Onslow County encompasses the towns of Swansboro, Jacksonville, Topsail, and Beulaville, on the coast of North Carolina. Forests, vineyards, farms, beaches, rivers, and Intracoastal waterways guarantee that you will run out of things to do in Onslow County!
10 Lejeune Memorial Gardens
Vietnam Memorial
Lejeune Memorial Gardens encourages visitors to explore the beautiful 27-acre hallowed grounds and honor those who serve our country as well as remember the patriots who have given the greatest sacrifice for our freedom. It’s dedicated to all who served there from all five branches of the Armed Forces.
Memorials are within walking distance of each other and include the Beirut Memorial (the first to be erected, with 100% private funds), the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Montford Point Marine Memorial, and the 9/11 Memorial Beam from the World Trade Center. Lejeune Memorial Gardens is located at Montford Landing Road and Lejeune Boulevard, the gateway of downtown Jacksonville.
9 Walton’s Distillery
Event room at Walton’s Distillery
I’ve been to quite a few distillery tours over the years, but I have to say that Walton’s Distillery is one of my favorites. Why? They were so friendly and made the whole experience casual, so much fun, and so personal!
Located about 15 minutes west of downtown Jacksonville, Walton’s Distillery, Inc. was formed by Don Walton and the foundation was laid for eventually opening a craft distillery for making corn whisky and Carolina moonshine.
The site was located just beyond the bank of Black Creek, where back-in-the-day numerous illegal stills had previously been used to make moonshine.
A Walton relative, “Cousin Norwood,” shared his secrets and recipe of making moonshine and the current distillery continues to make moonshine in exactly the same manner as was made over the past 50 years.
Full transparency, I’m a lightweight and don’t drink much hard liquor, but I thought the pina colada moonshine was delicious!
Interesting fact: Their spirits are all distilled five times which makes for a clean taste with no hangover.
My favorite product though was the “Apple Pie” moonshine, which made me crack up because of the association to the apple pie moonshine murder in the Netflix series “Justified.”
Walton’s Distillery is still family-owned and operated. The whisky and moonshine all bear the names of their ancestors as a lasting tribute to them, the hardships they endured, the goals they obtained, and the legacies they have left.
So how is this an outdoor experience, you ask? We grabbed some grub from Thig’s BBQ just down the street and sat at their shaded picnic benches for a delicious lunch before our tour. After all, you’re not supposed to drink on an empty stomach, right?
8 Huffman Vineyards
Family-owned Huffman Vineyards is a fun place to enjoy the lush countryside while sampling handcrafted wines as sweet muscadine, vinifera, and unique fruit-blended wines such as scuppernong, the official fruit of North Carolina. Try a sip or take home a whole bottle as you discover the magic behind North Carolina wines.
You can feed their on-site chickens if that’s your thing.
7 Mike’s Farm
Located in Beulaville, Mike’s Farm is more a destination than just a mere restaurant. The farm was purchased in 1945 by Jess Lowe, a native of Ozark, Arkansas who came to Camp Lejeune as a young man serving in the Marine Corps.
Originally a small tobacco farm, Jess and his wife Lucille raised four children and also raised vegetables and farm animals such as cows, chickens, and pigs.
While neighbors came to help pick the tobacco crop, Lucille was in the house preparing the barn day dinner for all. Generally, dinner consisted of fried chicken, ham, butter beans, potatoes, collards, homemade biscuits, and tea.
Eventually, the farm closed, but reopened in the mid-1980s, diversifying the farm to include an amazing Southern cookin’ restaurant, a Christmas light show, and a petting area, to name a few.
Mike’s Farm has turned into a diverse venue with a warm, wholesome family atmosphere. Whether you come for the delicious southern cooking, pick strawberries, feed the goats, hayrides, attend a wedding, or Christmas festivities, there’s something sure to please you.
6 Downtown Swansboro
Known by the moniker “Friendly City by the Sea”, Swansboro is bursting with charm, whimsy, and history. A quintessential coastal village, it is surrounded by water it’s no surprise that water activities rule the day.
But there are also a lot of things to do on land, such as explore this adorable downtown. Founded in the 1700s, Swansboro’s downtown is full of stories ready to be discovered. The historic buildings have a plaque stating the date they were built and there are more than 40 quaint boutique shops and galleries to browse – include Candy Edventure, filled with nostalgic sweets from yesteryear.
Or you can grab a drink of choice or ice cream cone and chill out while gazing at the picturesque marina.
5 Kayaking Tour
If you love kayaking, here’s an opportunity to get on the water and explore the pristine waters, nature, and wildlife of Swansboro’s coast. The coastal views are spectacular.
We made a stop at Shark Tooth Island to search for…wait for it…shark teeth. The tiny island is only reachable at low tide. Our guide told us that because of larger ships passing through, it dredges up the sea bottom, releasing things like shark’s teeth that were wedged in the mud for many years. They are relatively hard to spot because they resemble the dark pebbles that are litter the banks, but a sharp eye can (and did) find them.
Shark Tooth Island
Note: The 2.5-hour tour ended up being a bit more than we bargained for. Our group of four was mostly beginners and this is a trip for more experienced/stronger kayakers. It was a challenge at times to paddle against the currents as well as the swells from passing boats. But we lived to complain tell the tale!
