Have you visited Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands? It’s a special spot full of classic family fun and lots of beautiful coastline. We got a chance to visit, and we’re sharing everything we loved because we think you’ll love it, too!
Thank you to North Carolina Brunswick Islands for hosting us so we could share this gorgeous area with our readers.
My kids are all tweens and teens. To borrow a bit of Forest Gump’s iconic phrase, living with teens is a little like a box of chocolates. Some days you get a nice, tasty coconut creme, and other days you get a stale, rock-hard nougat. That can make planning family travel a little difficult. Actually, a lot difficult. You just want to have a fun, relaxed time with your family and see them happy and enjoying being together. Oh, but how does one make that happen?
I don’t have the answer, but that’s actually exactly what happened when I took my tween and teens to Ocean Isle Beach. And while when it comes to YOUR teens, we can’t make any actual guarantees, (not like the back of the chocolate box with the key to what’s inside,) we can tell you that Ocean Isle Beach has just the right ingredients for that relaxed memory-making experience we crave with our adolescent kids.
Oceanfront Accommodations
The accommodations on Ocean Isle Beach are mostly rental condos and homes, although there are a couple of hotels. One thing I’ve always loved about beaches with this type of housing is that the beach itself tends to be less crowded. We found that to be the case on Ocean Isle as well.
We stayed in an oceanfront condo that had everything we needed, including a community pool just a few steps from the beach. With no busy streets to cross, I felt totally comfortable letting my teens move between the beach, the pool, and the condo as they liked, as long as they were with a sibling. That made running up to grab some snacks or refill a water bottle super simple.
And, for families with younger kids, being oceanfront means it’s easier to get back to the condo for a sun break or nap. Speaking of naps, it’ll hardly feel like you’ve left the beach as the kids nap while you enjoy the view overlooking the ocean from the back deck.
The condo we stayed at was called Beachin’ It. The unit was quite clean and very comfortable. We had everything we needed, lots of dishes, pans, even board games and movies. The five of us fit easily, and I’d definitely stay there again.
Things to Do at Ocean Isle Beach
We wrote a full article on North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands, and Ocean Isle Beach is part of those islands. Make no mistake about it, everything in the Brunswick Islands is an easy drive away from Ocean Isle, and there are definitely gems you should absolutely check out when you visit.
But for the purposes of this article, I’m going to focus in tight to the things to do right on Ocean Isle because we loved it so much.
Watch! Our Brunswick Island Trip
You’ll see lots of these Ocean Isle adventures in the video below, plus a few more things we did in the Brunswick Islands.
The Beach at Ocean Isle Beach
We’re kicking things off with some talk about the beach, since that’s probably your main attraction, right? We found the beach to be gorgeous.
- Wide-open, lots of space
- We found a couple of sharks’ teeth! Actually I did, and my kids were a wee bit jealous.
- Evening beach walks were stunning. Walking to the southern end of the island when the tide was out was so surreal. We were able to walk well out into the inlet.
- My kids all enjoyed splashing and playing with the boogie boards in the waves. The water here stayed shallow for quite a while. However, always be mindful of ocean conditions, rip currents, and problematic marine life. There are no lifeguards here to help you. Ocean Isle Beach doesn’t have a flag warning system, but we just checked the flags online daily for nearby Holden Beach to stay aware of conditions.
Ocean Isle Beach Super Track & Axe Shack
Address: 6146 Beach Drive SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
OIB Super Track & Axe Shack
Our kids loved this place so much, they had to go again! And, after watching them ALL have fun on the first race, I had the “yes, just take my money, please” mentality for the second race. How could I say, “No?”. But truly, this was probably their favorite activity.
Go-kart races are $12 per person and last about 5 minutes each. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they all genuinely seemed happy to be there.
What we loved:
- Friendly, welcoming staff
- Perfect for kids and tweens
- Adults can try axe throwing too!
We didn’t personally check out the axe throwing, but we watched a bit as we waited to buy our go-kart tickets. It looked like everyone was really having a good time. It’d be a great activity for adults!
River Country Mini Golf
Address: 1 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
River Country Mini-Golf
Right in the heart of the island, this mini-golf spot was the perfect calm evening activity with our teens. We hadn’t played mini-golf in ages and had such a good time. The river jungle theme was cute, and at the end of the game even my 17-year-old had to say goodbye to the giant giraffe statue.
What we loved:
- Walkable to the pier (parking for River Country is at the pier!)
