Guidebook for Oak Island
Food Scene
Our favorite nicer restaurant on the island. Good wine choices, good meals, nice view.
85 locals recommend
Island Way
1407 E Beach DrOur favorite nicer restaurant on the island. Good wine choices, good meals, nice view.
Caribbean decor, Jimmy Buffett music, simple hot dogs and burgers for lunch in a super clean, friendly place. Be sure to ring the bell on your way out the door!
21 locals recommend
Bob's Dogs
8903 E Oak Island DrCaribbean decor, Jimmy Buffett music, simple hot dogs and burgers for lunch in a super clean, friendly place. Be sure to ring the bell on your way out the door!
Unbelievably good sandwiches! Their ingredients were selected by a family from New York who know how to make a good sandwich. Perfect for beach lunches! Also great for eating in the car on the way home from OKI. Tip: call ahead or order online and you won't have to wait in line to pick up. The wait can be lengthy on busy days.
26 locals recommend
Oak Island Sub Shop
5705 E Oak Island DrUnbelievably good sandwiches! Their ingredients were selected by a family from New York who know how to make a good sandwich. Perfect for beach lunches! Also great for eating in the car on the way home from OKI. Tip: call ahead or order online and you won't have to wait in line to pick up. The wait can be lengthy on busy days.
Walk up take out window with outdoor seating serving traditional Mexican food with some Hawaiian twists.
72 locals recommend
Kai-Joe's
4722 E Oak Island DrWalk up take out window with outdoor seating serving traditional Mexican food with some Hawaiian twists.
Southport Smoke House
1102 N Howe StGreat local BBQ with funny tshirts and friendly staff.
Relaxed pub atmosphere with a nice view of the IntraCoastal Waterway.
27 locals recommend
Rusty Hooks Dockside Grill
4907 Fish Factory RdRelaxed pub atmosphere with a nice view of the IntraCoastal Waterway.
Sightseeing
The lighthouse is open for climbing/tours during the summer months for anyone age 10 and over. Reservations and closed shoes are required. Details are available at: www.oakislandlighthouse.org
126 locals recommend
Oak Island Lighthouse
300a Caswell Beach RdThe lighthouse is open for climbing/tours during the summer months for anyone age 10 and over. Reservations and closed shoes are required. Details are available at: www.oakislandlighthouse.org
The Battleship is a great way to spend a few hours! You can tour it on rainy days but I recommend wearing closed shoes if you do (think slippery metal stairs and small puddles but nothing treacherous). More details are available at: www.battleshipnc.com
435 locals recommend
Battleship North Carolina
1 Battleship Rd NEThe Battleship is a great way to spend a few hours! You can tour it on rainy days but I recommend wearing closed shoes if you do (think slippery metal stairs and small puddles but nothing treacherous). More details are available at: www.battleshipnc.com
Entertainment & Activities
The Fort Fisher Aquarium offers the chance to see ocean life up close! Our favorites are the touch tanks, the sea turtles, the jellyfish and Luna, an albino alligator (there's less than 50 albino alligators in the world). Actually, our most favorite thing might be the ferry ride required to get there!
This is a great rainy day activity but I recommend catching a morning ferry to beat the crowds. The ferry you'll need to ride is the Southport to Fort Fisher route.
More information is available at:
Aquarium: www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher
Ferry Schedule: www.ncdot.gov/download/transit/ferry/ferryschedule.pdf
550 locals recommend
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead RdThe Fort Fisher Aquarium offers the chance to see ocean life up close! Our favorites are the touch tanks, the sea turtles, the jellyfish and Luna, an albino alligator (there's less than 50 albino alligators in the world). Actually, our most favorite thing might be the ferry ride required to get there!
This is a great rainy day activity but I recommend catching a morning ferry to beat the crowds. The ferry you'll need to ride is the Southport to Fort Fisher route.
More information is available at:
Aquarium: www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher
Ferry Schedule: www.ncdot.gov/download/transit/ferry/ferryschedule.pdf
The Town of Oak Island's Parks & Recreation Department offers recreational opportunities for the whole family including: kayak rentals, outdoor basketball court, tennis courts, skate park and the Ocean Education Center. More details are available at: www.oakislandnc.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Recreation-and-Educational-Facilities.aspx
16 locals recommend
Oak Island Recreation Center
3003 E Oak Island DrThe Town of Oak Island's Parks & Recreation Department offers recreational opportunities for the whole family including: kayak rentals, outdoor basketball court, tennis courts, skate park and the Ocean Education Center. More details are available at: www.oakislandnc.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Recreation-and-Educational-Facilities.aspx
Beautiful waterfront, fun shops, good food, wonderful Southern architecture ... Southport is an adorable waterfront town located just a short drive from Oak Island.
242 locals recommend
Southport
Beautiful waterfront, fun shops, good food, wonderful Southern architecture ... Southport is an adorable waterfront town located just a short drive from Oak Island.