Visiting Nice Places on a Budget: Episode 1, Bald Head Island, NC

Welcome to thriftytravelexperiences.com! I’ve started this blog to share my tips and tricks for traveling to exciting destinations at a fraction of the usual cost. I thank my mom for inspiring my love of travel and for teaching me, by example, how to vacation in nice places on the cheap. In the late 1950’s, after her high school graduation, my mom and three friends jumped in a borrowed Thunderbird and drove from Buffalo, NY to Los Angeles, CA. Considering that her mother, who’d come to the U.S. from Ireland as an infant, never had a driver’s license, this was a big deal at the time.  Mom loved travel so much that, even though camping was not her thing, we went on several family camping trips so we could experience destinations that we couldn’t otherwise afford. 

My first solo trip was at 17 when I missed my high school graduation to spend the summer in France on an exchange program. My only travel cost for 10 weeks was a plane ticket from Buffalo to NYC, and my life was forever changed after that enriching summer living in Conflans St. Honorine and St. Jean de Luz. Ever since, I’ve embarked on regular budget adventures domestically and internationally. In this blog, I’m going to share how you can do this too by being creative, flexible, and adaptive.

I’m kicking off my blog series with a trip that can be done safely during a pandemic, and our first stop is Bald Head Island (BHI), NC. If you’re familiar with BHI, you might wonder about the thrifty part, but bear with me and remember that I spent 10 weeks in France for a couple hundred bucks. If you like to be active outdoors and have miles of beach, marsh, and maritime forest to socially distance, BHI is a great choice.  It’s become very popular this year as a destination to work remotely.

BHI is a 20-minute passenger ferry ride from the quaint town of Southport, about 30 minutes south of Wilmington, NC. I love being on the water, and a sense of calm comes over me the moment I board the ferry.  The ride isn’t cheap at $22 round trip, but the views of the Southport waterfront and Oak Island on the starboard side and intercostal waterway islands on the port side (getting nautical here!) are spectacular and you quickly drift into vacay mode. 

If you’re strategic and stick to your plan, you don’t have to spend much money on BHI beyond lodging because the outdoors is your entertainment. The ferry ticket includes tram transportation to your accommodations as BHI is car free (and carefree!).  Day trippers can rent bikes or golf carts. And, the beach season is long! I’ve gone swimming from May through October.

While many oceanfront homes can rent for $1,200+/night during the summer, if you visit in the off-season and stay in the maritime forest, there are plenty of three bedrooms homes available for as little as $250/night. So, pack up your quarantine pod, split the cost, and cook at home. 

For me, spending time on BHI is about the island experience, not just the beach. Here are my Top Ten no/low cost ways to spend time on this island paradise once you book your rental home and ferry tickets:

1. Kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding in the marsh (and ocean if you’re experienced) – The Creek Access on Federal Road has an easy launch site. If you’re ocean ready, check out South Beach which tends to be more calm. 
2. Walking and running on the 14 miles of beach – Seriously, I walked for 3 miles on East Beach one sunny afternoon this fall and didn’t see another person. Plus, BHI is very dog-friendly and a great place to spend time with your 4-legged friend and save money on pet sitting.
3. Biking the car-free BHI roads and East Beach – Biking on BHI is super chill, and there are lots of options. The maritime forest is shaded by live oaks draped in Spanish moss, the “Wynds” parallel to South Beach offers ocean views, and the harbor sports a range of charming homes and yachts.  One of my favorite activities when low tide and low wind coincide, is to bike from East Beach Access 42 to the Fort Fisher access. I recommend leaving 42 about 30-60 minutes before low tide to allow plenty of time to explore along the way. From the Harbor, this ride is about 14 miles round trip and takes about 2 hours. 
4. Watching an east coast sunset on West or South Beach – What??? Yes, BHI is well situated for sunsets, and I do this almost every night. Early risers can also catch sunrise on East or South Beach. Free!  
5. Visiting the Bald Head Island Conservancy – The BHIC fosters barrier island conservation, education, and preservation. Check out the turtle nests spring through fall! Watching a loggerhead turtle lay a nest on East Beach is one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had! If you’re a college student and want to spend a few months on BHI for free, check out their internships.
6. Surfing on East Beach – Catch the waves on your surfboard or boogie board at Beach Access 42. 
7. Walking the BHI Preserve trails and enjoying the flora and fauna that abound – There are several Nature Trails which offer inside glimpses of this beautiful barrier island on boardwalks and trails.  Birders will delight.
8. Celebrating at a Full Moon Party– The Maritime Market organizes a monthly Full Moon Party which sometimes includes a bagpiper.  To learn more about this and other island activities, sign up for the Maritime Market’s weekly newsletter.
9. Fishing in the surf or on the creek –Try your luck along any of the beaches, at Shoals Point, or at Creek Access. Anyone 16 or older must hold a NC Coastal Recreational Fishing License. 
10. Relaxing at your rental home – Sometimes it’s nice just to sit on your deck or screened-in porch and read, chat with friends and family, or listen to the island sounds.

These ten activities can be free or cheap if you bring your own gear or rent a house that includes what you need. If you bring over a bike or kayak, each large item will be charged the cost of a ferry ticket. Surfboards and inflatable kayaks/paddleboards can be carried on for free. Kayaks, paddle boards, bikes, and golf carts can also be rented at Riverside Adventures.

If you’re willing to spend some cash, the Old Baldy Lighthouse ($8 pp) offers excellent views of the barrier island and beyond and has an informative little museum. During normal times, the Bald Head Island Conservancy offers a range of programming for all ages.  They also host weekly Turtle Trot 5K runs during the summer and on holiday weekends.  There are a limited number of restaurants for dining or takeout, and the Maritime Market is a full-service grocery. There are two Clubs on the island, and temporary memberships for pools, dining, golf, tennis, fitness center, and croquet can be purchased through some rental properties.  

So, think about how much you’ll save vacationing on this beautiful island with endless free activities and checkout some off-season rates!