Frankly, I don't go to the beach to shop--- unless it's for fresh seafood. A week at the beach is a time to get away from the rat race. Topsail's a great place for putting your worries behind you, even if there's no Nordstroms or that two of the three top-flight restaurants on the island have closed in the last eighteen months. I go to Topsail on Saturday and, like the rest of my family, am chomping on the bit.

George, have you ever done any shrimping or crabbing while in Topsail? (I mean blue crabs, not ghost crabs; we get plenty of those with our flashlights and nets at night.) Any hints on where to go?

I have crabbed off my parents' house on a canal on the south end of the island. I used a crab trap and chicken gizzards and have caught enough for a little crab boiling for my wife and I. Anywhere on a canal or on the sound would be ideal.

I have never shrimped on the island. Shrimp boats with nets ply the waters offshore. Shrimp can be bought fairly cheaply at the several seafood stores or from people selling direct from their trucks or little stands.

As for seafood stores, I prefer Thomas' just off the island near the swing bridge to Surf City.

Do any of you know if the movie *Loggerheads* was filmed in Topsail? Or at least based on the Turtle Hospital located there?

Also, anyone know the condition of NC RT 24 in terms of time / speed? Still wondering if that *direct* way isn't quicker; anyone know?

We've rented another house that's on the beach, so I'm not sure where we'll have sound access without trespassing on private property. Maybe we'll try the dock area near the boatel in Surf City, if we can peal ourselves off the beach for a while.

Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you're feelng better. Enjoy your vacation, from another ex-PGer.

Let me second Susan Eva with regards to the Riverview restaurant in Snead's Ferry. It's just plain fried Carolina seafood but it is cooked hot and it is plentiful. The hush puppies are great there. Goes down well with a cold beer.

Wanderluster, I am sure if you set your mind to it, you will have a great time. Don't know about you, but I have a high stress corporate job and just being away from the office for a week is relaxing enough. Knowing that it's far to go to restaurants, perhaps you will look at this as an opportunity to re-connect with your cooking skills? Good Luck and hope the weather will be nice for you. Check back with the board and give us a trip report.

Saw the 3/21 posting by Kingfisherqueen regarding "Dr Rootbeer's Hall of Foam" in Sneads Ferry. The drive from Surf City to see the Doc was well worth it. He has an incredible collection of root beer memorbilia on display in a vintge gas station.
As my family and I waited out a rain storm, we enjoyed the Doc's delicious Pot Roast Burger and BBQ sandwich. The kids had the All American hot dogs and wanted seconds.
I've enjoyed many root beer floats through the years, but the Doc's floats are truly the best I've ever tasted. It must be due to his own root beer recipe because I've never even made floats this tasty at home.
The Doc even recommended that we visit other restaurants and shops in Sneads Ferry and told us of several fish houses where we could buy fresh fish and watch the boats unload their harvest from the sea.

George W. thank you for all the nice things you have said about my dad Joe Paliotti. Yes Yogi & I bought a restaurant in Holly Ridge, NC it's called Yogi's Off Island Grille. We have been open for over a year now. We have pretty much the same menu as we did at the Pirates Den & Paliotti's.

Thank you to all who replied to my many, variety of questions.

I wrote most of the following on another Topsail thread, but wanted to add a few things here ---

We recently spent a long weekend at *North* Topsail Island (4 nights over July 4th) and enjoyed it very much. I must admit to being a bit concerned after reading several posts here, but the area is lovely.

We did venture down to Surf City for dinner, and also to the southern end to check out the orgininal Topsail Island. I have to say we much preferred the *North* end. The southern, or original beach area, is similar to many older beach towns, somewhat congested in regards to the cottages - they are all extremely close to one another, with not much (if any) view available to those across the street (which are also very tight.)

We did find some of the cottage names quite charming, as many are named similar to the way boats are named in our marinas.

The *North* end is composed of 1.5 - 2.5 MM oceanfront homes, architecture that reminded us of, for lack of a better description, a cross between Charleston SC and Cape Cod. Absolutely lovely, definitely much more upscale. The North end has very few (if any?) restaurants however, so one must drive to Surf City or Sneads Ferry for dinner.

We stayed at the St. Regis Resort in the North end and were very pleased with it. This was a very last minute reservation, chosen because other NC beach towns were totally sold out.

Our condo seemed to be newly renovated, was spacious, well equipped and had perfect oceanfront views and balcony from the living room and both bedrooms. The resort is clevely designed so each unit faces the ocean and each balcony feels fairly private. The outdoor and indoor pools were both good sizes and the beach was well kept.

We didn't try either restaurants in the resort after reading reviews, but had dinners in Surf City at
-The Crab Pot
-Max's Pizza / Italian Restaurant - NOT the best place to be on JULY 3 when the FIREWORKS are being set off across the street!
-Sears Landing (dined outside by the water)
-Riverview in Sneads Ferry -- by far the best of the four. Their shrimp cocktail, said to be right *off the boat* was the best we've ever had. (and indeed we saw the shrimp boats in the ocean each day).

Shopping and entertainment is a bit lacking but there were a few shops in Surf City that appeased the kids, and we enjoyed their mini-golf one night, also (sorry, can't recall the name). There are a few ice cream places, and we tried Island Delights as well as the ice cream shop connected to the arcade and gift shop. The area could definitely use another few choices!

