Moondance is located on Island Drive, in the town of North Topsail Beach, on Topsail Island -- a 26-mile long barrier island located between Wilmington NC (35 miles south) and Jacksonville NC (20 miles north).
There are three towns on Topsail Island:
Surf City (middle) est. 1948
Topsail Beach (southern) est. 1963
North Topsail Beach (northern) est. 1990
Two bridges access the island. A swing bridge in Surf City, and a high-rise bridge that connects North Topsail Beach to the mainland (Sneads Ferry area).
There is a single major north/south road running the entire length of the island for around 21.5 miles, with side streets to the ocean and/or to the Intracoastal Waterway. Occasionally there is a road that parallels the major north/south road on wider areas of the island.
There is a wonderful book by Ray McAllister on the history of the island called Topsail Island: Mayberry By The Sea. Visit their website for more information.
Moondance is close to a lot of diverse activities in and around North Topsail Beach. You are just minutes away from a Golf Digest 4-star rated golf course, Triple J Stables, Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, Fishing Charters, City Parks, Historic Wilmington, Battleship North Carolina, Airlie Gardens, Duplin Winery, North Carolina Aquarium, and a lot more.
Nights in Rodanthe, A Warner Brothers release, starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, was filmed a mile north up the beach from Moondance(released Sep 26, 2008).
Commercial Airports:
ILM - 60 minutes - Wilmington, NC
OAJ - 40 minutes - Jacksonville, NC
ISO - 64 minutes - Kinston, NC - Allegiant Air
RDU - 2 hr 45 min - Raleigh, NC - by interstate I-40
MYR - 2 hr 35 min - Myrtle Beach, SC
CLT - 5 hours - Charlotte, NC - major international hub
Airports for Private Planes and Jets:
OAJ - 30 miles - Jacksonville NC
ILM - 42 miles - Wilmington, NC
DPL - 55 miles - Duplin County airport in Kenansville, NC
EWN - 60 miles - Craven County Regional airport in New Bern, NC
ISO - 69 miles - Kinston Regional Jetport At Stallings Field in Kinston, NC
ATTRACTIONS IN THE AREA:
Historic Wilmington
Missiles and More Museum
720 Channel Boulevard
Topsail Beach, NC 28445
Battleship North Carolina
1 Battleship Road
Wilmington, NC 28401
EUE Screen Gems Studios
1223 North 23rd Street
Wilmington, NC 28405
Cape Fear Museum
of History and Science
814 Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Poplar Grove Plantation
10200 US Highway 17
Wilmington, NC 28411
Sea Turtle Hospital
PO Box 3012
822 Carolina Blvd
Topsail Beach, NC 28445
Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
Aquariums:
Fort Fisher Aquarium - Kure Beach NC
North Carolina Aquarium - Pine Knoll Shores NC
GOLF
North Shore Country Club
101 North Shore Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
4 minutes - 2.53 miles
North Shore is among the best-conditioned courses in the Topsail Island area, with a four-star rating from Golf Digest -- the only coastal Carolina 4-Star golf course as rated by Golf Digest and located just two miles from Moondance.
Greens fees, including a cart, range from $40 to $60, and reservations can be made up to a year in advance with a credit card. A reservation of less than two days in advance doesn't require a credit card. Driving range, putting green, professional lessons, club repairs and custom fitting are available. A clubhouse, bar and snack bar are on the premises.
There are 4 other golf courses close by:
1. Belvedere Golf & Country Club
2368 Country Club Dr
Hampstead, NC 28443
29 minutes - 22.40 miles
2. Topsail Greens Golf Club
1040 Topsail Greens Dr
Hampstead, NC 28443
28 minutes - 21.45 miles
3. Olde Point Golf & Country Club
513 Country Club Dr
Hampstead, NC 28443
30 minutes - 23.63 miles
4. Rock Creek Golf & Country Club
308 Country Club Blvd
Jacksonville, NC 28540
40 minutes - 32.09 miles