I've always had a love affair with water. When we think about New York, we tend to think about tall…read morebuildings and no green space, but 15 minutes from my house in the Bronx, was the Atlantic Ocean and Orchard Beach. This beach was free, and just a bus fare or car ride away. Some of my favorite memories as a child are my mother and grandmother filling a scotch plaid cooler that they got with their plaid stamps, with hard boiled eggs and grapes and bread and drinks and plums and salt and cookies. I can see my mom and grandma now in their one piece bathing suits, sun hats and sunglasses enjoying the freedom that we all got getting out of our apartment in the Bronx and feeling that beautiful ocean air and getting in that water. I remember fondly as a teenager heading over to the Shorehaven Beach club which was an inexpensive way for families like mine to join some kind of club where we could have access to a pool and sports facilities, etc. I have great memories of making lots of friends and enjoying many a summer day playing paddle ball, watching the entertainment and eating my cantaloupe and cottage cheese to stay slim Now, years later, I'm happy to say that I am a homeowner on Oak island. What a charming little beachside town. No high-rise hotels, no major thoroughfares running through it and lots of family-owned businesses. I really like it. Once a year, my best friend from third grade, Amy, and her family come down from Riverdale in the Bronx and Baltimore, and my kids come down and we spread a glorious week at the beach. This year they rented an oceanfront house just a few blocks from mine that had a pool! Boy, was that a game changer! We had the best time sitting under the shaded porch on the back and cooling off in that luscious pool. For Mark and Amy's anniversary, we decided to take an hour boat ride out of Southport that travels through the intracoastal waterway and surrounding areas such as Bald Head Island and Southport. We got tix to Southport Boat Rentals. I thought the entire experience was a big winner. It's 20 bucks for adults and $10 for kids, and you get a full hour. Access to the boat was very easy. It's literally right across the street from Flavas ice cream by Provisions in Southport. We each had plenty of room to sit and we were a large crowd of 18. I wish the seats had backs to them, but that's just me talking like an old man. Overall, the seats were cushioned and comfortable. It was the perfect time of day to go as Erik had mentioned. With it being 1pm in the afternoon, the sun was overhead, and since the boat is covered, we were in the shade the entire time and enjoyed the beautiful breeze from the water. It was so exciting when we saw dolphins playing in front of us and fascinating to see parts of the surrounding area we had never seen before. I want to commend the two young men that ran this boat. I wish I remembered their names. One was very attentive to our getting on and off securely and in enjoying our trip. A special shout out to the young man who drove the boat and was our guide. He was knowledgeable, interesting, a good public speaker with a clear voice friendly and quite impressive for a young man of his age. He has a future! Some of our kids said they were bored, but I just think it's kids not being used to turning off all the electronics and just taking in the beauty of the world around us. Underneath their resistance to embrace nature and quiet, I think they really liked it. We returned back to shore without a hitch and it felt like a nice full hour with a lot of cool information shared with us. Once again, the staff was very helpful in getting us off the boat and onto land. