Bald Head Island

Bald Head Island is the southernmost of North Carolina’s cape islands, and the northernmost semitropical environment on the East Coast. Access to the island is by passenger ferry or private boat, and travel on the island is by electric cart. With 10,000 of Bald Head Island’s 12,000 total acres set aside as nature preserves, choosing which environment to explore first can be a tough decision. Ocean beaches stretch for 14 miles, while tidal creeks, perfect for paddling a kayak or canoe, traverse the salt marsh. The maritime forest, with its miles of walking trails, beckons hikers with an enchanting mix of palms, live oaks and dogwoods. While nature takes top billing here, several clubs add another recreational dimension. The Bald Head Island Club golf course has earned top accolades from Golf Digest and Travel & Leisure Golf for quality of play and environmental sensitivity. Along with golf, the club offers tennis, swimming, croquet and excellent fine and casual dining. The island’s family-friendly Shoals Club overlooks the magnificent point of Cape Fear. Complementing the club’s dramatic views are fine and casual dining, swimming pools, locker rooms, and a host of recreational programs for all ages and interests. A 10-acre marina rounds out the island’s recreational amenities, accommodating vessels up to 100 feet. Residences here range from cozy to spacious, quaint to grand, but all incorporate deep porches, long roof overhangs and traditional wood materials that have marked beach homes in this part of the world for centuries. Visit www.baldheadisland.com to learn more.