- Great family bonding moment
- Clean course and fun obstacles
Town Center Park & Playground
Address: 11 E 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Town Center Park & Playgrounds
This free public park is a must-do for any age! My kids had a lot of fun on the basketball court. We didn’t even need to bring a ball, they were just left on the side of the court for anyone to use.
The playground itself is HUGE and even has a full workout section full of playground-style equipment for adults to use. When we were at the park early one morning, there were adults running on the path and getting in a workout on the equipment.
Then there are multiple climbing structures with slides for the kids, and a beautiful splashpad. Everything is done in bright colors with a beachy vibe that we loved. It’s all totally free, and even though I was traveling with teens, we visited this park twice.
The amphitheater area has free live music events in the summer season so you’ll want to keep an eye out for those on your visit.
What you’ll find:
- Big playground with equipment for all ages
- Splash pad (yay, water fun!)
- Free parking
- Clean bathrooms and tons of space to run
Museum of Coastal Carolina
📍 21 E 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
We didn’t make it this time, but this museum offers hands-on exhibits about marine life, weather, and local wildlife. It’s walkable from the pier and a great indoor option.
Perfect for: Curious kids, science lovers, and rainy days.
The Swamp Park – Zipline & Eco Adventures
📍 5550 Watts Road SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Another spot we’ll try next trip! From canopy ziplines to swamp boat eco tours, this place Offers lots for older kids and parents!
Tip: Best for ages 10+ and great for teens.
Ocean Isle Beach Pier & Arcade
📍 1 W 1st Street Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
This classic wooden pier is a total classic — and the arcade at the base adds even more fun!
What to do:
- Stroll the pier for ocean views (small fee for access), though you can walk through the pier’s backyard to the patio and beach beside the pier for free.
- Watch fishermen reel in their catch
- Play arcade games indoors (perfect rainy day backup!)
- Grab a treat and enjoy it in the shaded pier backyard area
You’ll find Scoops Ice Cream in the building at the pier, too!
Scoops Ice Cream
📍 1 W 1st Street Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
After mini-golf or park time, Scoops is the perfect cool-down treat. We took our ice cream to the pier’s backyard area behind the pier — with direct beach access and ocean breezes.
Why it’s a fave:
- Tons of flavors to choose from
- Quick service, even when busy
- Easy walk from most attractions
Where You Should Eat: Ocean Isle Beach Restaurants
Speaking of ice cream, let’s talk food. Here’s what we enjoyed!
Sharky’s Waterfront Bar & Grill
📍 61 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Our dinner here was unforgettable — great food and equally amazing views. We ate outside on the deck and watched the boats go by as the sun set.
What we loved:
- Shrimp & grits and poke bowls (so good!)
- Ribeye steak and hush puppies
- Chill waterfront vibe
It’s casual, delicious, and great for families.
Spilt Milk
📍 10 E 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Donuts + ice cream = yes, please. This cute spot was our final morning treat, and the kids are still talking about it.
Don’t miss:
- Spilt Milk Cookies & Creme donut was awesome!
- They have rotating seasonal flavors AND classics
- Everything is made fresh right there, and the ice cream looked awesome. That’s definitely something we’d do next time!
Joey O’s Brick Oven Pizza
📍 6250 Beach Drive SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
After a beachy travel day, this was the perfect order-in dinner. We used DoorDash and everything came hot and ready.
Family dinner wins:
- Pizza, calzone, wings, salad — all tasty!
- Zeppolis for dessert = amazing
- The calzone was extra cheesy with ricotta and mozzarella
Drift Coffee & Kitchen
📍 1 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
Start your day or fuel up with a stop at Drift — it’s light, fresh, and totally family-friendly. We grabbed breakfast here on our first day of our trip. Everything was tasty.
On the menu:
- Smoothie bowls, avocado toast, lattes
- Indoor + outdoor seating with a breezy beach vibe
Ready to Plan Your Ocean Isle Beach Day?
Whether you’re zipping through the treetops, racing go-karts, or just watching the waves with ice cream in hand — Ocean Isle Beach makes family fun easy.
Learn more about North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands
North Carolina is beautiful.
Go see more of it!
Love the beach? So do we!!
After several decades of combined parenting and more trips to the beach than we care to admit, the Kidding Around Team has become something of a Southeast Family-Friendly Beach expert. Add in our readers’ tips and favorites, and you have one very stout beach guide.
