Surf City, North Carolina is the Perfect Beach Town for Any Family

Searching for your perfect beach to visit this summer? Surf City, NC is a quiet, coastal town that offers tons of family fun, great places to eat, peaceful beaches, and more! They even have a turtle rehabilitation center that your family can visit. Local mom Jennifer spent some time in Surf City with her family and had a wonderful time. You can check out her review below.

We are beach people, but we are quiet beach people. My family prefers to rent a beach house for a week rather than stay in a hotel. We like beaches where there is some space between your beach chairs and umbrellas. This is how we ended up in Surf City, NC for the first time. And, we fell in love!

If you haven’t heard of Surf City, I’m not surprised. This is a small township located on Topsail Island. Maybe you’ve heard of Topsail Island, which is a 26-mile-long barrier island off the coast located close to Wilmington, NC. But, Surf City is a small, walkable section of the island. And, it is where all the action happens.

What to Expect at Surf City, NC

Surf City is full of vacation rentals instead of large hotels. There are a few hotels on the island, but far more townhouses or beach houses for rent. Since this is a small township, almost everything was within walking distance of our rental. It was fantastic! We could walk to get food from restaurants, pick up groceries, or shop.

Another fun part of staying in Surf City was the number of surfers! While we didn’t see many large waves, we did see a large number of surfboards in the water each morning. And, the local Surf City Surf School offers daily surfing lessons to tourists (group lessons at 9 AM, noon, and 2 PM daily; storefront open Mon–Sun 9 AM–9 PM; from August through April, book by calling (910) 616-2280).

Surf City is quiet during the week, which was perfect for my introverted family members. But, it is much more crowded on weekends. This is because locals will head to Surf City on Topsail Island for its public beaches and beautiful pier. On the weekend we visited, there were lots of people around; however, there were still far fewer people than you find at other beaches that are tourist destinations.

Things to Do at Surf City

Surf City is a quaint beach town, so do not expect to find a ton of tourist attractions. Instead, plan to spend your days enjoying the beautiful beach. Take time to explore the town on foot. Visit the pier, shop the various boutiques and beach stores, and try out the restaurants. My favorite thing to do was walk across the street from the beach to the local bookstore.

Two family-friendly tourist attractions they do have are: a pirate-themed mini-golf course in Surf City — Shipwreck Point Golf (13705 NC-50; two 18-hole courses; open daily in-season) — as well as the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center (302 Tortuga Ln; reservations are required; admission $7 adults, $6 seniors/military, $5 children, free ages 2 and under).

Topsail Island is close to Wilmington, NC, and Carolina Beach, NC. My family took a day trip to Carolina Beach and visited the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Carolina Beach Boardwalk amusement park.

Where to Eat when visiting Surf City

Since we were on vacation and could walk to multiple restaurants, we ate out a lot. And, I do not regret it one bit! The food was excellent. In particular, I grew incredibly fond of Shaka Taco, a fun taco restaurant connected to the Surf City Surf School. I ate there three times in a week. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I am still dreaming about their Shaka Nachos. Plus, there were several other local restaurants that my family enjoyed while on vacation, such as Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille (108 N Shore Dr; closed Mon; Tue–Sat lunch 11 AM–3 PM & dinner 5–9 PM; Sun brunch 10 AM–3 PM & dinner 5–9 PM) and Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar (13460 NC-50 #101; Mon–Wed 11 AM–9 PM, Thu–Sun 11 AM–10 PM).

Why We Plan to Go Back to Surf City

I love going to beach towns that feel like authentic beach towns, and this is the case with Surf City. It is not commercialized. It is quiet and quaint. My family felt safe enough there to walk everywhere. Plus, it was beautiful. Honestly, I would drive the five hours so that I could walk from the beach to eat at Shaka Taco again.

Frequently Asked Questions About Surf City, NC

What is there to do in Surf City, NC?

Surf City offers uncrowded beaches, a fishing pier, the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center, Shipwreck Point mini-golf, surf lessons at Surf City Surf School, local boutiques, and easy day trips to the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Carolina Beach Boardwalk.

Is Surf City, NC family-friendly?

Yes! Surf City is one of the most family-friendly beach towns on the North Carolina coast. It is quiet, walkable, and filled with activities for all ages — from surf lessons and sea turtle tours to pirate-themed mini-golf and kid-friendly dining.

Where should we eat in Surf City, NC?

Top picks include Shaka Taco (open Sun–Thu 11 AM–8 PM, Fri–Sat 11 AM–9 PM), Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille (closed Mondays; Tue–Sat lunch and dinner; Sunday brunch from 10 AM), and Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar (open daily from 11 AM, with extended hours Thu–Sun until 10 PM).

When is the best time to visit Surf City, NC?

Summer (June–August) is peak season when all restaurants and attractions are fully open. Surf City is notably quieter during weekdays, making it ideal for families who prefer a relaxed pace — the beach feels uncrowded compared to more commercialized destinations. Spring and fall bring mild temperatures with even fewer visitors.

What’s your family’s favorite nearby beach to visit?