From sunrises and seafood to swimming, surfing, and kayaking ... it's not hard to have a perfect day at Sandbridge Beach. However, it never hurts to have a plan. Here's our idea of the best way to spend a day on Sandbridge.
Sunrises on Sandbridge Beach are spectacular. The sun comes up early in the summer — just after 6 a.m., but this sunrise is worth getting up for. If you don't want to set the alarm on vacation, sleep with your blinds open and get up as the sky begins to lighten. Grab your coffee and walk to the beach to watch the show.
Reward yourself for rising at the crack of dawn with a hearty (or light) breakfast from Baja Coffee. The shop is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday (with shorter hours on the weekend), and is located just a short drive from the fishing pier. Treat yourself to a hazelnut latte, a breakfast wrap, panini, a fresh-fruit smoothie, or even biscuits and gravy. Baja's coffee comes from Kill Devil Coffee Roasters in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The beans come from small independent farmers who are focused on sustainability and organic growing methods. This is the most delicious small-batch coffee you'll find, so you may want to linger for a second cup.
After breakfast, it's time to get moving with a False Cape bike tour. The bike tour is a popular activity for Surf & Adventure Co. Meet at Little Island Pier for a 10 a.m. start on one of two tours. You can either bike the semi-paved roads in False Cape State Park or rent a fat-tire sand bike and cruise the beach. Tour the interior roads, and you'll pedal through high dunes and diverse ecosystems. Of the two tours, this is the least strenuous. Keep an eye out for critters such as deer, foxes, birds, and wild pigs. The beach tour will take you east of the dunes across pristine, undeveloped beaches. You may see dolphin and seabirds starting their day too.
Check out the other tours offered by Surf & Adventure Co. if you're feeling in the mood for kayaking or paddleboarding!
After lunch, it's time for a little shopping at Sandpiper Beach Shop. This cute store is the best place to find the ultimate Sandbridge Beach souvenir. You'll also find beach clothing for the whole family, sun hats, beach toys, sunblock, games, beach-themed home décor, and more.
Little Island Park is a 122-acre beach park north of Back Bay Wildlife Refuge. The park features a massive 775-foot pier that stretches out into the Atlantic Ocean. Bring your pole and your fishing license and try your hand at landing a bluefish, drum, or Atlantic mackerel. If you're not an angler, there's much more to do here. The gentle waves are just right for swimming, surfing, or learning to surf. There are Pickleball courts, tennis and basketball courts, volleyball and beach volleyball courts, a playground, restrooms, concessions, vending machines, and a canoe and kayak launch. Didn't bring your gear? Don't worry. You can rent badminton equipment, sports balls, corn hole boards and bags, Frisbees, and volleyball equipment. You can also borrow beach wheelchairs on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cap your perfect day with Blue Pete's Sunset Dinner Kayak Tour, a lovely one-way journey through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge to Blue Pete's restaurant. First, you'll kayak through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, enjoying the breathtaking scenery before landing at the restaurant. Blue Pete's is one of the most popular restaurants in Sandbridge Beach, and for a good reason. Relax over a dinner of fresh seafood or steak, and when you're ready to return, Surf & Adventure Co will take you (and your kayak) back to the store. No experience is necessary. Whether you follow our plan for a perfect day or make your own, you're sure to create lasting memories on your Sandbridge Beach vacation.
