Island Real Estate's Blog

Entering a new year is always a fun and exciting time filled with hope and expectations. We make resolutions to improve certain aspects of our lives and hopefully, we stick to them. Health and fitness are usually on people’s minds this time of year and we hope this list... View the full post »

Christmas traditions are such a fun and exciting way to celebrate the Holidays! With practically endless ideas, there is a Christmas tradition perfect for every family. Your family’s Christmas tradition can be as silly or crazy as you want and if your family doesn’t al... View the full post »

If you are a "beach person" (which you obviously are), odds are pretty good that you hate being cold. You don't like winter. You are probably curled up in a blanket with a hot coffee at this very moment, wishing you could fast forward to warmer days! Alas, we hav... View the full post »

When you think of comfort food, what comes to mind? For those of us here on Topsail Island, it's Southern home cooking. There is no better time to show off our down-home recipes than at Thanksgiving while celebrating with family and friends. You might already hav... View the full post »

Just like standard hotels, cleanliness is very important in the vacation rental industry. Maybe even more so, because in a vacation rental there are usually several bedrooms, plenty of bathrooms and a kitchen to contend with, not to mention the sand and other tidbits... View the full post »

We love fall on Topsail! Not only is the beach still warm and welcoming, but there is plenty to do both on and off the island! These three quick outings are all within an hour's drive of your vacation home on Topsail Island. Whether you prefer a historic plantation... View the full post »

Sometimes you just need a movie night in, even while you are on vacation.Luckily most of our vacation rentals offer Netflix and many have a DVD player if you want to bring movies from home. You can also have a beach-themed movie night in your own house! Spread some b... View the full post »

If the beach is your happy place, you will appreciate the sentiments below. Read on to be inspired and remember why you love vacations at Topsail Beach. Try to catch a ray, no matter where you are. ... View the full post »

How much do you really know about Topsail Island?  You already know that you should pronounce it "Tops'l" instead of "Top-sail". You have heard the rumors about Blackbeard's treasure buried along the coast. You might even know that Topsail Island is consi... View the full post »

** This blog was updated May 2021 for accuracy and content ** Fishing is one of the most popular activities for visitors to Topsail Island.  It’s affordable, fun for all ages, and who doesn’t love an activity tha... View the full post »

There's just something about a Topsail Island vacation rental house. Maybe it's the light, airy rooms or the cool beach decor pieces that you find scattered throughout the home like little treasures waiting to be discovered. Whatever it is, you know that it makes y... View the full post »

Out of all of the stuff you need to pack to ensure a successful day at the beach, the supplies that will most influence the mood of your group are likely to be those of the edible variety. But effectively anticipating the snacking whims of your crew is often an impossible ... View the full post »

One of the very best things about going on vacation are those precious free moments, those moments when no one is calling your name and there's not a chore to be done. Vacations allow us to spend our time enjoying the things that we find most pleasant a... View the full post »

Picnic foods and picnic food recipes should meet three standards. First, the recipe should be easily adapted to make a lot or a little, depending on how many people you're planning to feed. Second, the food should be something that can be easily pulled out and packed a... View the full post »

*** This blog was updated in September 2021 ***Hurricane season. For some, the idea of vacationing along the NC coast during this time of year may induce moments of doubt or uncertainty. After all, North Carolina does rank 3rd overall in number of direct hits by ... View the full post »