Hidden Sanctuaries & Gems in Wrightsville Beach, NC

Hidden Beach Escapes

Wrightsville Beach and the surrounding areas are ideal for visitors seeking to retreat to a private island paradise. Only accessible by boat, kayak or canoe, Masonboro Island Reserve is home to the longest undisturbed barrier island ecosystem in southern North Carolina. Serving as a sanctuary for diverse birds, fish, sea turtles and more, the reserve safeguards coastal habitats for long-term research, education and stewardship, giving visitors a firsthand look at pristine examples of barrier island, salt marsh and tidal creek ecosystems.

Epic Excursions offers half- or full-day boat charters for up to six people aboard a spacious catamaran. Enhance your cruise by planning it at sunset, or adding a dining excursion on an uninhabited island. The company also conducts excursions to Mason’s Inlet, known for its clear water and sand bars, and Lea Island, the perfect destination for those who enjoy shelling and spending the day on a secluded beach. Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours offers a variety of charter options to Masonboro Island, including a daily narrated cruise showcasing the natural history and ecology of Wrightsville Beach’s waterways. Take the Island Hopper Cruise offered by Soundside Adventures, which includes stops at Money Island and Masonboro Island and continues with a scenic cruise back to the docks. Alternatively, book a private charter aboard Soundside’s Bella catamaran to customize your island adventure with stops at serene island spots.

A Mysterious Beach Mailbox

Back on Wrightsville Beach, park at the last beach access on the north end of the island and continue northward on foot along the shore, keeping your eyes peeled for a mailbox surrounded by sand and sea oats. Visitors to the Wrightsville Beach Mailbox can write anonymous letters and read through the notes and musings left by others. The mailbox is filled with a constantly evolving collection of romantic poems, prayers for peace, letters to those long gone and more. Here on the north end, the ocean collides with Mason's Inlet, making it a perfect location for shelling or lounging in tidal pools during low tide.

Relaxing Gardens

Tucked away on Wrightsville Beach Park’s west end, Harbor Way Gardens invites visitors to stop and smell the seasonal flowers in bloom. In this quaint garden, rest in the shade on benches set among paved paths and surrounded by large trees. Children can cool off and play in the Children's Fountain. Open year-round, nearby Airlie Gardens is home to more than 67 acres of formal gardens and walking trails, 10 acres of lakes, a majestic 500-year-old oak and hundreds of species of flora and fauna. Wander Airlie Gardens’ paths to find hidden oases and structures, including the Bottle Chapel, Pergola Garden and seasonal Butterfly House.

Sound-Side Haven

Hop aboard a boat, kayak or stand-up paddleboard and explore a different kind of saltwater in Wrightsville Beach’s active sound. Thanks to this unique body of water’s location between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, the waves are calm and the breezes are steady – making it the perfect place to engage both the mind and body. Lessons and equipment rentals are available through local outfitters like Wrightsville SUP, Cape Fear Paddleboarding and Soundside Adventures.