different access points to the beach and many nature viewing opportunities enjoyable for the whole gang.
Oak Island is considered to be one of the most pet-friendly beach areas in the region, so don’t hesitate to bring along your furry best friend on your beach vacation.
Caswell Beach
Caswell Beach is a town located on the eastern end of Oak Island. With a small population of fewer than five hundred citizens, visitors love coming here to enjoy the beaches unmarred by crowds.
In this area of the Holden Beaches, you can visit the Oak Island Lighthouse, which has guided sailors since 1958. Check out antique shopping, great restaurants, or set sail on a kayak adventure.
Caswell Beach is considered to be one of the top pet-friendly beaches in the area; just be sure to clean up after your pet.
Calabash
The town of Calabash, North Carolina, borders South Carolina and is a one-hour drive from Wilmington. This tiny town is worth visiting if you are a lover of all things seafood. Calabash is said to be the “seafood capital of the world” and has its Calabash-style of preparing the harvest from the ocean.
Golfers of all ages will love both the full-sized and mini-golf courses nearby. Calabash is a short drive away from the Sunset Beach Fishing pier and beach access.
Ocean Isle Beach
Ocean Isle Beach is a family-friendly area to stay near Holden Beach. Just a short thirty-minute drive from North Myrtle Beach, Ocean Isle Beach is a North Carolina beach town perfect for vacation rentals.
What makes this area of the Holden Beaches so spectacular is the east to west direction of the beaches. Why? You get to witness spectacular sunrises from the east and sunsets from the west, making for panoramic views from the moment you wake to the moment you get a restful sleep.
Your travel group will enjoy surfing the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, golfing on pristine 18-hole golf courses, and the many delicious restaurants in the area.
Bald Head Island
Bald Head Island is an island off the coast of North Carolina, approximately an hour and a half from Holden Beach. This destination is perfect for nearby road trips from Holden Beach.
Planning a trip to Bald Head Island feels like an adventure right off the bat since a ferry ride is needed to get there. Once you arrive, you’ll notice that no cars are allowed on the island, giving it a very family-friendly feel.
The Bald Head Island Ferry departs every thirty minutes from Deep Point Marina in Southport, and the journey lasts around twenty minutes each way.
Renting a beach home or booking a room at an oceanfront hotel are comfortable places to stay overnight to maximize your time on the island.
Check out Old Baldy, the oldest state lighthouse that dates back to 1817. This island boasts several historical sites, activities just for kids, outdoor adventures, golfing, fine-dining options, and more.
Bald Head Woods Reserve
The Bald Head Woods Maritime Forest Preserve is a protected area on Bald Head Island. The Reserve is made up of 191-acres consisting of dune ridges, salt marshes, and ancient-looking maritime trees.
Explore the area teeming with wildlife as you discover other fun things to do as you stay in areas near Holden Beach.
Southport
On the banks of the Cape Fear River, Southport is a small beach city in Brunswick County, North Carolina. Right across the waterway from Bald Head Island, Southport is where the ferry departs to Bald Head Island.
Southport is a great area to stay in if you want to explore Bald Head Island but prefer to find accommodations on the mainland.
With its many museums, boutiques, and local restaurants a visit to Southport should include a night or two at the least if your family is taking a road trip around the Holden Beaches.
Leland
Leland has a population just shy of 30,000 residents, yet it is the largest town in Brunswick County. Located inland of the Cape Fear River and twenty minutes from Wilmington, Leland is one of the Holden Beach best areas to stay in before heading to the beach.
Whether your group is renting a beach house or staying in a hotel, Leland is the best place to pick up the necessary provisions for your trip.
Shallotte
Shallotte is an area near the Holden Beaches not located along the ocean. Instead, Shallotte was founded along the Shallotte River which hosts great fishing and picturesque landscapes for top-notch golf courses.
Only a fifteen to twenty-minute drive from Holden Beach, Shallotte is a well-liked area to stay in when visiting. Your family can explore the different beaches nearby or visit the small towns of Brunswick County.
Bolivia
Bolivia, North Carolina, is a small town located approximately twenty-minutes inland from Holden Beach. It makes for a centrally located base for vacation homes since it is close to Leland and the surrounding beaches.
The town of Bolivia is a close drive to the Boiling Spring Lakes. It is also minutes away from the Green Swamp Nature Preserve for outdoor activities that get the whole group feeling active.
Green Swamp Nature Preserve
While the name does not make it sound too appealing, the Green Swamp Nature Preserve is a gorgeous area adored by hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
This 15,907-acre protected area is home to fourteen species of insectivorous plants like the Venus flytrap as well as eye-catching flowers like orchids. Located only a twenty-minute drive from Holden Beach, the Green Swamp Nature Preserve is certainly an off-the-beaten-path destination that your group will enjoy.
Pack Your Bags
Holden Beaches in North Carolina makes for impressive getaways that are equally relaxing and fun.
Find premium facilities with beach access, living rooms, and kitchens that will have your entire travel group feeling right at home. Even though these beach towns have small populations, be sure to book in advance as summer months bring in many vacationers like you.
If your family is daydreaming about their next beach vacation, book your next trip in one or more of the Holden Beach best areas to stay.
