4 Days in Brunswick Islands: An Itinerary for Romantics

Unspoiled beaches, a magic mailbox, and film locations

I am a person fueled by romance, and I've spent my whole life watching romantic movies and reading books centered around love, so when North Carolina's Brunswick Islands reached out to work together on an itinerary, I jumped at the chance! This area isn't just charming, it inspired an entire Nicholas Sparks novel and served as the backdrop for films and series like Safe Haven, A Walk to Remember, Dawson's Creek, and The Summer I Turned Pretty.

My goal for this trip was to immerse myself so completely in this storybook setting that I would feel like the main character in my own romantic movie. Here's the exact itinerary I followed to turn that dream into reality over four magical days.

The Logistics

Getting There (from Atlanta): NC's Brunswick Islands are a 6-hour drive from Atlanta or a little over an hour flight into Myrtle Beach or Wilmington, plus an hour drive. I flew into Myrtle Beach, which was surprisingly effortless. It's a smaller airport that makes everything simple. I checked the time stamp on my pictures, and from exiting the plane to sitting in my rental car, it took just 11 minutes! For anyone hesitant about the airport-to-rental-car process, don't be -- it was my first time, and it couldn't have been easier.

Accommodations: Since the Brunswick Islands stretch about an hour from end to end, I split my stay between two locations: one night on Sunset Beach and two nights in Southport. This allowed me to fully experience each area without having to drive back and forth. If you have more time, you can easily spend longer in one location or even add a ferry trip to Bald Head Island.

*Disclosure: This content was created in partnership with North Carolina's Brunswick Islands -- as always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting this page!

Exploring Southport, Yacht Basin, and the Kindred Spirit Mailbox

DAY ONE: Calabash & Sunset Beach

Mid-Day: Visit the Seafood Capital of the World

En route from the airport to my first hotel, I made a must-do stop in Calabash, the "Seafood Capital of the World," to try the famous Calabash-style seafood -- lightly battered and perfectly fried. I was immediately drawn to the Waterfront Seafood Shack (9945 Nance St., Calabash), where everything except the king crab is caught locally by boats moored right at their dock. They also operate a seafood market on the property that supplies both the restaurant and residents.

Just a few feet away, you'll also find the Oyster Pit at The Oyster Rock (9931 Nance St., Calabash), another restaurant and great spot on the dock for a drink.

Before heading back on the road, I made a pitstop at Callahan's of Calabash (9973 Beach Dr SW, Calabash), a massive (35,000+ square feet!) building with souvenirs, Christmas decorations, and more.

The Oyster Pit at The Oyster Rock, Calabash-Style clams, and Callahan's of Calabash.

Afternoon: Sweet Treats & Check-In

With time to spare before check-in, I grabbed some ice cream from MooTown Ice Cream (101 Shoreline Dr W #2, Sunset Beach) and walked across the street to Sunset Beach Town Park (206 Sunset Blvd N, Sunset Beach) which has beautiful views, benches, and paths to stretch your legs.

Just over the bridge from the park was my home for the night, Sunset Inn Bed & Breakfast: (9 E N Shore Dr, Sunset Beach), a beautiful marshfront inn located steps from the beach with private screened-in porches, cozy rooms, and a thoughtful continental breakfast.

Evening: Sunset Beach & Dinner

Of course, you can't visit Sunset Beach without watching the sunset, so after a short rest in my room, I headed to the beach. For a $1 (cash only) fee, you can walk the Sunset Beach Fishing Pier, and it's absolutely worth it for the incredible panoramic views.

What makes this beach truly special is that it's one of the rare spots on the East Coast where you can actually see both sunrise and sunset from the same location -- thanks to its unique south-facing orientation. This magical phenomenon is especially spectacular from fall through winter when the sun's path creates the perfect alignment.

TIP: Just outside the entrance, keep your eyes open for the Wind Phone -- a quiet place where visitors can leave messages for loved ones who have passed. I wrote a letter for my friend who I think of and miss all the time, but especially when I'm by the sea.

