Bald Head Island Travel Guide
Happy TRAVEL TUESDAY, Lovelies!
I hope you all had a fun-filled long weekend! I am so excited to share a blog post that I have been anticipating for several months now!
Today I get to share TWO of my favorite things! My travel guide to my favorite place on earth, Bald Head Island with one of my favorite brands, Cabana Life!
Cabana Life:
There was not a single day that my family wasn’t wearing Cabana Life on our vacation to Bald Head Island. From the amazing fabric of the clothing to the sun protection of UPF 50+ to the gorgeous colors and prints of the clothing and swimwear, Cabana Life made packing and LIVING easy and stylish for us. I love brands that are functional, classic and fun, and this brand has perfected all three.
What We Wore:
Swimsuits:
Dresses & Cover-Ups:
Men’s:
About Bald Head Island:
Bald Head Island is located on the east side of the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, NC. There are no residential cars on the island, only golf carts, and bikes. To get to the island you must take a ferry from Southport, NC.
Bald Head Island has a rich history ranging from its use as a fort during the Civil War to a popular hangout for pirates such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet!
Today as you ferry over to the island, you will immediately notice Old Baldy lighthouse. You will also see lots of turtle nests that are protected by BHI Conservancy. Bald Head Island is nationally recognized for its sea turtle nesting activity.
If you are lucky you might see a nest hatch. There are an abundance of programs at the conservancy for children (and adults) to learn more about the island’s ecosystem. They also host sea turtle nest excavations. This year we were lucky enough to see a sea turtle make it to the ocean at one of the excavations.
Since there are no cars on the island and sea turtles love to nest on the island’s beaches, there is a saying you will hear often when vacationing there: “I’m on Turtle Time”. There is nothing I love more than feeling the sea breeze as I coast around on a golf cart or bike.
The slower-paced lifestyle is the perfect way to get away from it all and enjoy a vacation with your family.
The prettiest chapel hosts a weekly church service and many dream weddings.
The island is also incredibly pet-friendly. Bring your furry pals with you to make it an extra special vacation!
Where to Stay:
We love to rent houses when we vacation on BHI. There are several ways to rent homes. We typically will look through the following rental companies:
When you are browsing the homes you can search based off of the locations you want to stay, how many people will be staying, what clubs you can buy a temporary guest membership to and how many golf carts/bikes there are (we will get to all of this in a minute).
Some rentals are pet-friendly. If you plan on bringing your pup with you-be sure to search for properties that allow pets!
There are many different areas of Bald Head Island, so definitely take this into consideration when booking your trip:
- The Marsh
- The Forest (all kinds of different areas like Lighthouse Landing and Ibis Roost Cottages but also a lot of individual homes (our favorite is Baldy’s Haven that is right off the BHI Club golf course)
- South Beach (near BHI Club)
- East Beach (near Shoals Club)
- The Harbor (by a lot of the restaurants)
We typically like to be centrally located so we opt for more of the marsh or forest locations that way it is easy for us to get from one side of the island to the other. Below I have a map of the island so you can see where everything is located.
The Ferry:
To be safe, always make ferry and tram reservations upon renting a place on Bald Head Island. You will leave your car at South Point Marina. Workers will help load your luggage and other travel items onto rolling storage and run them onto the bottom of the ferry.
Your luggage will ferry over with you and will be rolled out once you arrive at BHI. There, the workers will tell you what tram number you are on, and help you load your luggage onto it. The small trams will then take you to your vacation rental.
Once you arrive at your rental, you will be able to use the golf carts provided.
The Clubs of Bald Head Island:
When you rent a house on BHI you are often offered the option to buy a temporary membership to one of the two clubs on the island (sometimes both). Both clubs have awesome restaurant and food options and pools but have distinct differences. Below I have listed their amenities for you. This is definitely something we consider when booking our rental each year.
Bald Head Island Club:
- Golf Course & Shop
- Fitness Center
- Tennis Courts and Programs
- Croquet
- Three Pools / Children’s Area / Waterslides / Adult’s Only & Lap Pool
- Poolside Dining and Bar
- Several Different Restaurants
Shoals Club:
- Two Pools
- Beach Access with Chairs/Umbrellas Provided
- Poolside Dining and Bar
- Several Different Restaurants
I love both clubs equally. I love that the Bald Head Island club has an awesome fitness center and great pools for the kids. My husband loves the golf and my dad loves the tennis.
The Shoals Club is convenient because you don’t have to carry a ton of beach chairs/umbrellas with you. It’s also easy to go back and forth from the beach to the pool which is nice.
Where to Eat:
There are many different food options on the island. Here are a few of our favorite places:
- The Seafood Buffet at the BHI Club– worth every penny. Every Friday in the summer this buffet is offered. From crab cakes to mahi-mahi to amazing oysters and crab legs, this is by far our favorite dinner option.
- Horizon’s– also located at the BHI Club, they have amazing salads and pizza. I love that you can just throw on a cover-up and eat outside.
- Aqua– the Shoals Club’s higher-end restaurant that offers great seafood options. After dinner, listen to some live music and have a drink at Latitudes which is outside Aqua.
- Delphina– grab some great Mexican food in the prime sunset location by the marina!
- The Maritime Market– this is the cutest market. Order breakfast or a sandwich at the cafe or grocery shop to make your own dinner at home! My husband loves the breakfast sandwiches here, and I love the ice cream stand!
- Sandpiper Coffee & Ice Cream– grab your favorite flavor and head to the beach to watch the sunset!
What to Do:
- Sign-up for one of the programs at the BHI Conservancy. Lilly loved their touch tank!
- Attend a sea turtle nest excavation
- Paddle Board or Kayak the marsh
- Go out for a Sail
- Climb to the top of Old Baldy
- Learn about the history of BHI on the Ghost Walk
- Go crabbing/fishing on the marsh (we catch a release blue crabs)
- Run the Turtle Trot 5k
One of my favorite parts of the island is that it isn’t a crazy busy place with too much going on. It truly is the perfect family beach and allows you to spend time with those you love most.
We spend most of our time playing beachside.
Shopping On The Island:
- The Sail Shop (you can also book sail lessons, rent kayaks, and paddleboards here)
- Riverside Adventure Co.
- Turtle Central Gift Shop (helps support BHI Conservancy)
- Island Passage
- Coastal Urge
- The Silver Peddler
- Bald Head Blues
- Room Service BHI
- Maritime Market
A special place:
There is something so special and rejuvenating about this island. I love that the whole time I am there, I am fully connected to nature. The island is full of natural beauty not to mention the stunning houses that each hold their own southern charm. It is always so hard to say goodbye to this magical place. If you are looking for the perfect place to take your family for a quiet vacation, Bald Head Island should definitely be at the top of your list!
My family has been going to BHI since I was a little girl. I am still friends with kids (now adults) I met during our summer trips to the island. There is something so special about BHI that makes you want to come back year after year. I truly don’t feel like my summer is complete without a trip to my favorite place.
Now to adjust back to the real world after being on ‘turtle time’ or as my friend’s at Cabana Life call it, ‘on cabana time’.
xoxo,
Kalyn
