Your vacation begins the moment you leave your driveway. Pender County Tourism encourages you to enjoy your travels.
You will find that on your adventure to Topsail Island, there are many little gems you can discover.
Here are a few suggestions for your consideration:
Just off I-40, visit Johnson's Nursery, home of The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina. They celebrate blooms every day! However, on the weekends, the Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina host various events and special attractions. Be sure to check out their website so you and your family don’t miss out on one of their fun-filled events.
If you are coming into Pender County from the west, you may want to stop by Gregory Farms and Vineyard, located at 2576 Montague Rd. in Currie. They will have music and much more on most Saturdays and Sundays. Pender County is home to the NC Blueberry Festival and blueberries are our pride and joy. So, if you visit Gregory Farms and Vineyard, ask about their blueberry wine.
Not far from Gregory Farms and Vineyard is Southeastern North Carolina’s only National Park, Moores Creek National Battlefield. Located at 40 Patriots Hall Dr., Moores Creek is the site of the first Patriots’ victory in the Revolutionary War. If you’re looking for a spot to let the kids run and stretch your legs, this is a winning spot! Take the less than 1-mile trail around the park, across the Moores Creek Bridge which was sabotaged by the Patriots in February 1776. To get a feel for the significance of this battle, stop in at the Visitors Center and watch the 15-minute video.
If you're traveling through Burgaw, enjoy lunch at the Burgaw Brewing Co. We’ve created suggested itineraries for days when you want to explore the area. Burgaw is a fun day trip. To see these itineraries, visit our website, visitpender.com, and click on the Beach Week tab. Beach Week features day adventures and spotlights special events for the week.
Also in Burgaw is Legends Seafood and Produce, located at 1501 NC Hwy 53. They sell a nice variety of fresh seafood, produce, and even propane to cook them on!
Visit Bear Ridge Farm on NC Hwy 50 and purchase fresh produce, delicious jellies and jams, and more. Bear Ridge Farm offers farm freshness that you can enjoy during your week at the beach. They are just a nice farming family offering wholesome goodness, especially when it comes to their jellies, jams, and mixes.
If you like to grill seafood, stop by our many seafood shops for the freshest of seafood. When you head home, our seafood shops will package your fresh seafood in ice in your cooler for a trip home.
Here’s a little insider’s tip: The best day to visit the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital is Saturdays! Visitors are busy checking into their rentals and unpacking. But if you arrive before check-in, it’s a great time to stretch your legs and see a rare hospital that nurtures and rescues endangered sea turtles. You will need to make a reservation online, so consider this as an option. The sea turtle hospital is a “don’t miss” attraction.
But relax. Remember, you are on island time. There's no rush hour here. Visit our restaurants, breweries, and tap rooms. Soak up some sun (using sunscreen, of course!) and kick back for a much-deserved vacation.
When visiting, if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 910-259-1278 or email us at
tourism@pendercountync.gov.