Under the pier, where you can see both the sunrise and sunset on the same beach, and the wind phone.

I was full from lunch, so I skipped dinner, but had I been hungry, I would have tried Bill's Seafood (10 Sunset Blvd N, Sunset Beach) right across the bridge and adjacent to Sunset Beach Town Park. I heard music playing from there while I was at the park, and it seemed like a great spot!

DAY TWO: Kindred Spirits & Southport Charm

Morning: The Kindred Spirit Mailbox

On Bird Island, there's a magical mailbox called the Kindred Spirit Mailbox where visitors from around the world leave notes sharing their thoughts, dreams, and reflections, and it was the inspiration behind Nicholas Sparks' novel Every Breath.

I rented a bike from Julie's Bikes (424 Sunset Blvd, Sunset Beach) for $10/hour or $25/day and made the two-mile journey down the beach. The bike ride took me about 20 minutes one-way.

TIP: Check the tide schedule and go at low tide—high tides can make the journey difficult (maybe even impossible).

The mailbox sits nestled between dunes on what is the last undeveloped barrier island in Brunswick County. Reading through the notebooks people had filled with their stories, wishes, and memories was incredibly moving. I stayed longer than I had planned.

TIPS:

• Start from the 40th Street public beach access point

• Facing the water, turn right and head down the beach (away from the pier)

• Travel only during low tide

• After about 1.5-2 miles, look for driftwood shaped like a camel or a flag (the flag was not there when I visited)

• Find two wooden benches in the dunes—the mailbox sits between them

• If you reach the jetty, you've gone too far

Afternoon: Coastal Lunch & Sightseeing

Since I left for my bike ride so early in the morning, I was able to make it back to the inn in time for coffee and breakfast, and a little downtime before heading to Southport.

On the way to Southport, I drove to Holden Beach's Provision Company (1343 Cedar Landing Rd SW, Supply), a hidden gem located at the end of a marina and overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. I grabbed their famous fresh shrimp burger and really enjoyed the atmosphere and food there!

And because I can't resist a Nicholas Sparks filming location, I made a detour to Caswell Beach, which served as Ruth's family vacation spot in The Longest Ride. If you go, make sure to check out the Oak Island Lighthouse as well.

Provisions Company, overlooking the marina, and Oak Island lighthouse.

Late Afternoon/Evening: Welcome to Southport

I rolled into Southport and made a beeline for Spike's Dairy Bar (201 N Howe St, Southport). I got a very generous "single" scoop of one of their homemade daily specials (coconut and strawberry) and enjoyed it while taking a stroll around the block past beautiful Victorian homes, including The Christmas House which sells everything from (you guessed it) Christmas decorations to salt water taffy!

Across from the ice cream shop, you'll find Franklin Park, which has the anchor Pacey stands on in the Dawson's Creek intro credits—a must for TV fans!

Strolling the neighborhood, Spike's Dairy Bar, and the Christmas House.

Next, it was time to check into The Carriage House (209 E Moore St, Southport), a brand-new boutique property in the heart of Southport. The owners here have thought of everything: dietary-friendly breakfast options, complimentary bikes (loved this!), a nightly happy hour, and even pet-friendly policies. It's an absolute gem, and in the perfect location for exploring Southport!

I stretched my legs and headed down to Fishy Fishy for dinner. Located in the yacht basin area (also a Dawson's Creek filming location), this restaurant is so good that I ended up eating there twice. Don't miss the shrimp and grits.

Right next door is The Mullet Bar, home to some of the best views in town and the friendliest place to grab a drink and watch the boats sail by.

TIP: Because the Mullet Bar doesn't serve food, this is considered a "private club," but a yearly membership will only set you back $2. This is also true of American Fish Company.

Fishy Fishy, shrimp and grits, and The Mullet Bar.

DAY THREE: Exploring Southport + Filming Locations

Morning & Afternoon: Coffee & Exploring

I grabbed an adorable blue beach cruiser (shout out to The Carriage House for the free bikes!) and fully committed to pretending I was in my own movie. Not only did it work, it's one of the best days I've had in recent memory.

