Beach Buggy of Topsail Island's 15-passenger chauffeured shuttle bus can be just what you need for a safe night out on the town, a Topsail Island tour, a group outing to a sporting event, a bachelor/bachelorette party or anywhere you and your friends or family might wish to go together. Fully licensed and insured, Beach Buggy of Topsail Island also provides shuttle service to the Wilmington and Jacksonville airports. Call the above number for information or reservations.

Board the Belle of Topsail, a 55-foot replica of an 1880s double-decker riverboat, and cruise the scenic waters of the Intracoastal Waterway and Topsail area sounds. The Belle is a completely outfitted party boat with an open-air top deck, two full bars and an air-conditioned formal dining salon. Join Captain David Luther and First Mate Sharon for either a one-hour sightseeing cruise (adults $12, children 12 and younger $8, children 2 and younger free) or the two-hour Sunset Cruise with heaping platters of heavy hors d’oeuvre and a DJ (adults $25, children 12 and younger $15). The Belle of Topsail sails seven days a week, and reservations are recommended. Call for sailing times.

The Buccaneer offers sightseeing, sunset and party cruises. Sightseeing cruises provide the opportunity to see dolphins, osprey and other wildlife as you cruise by Blackbeard's old hideout. Sunset cruises offer time to relax and view Topsail's spectacular sunsets. Call Captain Dave for cruise times and rates. To guarantee your space, stop at the Topsail Beach Assembly Building dock to purchase tickets in advance.

In 1999 the U.S. Marine Corps instituted a self-guided tour of Camp Lejeune, home of East Coast "expeditionary forces in readiness." The tour was designed to take visitors from pre-Colonial America to the edge of technology on the base that serves the largest single concentration of Marines anywhere in the world. A printed tour guide with map, directions and a complete narrative of the 25 points of interest can be picked up at the Main Gate base entrance on N.C. Highway 24 in Jacksonville. The tour is well-marked by large white signs and can start at any specific point of interest. Depending on how many sites you choose to visit, a tour can range from one or two hours to a half or full day. The tour is free, but can be closed down at any time for security purposes. For more information, call the number above.

Cruise Topsail Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway in Topsail Island's tour boat, Dorothy. With seating for 28 people, this craft offers regularly scheduled daytime and sunset cruises every day from April through September, bringing you a fantastic opportunity to watch dolphins frolicking, ospreys nesting and many other joys of nature. Private charters are available. Call Captain Dave for departure times and rates. No food or drinks are available onboard, but you may bring your own.

While the primary purpose of this all-volunteer facility is the care and rehabilitation of sick and injured sea turtles, the center is open on a limited basis to the public. Visitors can view loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles and perhaps even a rare Kemp's Ridley turtle while learning about the history and the problems each turtle faces. Visitors will also learn about their feeding, treatment and predicted release dates. The center is open during the summer months on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 2 to 4 PM. Due to the popularity and the limited size of this facility, it is best to arrive early. No calls for reservations are accepted. The center is not open to the public at other times of the year, and it may close without notice in the summer for emergencies. Donations are appreciated.

From a beautifully simple Native American dugout canoe to a high-tech Osprey V-22 exhibit, the Missiles and More Museum covers a lot of ground. Kids of all ages will enjoy the pirate exhibit that features the top ten notorious pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard, who once plundered the merchant ships traveling past Topsail Island. Another exhibit is all about Operation Bumblebee, the U.S. Navy's secret guided missile testing program that operated on Topsail Island from 1946 to 1948. Model and original missiles from the project are on display including a full-size Talos guided missile. The Osprey Aircraft exhibit documents the development, design and utilization of the V-22 Osprey Aircraft, the world's first production tilt-rotor aircraft. Since the V-22 is tested at the New River Air Station, they are often seen flying over Topsail. Two audio-visual centers provide tours of the aircraft and provide a history of its development. Visitors will also find a new exhibit on barrier islands. Operated by volunteers, the museum is open Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 PM in the spring and fall and Monday through Saturday from 2 to 4 PM during the summer months. For large groups or off-season visits call the museum to schedule a private showing with a docent.

Lucky vacationers walking on the beach between July and October might spot the signs of a turtle nest about to hatch. Turtle project volunteers prepare the nesting area for the emerging turtles by creating smooth runways in the sand and clearing the area of obstacles. At night, trained volunteers sit by these nests and wait for the actual hatching. When visitors and/or residents come upon a roped-off nest that has been prepared with runways, they are welcome to join volunteers in this awe-inspiring experience. However, survival of the baby turtles requires patience and a willingness to follow instructions on the part of the spectators and participants.

Triple J Stables offers both trail rides and riding lessons. Guided trail rides are offered by appointment and should be reserved at least one day in advance. The stables are open seven days a week, and a summer day camp is also available.

Want to know more about sea turtles? Check out Turtle Talks for an educational and kid-friendly talk on the lifestyle and habits of loggerhead turtles. Learn all about the Topsail Sea Turtle Project and what they do to help this endangered species. Questions are welcomed, and admission is free. No reservations are required. Turtle Talks are held Wednesday afternoons at 4 PM between Memorial Day and Labor Day at the Surf City Recreation Center.