We wanted to keep this beach getaway from Charlotte hush-hush. Then we gave in
What are you supposed to do when it’s so hot in Charlotte that you feel like you’re melting just walking the dog?
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Head to the water.
North Carolina and South Carolina are packed with great beach destinations. The Outer Banks and Hilton Head are famous for a reason, but for years friends kept telling us there was one beach we needed to experience: Holden Beach.
We seriously considered keeping this one to ourselves. After spending a week there, though, we decided a place this special deserves a little recognition.
About 200 miles from uptown Charlotte — a drive of just 3½ hours — Holden Beach feels like a step back to a slower era of beach vacations.
There are no high-rise hotels lining the shore. Instead, you’ll find rental homes, quiet streets, three restaurants on the island, a coffee shop, a pair of ice cream shops and a small beach market.
If you want to stay on the island, you’ll need to rent a house through one of the local vacation rental companies or a national booking site. Most rentals run Saturday to Saturday, making it easy to settle into beach life for a full week.
The biggest draw is the beach itself.
Holden Beach stretches for roughly 8 miles, and even during Fourth of July week — arguably the busiest week of the year — it never felt overcrowded. Families spread out beneath colorful Shibumi Shades, kids chased ghost crabs at sunset and there always seemed to be another quiet stretch of sand waiting for you.
The town has embraced a slower pace. It’s peaceful, family friendly and refreshingly free from the crowds you’ll find at many other coastal destinations. Even our dog appreciated the trip. Holden Beach prohibits fireworks, so instead of spending the holiday hiding from explosions, he relaxed right along with us.
One of our favorite traditions each evening was admiring the names hanging outside the beach houses. Nearly every home has its own personality, and every night at dinner we’d debate what we’d name our own if we ever bought one.
Part of Holden Beach’s charm is that many of the original cottages still remain alongside newer homes, giving the island plenty of character without feeling overdeveloped.
When you want a break from the sand, there’s still plenty to do nearby.
Just across the bridge in Supply, you’ll find everything you’d expect from a beach town, including miniature golf, waterslides, pizza, ice cream and grocery stores — all within about five minutes.
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Golfers should make time for a round at Lockwood Folly Country Club, where the finishing hole runs along the Intracoastal Waterway and delivers one of the prettiest closing views you’ll find on a public course in North Carolina.
If you’re craving a livelier atmosphere, Ocean Isle Beach is only a short drive away and offers more restaurants, entertainment and beach-town energy before you can retreat back to Holden’s quieter shores.
Fishing enthusiasts have plenty of options, as well. Surf fishing is popular, but we opted for an offshore charter with Captain Kevin of Rigged and Ready Charters. It turned into the best day of fishing we’ve ever had. Thanks to his local knowledge and seemingly endless collection of productive spots, we reeled in mahi, grouper, amberjack and countless red snapper that were carefully released.
Of course, no beach vacation is complete without seafood.
Our favorite meal of the week came at Provision Company in nearby Supply, a casual waterfront spot overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway that you can reach by both car and boat. The setup is part of the fun. Order at the counter, grab a cold drink while you wait and settle in for dinner with a waterfront view.
The laid-back atmosphere reminded us of some of the classic waterfront bars in the Florida Keys, right down to the dollar bills covering the ceiling.
Drinks operate on the honor system, so just remember how many your group grabs from the cooler. The food arrives on paper plates, the seafood is fresh and the views are hard to beat. We enjoyed it so much we came back later in the week to order even more of the menu.
There are beach vacations where every day is packed with activities.
Then there are places like Holden Beach, where slowing down becomes the highlight of the trip.
Three and a half hours after leaving Charlotte, we found ourselves trading traffic for ocean breezes, crowded schedules for quiet mornings and endless notifications for the sound of waves.
By the end of the week, we weren’t talking about whether we’d return. We were still trying to decide what we’d name our beach house someday.
Stay: Vacation rental on Holden Beach
Eat: Provision Company
Fish: Rigged and Ready Charters
Play: Lockwood Folly Country Club
Nearby: Ocean Isle Beach
Tristan Graziano, a Weddington High School student, enjoys golfing in his free time and hanging with his friends. Tristan can be reached on Instagram @tristan_graz03 and @tristanscoops. Jamie Graziano, aka The GrazFather, is a dad who dreams of starting his food review and travel website TheGrazFather.com. Jamie can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @thegrazfather.
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