Sandcastle by the Pier Guidebook
Favorite local eatery
Great local place to eat any meal. The owners are very friendly and serve delicious food! Get there early though because they are a popular spot on the island.
Fresh local food, good scene, you can bring your kids and take home their frisbee plate afterwards.
84 locals recommend
Shagger Jacks
8004 E Oak Island DrFresh local food, good scene, you can bring your kids and take home their frisbee plate afterwards.
Walk from the beach to the Lazy Turtle off of the sand and sit gazing at the ocean while you enjoy a yummy cheeseburger or BLT! Be patient, as they can get busy. Right at the Oak Island Pier, it is not far from our condo if you're relaxing at the beach access and want to walk down for lunch.
39 locals recommend
Lazy Turtle Bar & Grill
601 Ocean DrWalk from the beach to the Lazy Turtle off of the sand and sit gazing at the ocean while you enjoy a yummy cheeseburger or BLT! Be patient, as they can get busy. Right at the Oak Island Pier, it is not far from our condo if you're relaxing at the beach access and want to walk down for lunch.
Frosty's Ice Cream
8600 E Oak Island DrLocal gifts and delicious ice cream!
Kai-Joe's
4722 E Oak Island DrGreat for to-go food or sit at the tables for yummy fresh food!
A couple blocks away, Island Jo is a good place to go in the morning for coffee and a bagel/muffin to get your day started right. There may be a line, so go early and it is worth the wait.
52 locals recommend
Island Jo Coffee & Cafe
7916 E Oak Island DrA couple blocks away, Island Jo is a good place to go in the morning for coffee and a bagel/muffin to get your day started right. There may be a line, so go early and it is worth the wait.
Paul's of Oak Island
Swain Seafood Shack
8317 E Oak Island DrLonerider at Oak Island
Solar Brewing Company
Groceries
Great, nice, clean grocery store. They even offer to steam your seafood while you shop.
32 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at Oak Island Marketplace
5003 E Oak Island DrGreat, nice, clean grocery store. They even offer to steam your seafood while you shop.
Grocery shopping a few miles away. In the midst of some local shops too!
53 locals recommend
Food Lion
5901 E Oak Island DrGrocery shopping a few miles away. In the midst of some local shops too!
Fairly new Lowes Food, if you want a place to go on the way in you will pass this as you enter to Oak Island.
21 locals recommend
Lowes Foods of Oak Island
2829 Midway Rd SEFairly new Lowes Food, if you want a place to go on the way in you will pass this as you enter to Oak Island.
Local stores
Awesome local seafood shop within walking distance or bike of The Sandcastle at the Pier.
32 locals recommend
Haag & Sons Seafood
7901 E Oak Island DrAwesome local seafood shop within walking distance or bike of The Sandcastle at the Pier.
Really cool, unique local shop that hosts a variety of vendors from the Oak Island/Southport area. Come support locals!
Dunes Mercantile
8600 E Oak Island DrReally cool, unique local shop that hosts a variety of vendors from the Oak Island/Southport area. Come support locals!
The Hoarders, Inc
8600 E Oak Island DrAwesome unique finds!
Eagles Beachwear
5802 E Oak Island DrColor Me Carolina
4143 Colfax Ln SESightseeing
There is fishing, a little shop, a bar and a restaurant for visitors. Free to walk on, but pay inside for a daily fishing pass with your NC fishing license.
59 locals recommend
Oak Island Pier
705 Ocean DrThere is fishing, a little shop, a bar and a restaurant for visitors. Free to walk on, but pay inside for a daily fishing pass with your NC fishing license.
Oak Island Lighthouse
300a Caswell Beach RdCity/town information
With lots of festivals to attend, Southport is great to go see and about 20 minutes from the Sandcastle by the Pier. Some movies have also been filmed here!
242 locals recommend
Southport
With lots of festivals to attend, Southport is great to go see and about 20 minutes from the Sandcastle by the Pier. Some movies have also been filmed here!
Wilmington is about 30-45 minutes from Oak Island and a great day trip if you want to get out for some bigger city life. Downtown has a lot of great places to eat and fun things to do! Great for families, couples, groups and solo trips!
207 locals recommend
Wilmington
Wilmington is about 30-45 minutes from Oak Island and a great day trip if you want to get out for some bigger city life. Downtown has a lot of great places to eat and fun things to do! Great for families, couples, groups and solo trips!
Myrtle Beach is about an hour and 15 minutes from the condo and can be a fun day trip.
198 locals recommend
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is about an hour and 15 minutes from the condo and can be a fun day trip.
Local Things to do
We have had this charter company recommended to us by a previous guest. They have a website and Facebook page with information. We suggest planning any charter trips in advance as they do fill up during the summer.
Southport Fishing Charters
4205 Long Beach Road SoutheastPlanet Fun & Starz Grille Family Entertainment and Bowling Center
349 Whiteville Rd NWSurf Cinemas
4836 Long Beach Rd SERising Sun Fishing
City advice
Don't miss
Ocean Safety
Check the ocean report before you go out for the warnings for the day