As long time Hilton Head and Nags Head fans (as well as Myrtle Beach on occasion) we had a delightful weekend and we would probably return. However, we may try Wrightsville Beach before we do.

In addition, we picked up groceries in Hampstead (SP?) to avoid traffic in Surf City. We were surprised to find another Food Lion and CVS just over the intracoastal, which would have been much more convenient, as we headed to Sneads Ferry.

We also stopped at Dr. Root Beer for a float and had a fun conversation with the owner.

Thanks to GeorgeW and the others who gave such good recommendations.

I don't know if this will help anyone, or if anyone will actually read this, but for anyone who is looking for a motel to stay at while vacationing on Topsail, do NOT stay at the Sea Vista Motel, at least until the management changes. The man who runs the motel is one of the most hateful, unfriendly people I've had the displeasure of knowing.
This past June I was there, and it turns out that(After speaking to some of the other "guests" who were staying there) I wasn't the only person who felt this way.
The couple who ran the motel up until 2002 were some of the nicest people I've ever met, and were always eager to help a guest. This current manager is the complete antithesis of what a motel manager should be.
Until a new manager is hired, I will no longer stay at this motel.

On a completely unrelated note, let me offer up some of MY suggestions for terrific restaurants on the island!
Daddy Mac's Sadly, it burned to the ground back in 2005, but is now reopened and better than ever!!!
Cindy's Restaurant - right next door to Daddy Mac's, and has the BEST steak that I have EVER eaten!!
Riverview Cafe - the best seafood on the planet! Stay away from the hush puppies though.. they are ADDICTIVE!
Restaurants to avoid:
Skully's - service is horrible, and they're never open!

Now, with that said, can anyone tell me where the best spot on the island is to go "shelling"
Hope this post was of help to someone!

Yes, the Riverview Cafe was amazing.
The best shrimp any of us have ever had.
Hushpuppies weren't bad either!

Topsail is our favorite beach. Fortunately we have family close by and can visit often. I'm very disappointed to hear that Latitude 34 is closed. I looked forward to their etouffee this summer! Anyone know how to contact the owner? I'd love to get the recipe.

I'm with you, Cindy. The Latitude 34 Etouffe is to die for. I'd like to get the recipe myself.

To Topsaillover... we've had a place on the sound one block up from the Sea Vista all my life and I've seen that place in so many stages! I was shocked to read what you said about the current management as I didn't know Bill and his wife had left. I met them in 2002 or 3 when there was a turtle hatching just south of the motel and Bill was in charge of 'keeping the peace' that evening. Bill was a great person; I'm sorry to hear it didn't work out for him and his wife to run the place. Have any idea what happened? Luckily we've never had to find a room, except last October. Our family no longer has the house on the sound and our neighbor's house was occupied...the nerve of them using their house!! Anyway, we stayed at the Breezeway. The ONLY room available during Autumn with Topsail. If it was just my husband and me, or even just us and our older boys, it wouldn't have been a big deal but our youngest was 18 months but not walking yet so the floor was his playgound. That makes a person look at a hotel room much differntly!! My husband and older boys fished the entire weekend (which was the plan, but I still wanted to go) and the baby and I spent too much time in that room! It's fine for a place to lay your head and take a shower but not for spending your days! I don't need luxury.. I love Topsail (SOUTH ) and simple is the way but I won't be staying there again until the baby is old enough to go fishing !
We just got home from 2 weeks on the island... we ate lots of burgers at the Beach Shop, lots of their hushpuppies, too. And, the Breezeway still has their special hushpuppies. We used to love the Seahorse in Surf City... went every day for at least one meal but now it's Crabby Mike's. Food is still good and prices are good - and the waitresses, especially the ones who were there before the changeover are great but the wait time for your meal is ridiculous. Whether they are busy or not we waited 30-40 min from the time we ordered til we got our food... everytime and we went 3 times the first week. So dissapointing. The Beach Shop (Warren's Soda Shop) has good lunch and dinner but breakfast is so-so and overpriced, in my opinion! I prefer a nice walk on the beach to look for shark teeth in the morning anyway! I'm 38 and still can spend hours just walking a couple of blocks of beach combing for teeth!

enough babbling... I just stumbled across this discussion and had to say something!!

One more thing... have you seen the new book TOPSAIL ISLAND/ MAYBERRY BY THE SEA, by Ray McAllister? great book... you have to get a copy (or 3!)

Just stopping by after some time away. Wanderluster, so glad your family enjoyed North Topsail and St. Regis. We used to stay there when we were building our beach place.

George W - how nice to read the note from the Paliotti family and look forward to trying the new restaurant.

Will be looking for the book you mentioned, Southtopsailgirl.

It is such a pleasure to read everyone's comments and suggestions. Makes me feel like you all are neighbors in spirit.

Sadly, Yogi's closed during the winter of 2007-2008 and the property has been sold. And a Topsail landmark is no more.

George,Its true that I have closed but I havent sold the place yet.Thanks again for all the kind comments on my Family.Maybe we can meet sometime in the future,Yogi

i love topsail island, i've grown up going there (and still have a family get together there every summer). i recommend mollie's as well - i love it! although they seem to have an end-of-summer crunch when the summer staff goes back to college but the season hasn't quite ended. watch out for that.

my favorite thing is watching the sea turtles struggle to make it to the water, and helping the rescuers get them there :) -keep an eye out for the orange tape, that's where the nests are and crowds gather every evening to see if the turtles will show themselves!