Ocean Isle, NC - Please bring me up to date
Sep 18th, 2008, 05:34 AM
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Ocean Isle, NC - Please bring me up to date
We've been looking for deals to go to the beach & finally found one, a condo (on the beach) on Ocean Isle. We typically go to Holden Beach or Oak Island & have not been to OI for a while. I know you used to have to buy groceries in Shallotte. Can anyone bring me utd on recent events, occurances etc., please ?Thx.
Sep 18th, 2008, 12:54 PM
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Our family used to rent one of those single-story elevated ocean front homes a week each summer on OI back in the 70s. I was young, but it seemed like a great, old fashioned family beach then.
I recently returned (when staying on Holden) and couldn't believe the sight as we drove over the bridge. It looked like a low-rise Manhattan, with every square inch from intercoastal to surf filled in with 2-3 story homes. I'm sure that's an exagerated description, but I was shocked at how built up Ocean Isle was - especially compared to Holden.
The beach itself (at least where my friends were staying) was inferior to Holden - steep dropoff, LOTS of shells in the water. But I'm sure that changes between the 2 regularly.
I remember there being more food and drink options than I remember from years ago, but not sure about the grocery situation. I'd be surprised if you had to go all the way to Shallotte for a decent store though.
I recently returned (when staying on Holden) and couldn't believe the sight as we drove over the bridge. It looked like a low-rise Manhattan, with every square inch from intercoastal to surf filled in with 2-3 story homes. I'm sure that's an exagerated description, but I was shocked at how built up Ocean Isle was - especially compared to Holden.
The beach itself (at least where my friends were staying) was inferior to Holden - steep dropoff, LOTS of shells in the water. But I'm sure that changes between the 2 regularly.
I remember there being more food and drink options than I remember from years ago, but not sure about the grocery situation. I'd be surprised if you had to go all the way to Shallotte for a decent store though.
Sep 23rd, 2008, 04:03 AM
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We spent an absolutely wonderful week at OIB in august--our place in Litchfield has been under repair this year. We used to go to OIB 30 years ago, and indeed it is an amazing sight to see the difference. But the plus is that there is NO rinky dink stuff on the beach--same "GrillPier" as our kids called it, some rentals, Sheffield's grocery for the paper, and any little thing you need. An ABC store, and several pretty good restaurants, jet ski rental, etc. The Crab ____ restaurant at the bridge is quite good. NO you do not need to shop in Shallotte. There is an IGA just on the other side of the bridge, and a new Lowe's opening about a mile up the road. Lowe's and Food Lion down on the Sunset Beach road.
Plenty of seafood markets (Ca[tain Jack's) just up the road from the bridge, and a big big farmer's market 4 miles up on Route 17.
The beach has been renourished so it is fairly sharp with shell, but it is WIDE and sloping on the east side (you know the beach runs due east and west!!). We had an absolutely GREAT house with a wonderful gazebo on the beach. Loved being there.
There's a Jamaican restaurant that was pretty good--VERY loud, and you really have to make reservations.
Plenty of seafood markets (Ca[tain Jack's) just up the road from the bridge, and a big big farmer's market 4 miles up on Route 17.
The beach has been renourished so it is fairly sharp with shell, but it is WIDE and sloping on the east side (you know the beach runs due east and west!!). We had an absolutely GREAT house with a wonderful gazebo on the beach. Loved being there.
There's a Jamaican restaurant that was pretty good--VERY loud, and you really have to make reservations.
