The first time I visited Topsail Island, North Carolina I was a ten-year-old girl attending my grandfather’s funeral. Every summer since then, we return to the island to pay our respects to loved ones at our family’s cemetery and visit some relatives in a nearby town. When we aren’t with our family, my parents, friends, and I spend our time in a beach house on the shore. Topsail Island has become my second home and here is a list of things I absolutely love about the island.

1. This pier is a 24/7 fishing post and there are several fish cleaning stations set up all along the pier.

Winds are very high the further you walk on the pier. When you're at the very end you feel like you are in the middle of the ocean staring back at all the beach houses.

2. Sand Dunes

They have palms that grow out of the dunes and look so pretty. However, you don't want to step in them because of the critters and prickly things that reside there.

3. The Sound-side

You can go jet-skiing, fishing for crabs, riding a boat, and watch the sunset on this pretty sound-side.

4. The moon and the billions of stars in the night sky

I was born and raised in a huge city which means that I’ve been surrounded by a whole bunch of bright lights. Coming from a life without stars was the only life I ever knew before coming to North Carolina. I’ll never get over how breathtaking the universe is.

5. Buddy's Crab House and Oyster Bar

This establishment overlooks the ocean so you can enjoy the crash of the waves as you eat a meal or drink at the bar.

6. Dolphins

One trip in December, we saw dozens of wild dolphins in a pack and they jumped out of the water and did flips in the air as the sunrise came. It was something out of a fairy tale.

7. Atlantic Ocean Waves

These waves have knocked me down and twirled me around so many times causing me to get salt water in my nose, eyes, and mouth but I love these waves. Even when the current almost pulled me way out to sea on my little floatie.

8. Military Planes from Camp Lagoon

There is a marine base twenty miles from the island and awesome-looking planes fly over the beach all the time. I always wave and hope that they wave back.

9. Pelicans

Ever since the first time I’ve stepped foot on a beach I loved Pelicans. They remind me of the Terrordactyl dinosaur!

10. Family Reunions

I love having reunions with my family (minus the bugs, of course)!

11. The Turtle Hospital - Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

The Topsail Turtle Project was organized by Karen Beasley, as she saw the need to preserve and protect the sea turtle nests, nesting females and hatchlings on the 26 miles of coastline on Topsail Island.

Turtles!! <3

12. The Draw-bridge

Even though this bridge turned every time we had somewhere important to be, I loved watching the tall yachts cross under neath the bridge.

13. Playing in North Carolina sand

Nothing is more fun than digging a whole in the sand and burying yourself in it.

Until you really want to get out when you realize you have the worst itch imaginable on your nose and you cannot scratch it no matter how hard you try.

14. Finding fossilized shark teeth!!

I've found dozens of shark teeth walking up and down the shore of Topsail Island. It's safe to say it's one of my favorite hobbies. All my friends and family say I have an eagle-eye for them with how easily i find the tiniest of shark teeth.

15. Spending time with my little family

I love being in North Carolina with my beautiful little family. Coming here gives us a chance to step out of our crazy stressful lives for two weeks and enjoy each other's company and mother, mother ocean!