History
Legend has it that the name of Topsail Island originated from the 1700s, when pirates would hide behind the island and attack approaching merchants. The merchants finally caught on, and knew to look for the "topsail" of the pirate ships.
Attractions
Topsail Island has the only turtle hospital in North Carolina. Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is a wonderful attraction for families to visit. The Missiles and More Museum has a great deal of artifacts from Operation Bumblebee, which was an observatory set up during World War II. Rockets were assembled and more than 200 were said to have been launched.
Geography
Topsail island is located off Highway 17 in North Carolina, and positioned between Jacksonville and Wilmington. The island can be accessed by a swing bridge. It is occupied by three towns--North Topsail Beach, Surf City and Topsail Beach.
Features
Topsail Island has some of the most beautiful beaches in North Carolina. Surf City, the main town of Topsail Island, has dozen of eateries, serving fresh fish from the coast of North Carolina. In addition to the delicious food, there are surf shops, boutiques and jewelry stores.
Size
According to the Insiders Guide to North Carolina, Topsail Island has 3,500 year-round residents. Many of these people are active members of the community, running the restaurants and stores.