4 Hammocks Beach Park
A crown jewel of the North Carolina coast, Hammocks Beach State Park boasting some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in the state. The park is home to Bear Island – a 4-mile-long, uninhabited barrier island accessible by the park’s passenger ferry or by paddling a canoe or kayak. A tranquil beach oasis rests between high dunes. Don’t worry…you won’t encounter a bear here. Hundreds of years ago it was called Barrier Island, which morphed into Bare Island and then to Bear Island.
Aside from the kayak launch near the visitor center, outdoor enthusiasts can also enjoy the park’s forested hiking trails, some ending in a gorgeous water vista.
Interpretive programs and extensive exhibits teach about park ecology and wildlife including endangered sea turtles and nesting shorebirds.
3 Sunset Dinner Cruise
Bayonet Enterprises is a private yacht charter owned and operated by Captain Lance Ledoux and First Mate (and wife) Marilyn. If you are looking for a unique and luxurious pampering experience, this is the activity for you!
One of the highlights of my time in Onslow County was riding topside at the front of the 46-foot luxury yacht with the wind taking my hair wherever it wanted.
And frankly, you cannot find better hosts than Lance and Marilyn. They cater to your every whim, bring non-stop appetizers, cocktails, wine, a scrumptious ribeye steak dinner, and cheesecake for dessert—all while staring out at the magnificent sunset going down over the New River.
Marilyn even took hundreds of photos, which she gave to us.
2 Marsh Shelling Excursion
I won’t lie…I thought the shelling excursion might be a little dull. I was so wrong! Marsh Cruises was my favorite boating experience in Onslow County!
First, Captain Darryl Marsh was amazing! In his 23-foot Bayrider Skiff, he zoomed us all around the marshes, Intracoastal waterways near Swansboro, past Emerald Isles and Bear Island, and because the weather and ocean were calm and perfect, out to where it meets the Atlantic Ocean.
But the best part was docking in the middle of the Intracoastal during low tide where there were several sandbars. Because the boat has a flat hull, he can reach areas that are normally inaccessible by other boats. You could just wade from one to another sandbar, with the water no deeper than mid-calf.
Because they’d just been uncovered by water, shells of all types and colors littered the banks of the sandbars, gifts from Mother Nature herself. We even found two of the gorgeous and highly sought-after whelks – which are similar to conch but found in cooler waters. Captain Darryl was not only friendly, but really knowledgeable about all things marine, including identifying species of shells, sand dollars, and wildlife along the way.
1 North Topsail Beach
While subjective, the #1 place should not come as a surprise to those who have been reading my travel articles, Facebook, and Instagram for a while.
The beach is my happy place, and North Topsail Beach did not disappoint. Pronounced “/TOP-sul/” by locals, this beach occupies the northernmost section of 26-mile Topsail Island, off the North Carolina coast. Folklore has it that the island was named Topsail because pirate ships hid behind the island with their topsails visible from the sea.
The beach is a picture-perfect juxtaposition of crystal blue water lapping onto a wide white-sand beach with plenty of room for lounging, beachcombing, building sandcastles, or tossing a frisbee.
Similar to the beaches in the Outer Banks, North Topsail is absolutely stunning with never-ending sea breezes that add a pleasantry to warm summer days.
Where to Eat
You have to dress retro at Yanna’s!
Yannas Olde Drug Store Restaurant on the Riverwalk in downtown Swansboro is known for its amazing fruit fritter. I am an omelet connoisseur and their meat-lovers concoction was fabulous. The retro décor is so much fun, including the framed posters of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and other celebs.
We had lunch on the 2nd story deck overlooking the water at Saltwater Grill in Swansboro. Try their signature dish, Angels on Horseback – bacon-wrapped scallops and shrimp over crab meat with a lobster cream risotto.
Dinner at the Boro Restaurant was fabulous. Their menu had offerings to suit any taste or preference. We ate on the nicely lit outdoor patio, with cool breezes coming in off the water.
Swansboro Food & Beverage Co. sits on the corner of the main street, and where we ate lunch after our strenuous kayaking adventure. We all agreed that a margarita was in order, with no regrets. With our scrumptious appetizer of pimento dip with warm, thick, homemade tortilla wedges, our waitress supplied a good dose of sympathy to our lamenting of aches and pains. Doesn’t get better than that!
The Kettle Dinner was a great spot for breakfast, which is served all day long. Make sure you try their specialty, Sticky French Toast. French toast topped with fresh strawberries, pecans cooked in brown sugar and butter, and sweet cream. It’s to-die-for!
Where to Stay
I would highly recommend staying in one of the charming rental houses right in downtown Swansboro. Our 3-bedroom, beachy-decorated rental house, Serenity by the Sea, was around half a block from downtown which was not only convenient for walking to restaurants and the waterfront, but we had a water view as well.
Epilogue
Onslow County is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s jam-packed with fun things to do in diversified natural settings on water or land that will appeal to couples, families, or solo travelers.
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Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of Visit Onslow during her stay but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.
About the Author
Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials.” Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled six continents looking for fabulous places and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer (and Gen X!) tribe.
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