I started at Southport Coffee Company (130 E Moore St, Southport). Located across from the inn, this spot was the general store in Safe Haven and made a festive cameo in Season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty, all decked out for Christmas.

Right next to the coffee shop is the Southport Museum and Visitor Center (free admission), where you'll find an exhibit celebrating all the shows filmed in the area. You can also grab a free map with the exact filming locations.

TIP: Watch Safe Haven before your trip -- it makes the self-guided tour so much more fun!

Here’s the thing... you can track down every filming location, but the real magic of Southport is that all of it feels like a movie. It's not just one particular spot, it's the entire essence of the town. I spent a while focused on hitting specific places, but honestly? You don't need to. Just being here gives you that movie feeling.

For example, twice I biked past a house and stopped to admire it, only to find out later it was used in a film. The first was the Northrup House (229 N. Caswell Avenue) featured in Crimes of the Heart, and the second was the Brunswick Inn (301 East Bay Street), which was the boarding house in Summer Catch and Halle Berry's house in Wedding.

The Northrup House and Brunswick Inn

Here were some of my favorite filming locations:

• Southport Coffee Company (130 E Moore St, Southport) -- The general store in Safe Haven. It also made a cameo in Season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty.

• Old Yacht Basin -- Home to Pacey's boat, "Ivan's" (really American Fish Company, 150 Yacht Basin Dr.), where Julianne Hough's character worked in Safe Haven, and Josh Duhamel's character's house at 410 Brunswick St.

• Bay Street -- Featured in Dawson's Creek, the "Welcome to Cousins Beach" sign from The Summer I Turned Pretty was here, and it's where Julianne Hough's character first arrives in town in Safe Haven.

• The Riverwalk Gazebo (500 W Brunswick Street) - Iconic scene from A Walk to Remember

• Franklin Square Park (130 E West St.) - location of Pacey's anchor

  
  

For more helpful resources, check out this article.

Riverwalk Gazebo from A Walk to Remember, the house from Safe Haven, and "Ivan's" also from Safe Haven.

Evening: Dinner and a Sunset Cruise

I was told I couldn't leave without trying the mahi mahi bites at Fishy Fishy, and since my previous meal was so delicious, I had to go back. There are several restaurants in the yacht basin area, and it feels like you can't go wrong no matter where you choose.

Whatever you do, make sure to book a Sunset Cruise with Southport Water Tours! This was a highlight of my trip and a great value at $35. Not only did we get to see the sunset over the town of Southport, but we saw a pod of dolphins (including a baby!), and an island bird sanctuary.

TIP: Make sure to book this in advance and to arrive early if you want a seat along the edge of the boat for the best view!

To end the night, I popped into Moore Street Oyster Bar, just a block from the hotel. Several locals recommended it, and it's open late -- perfect for a post-cruise snack or nightcap before turning in.

DAY FOUR: Farewell (For Now)

My last morning started with a light breakfast at the Carriage House Inn, followed by one final stop at City Pier to soak in the Cape Fear River views. Checkout was at 11 a.m., but I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to the Brunswick Islands just yet.

So, I decided to see if there were any coffee shops on the beach, and boy, did I hit the jackpot with Ruby's Coffeehouse (705 Ocean Dr, Oak Island) on Oak Island. This spot might just have the best coffee shop location I've ever seen: right at the entrance to a fishing pier, with the ocean steps away, and conveniently next to Koko Cabana. Naturally, I stopped in for fish tacos...for research, of course.

Go here. Grab a bite, people-watch the beach volleyball games, and sip an iced coffee while staring at the ocean. It'll make leaving harder, but it's absolutely worth it.

Koko Cabana, fish tacos, and a brew from Ruby's to go.

I used the North Carolina Brunswick Islands website to help plan my trip. There is so much more to do here, so use the above as a starting point and be sure to check out their website to tailor the itinerary to your interests!

And, as always, drop me a line if you have any questions!

A huge thank-you to NC's Brunswick Islands for sponsoring this trip! I can't wait to return!

xoKerry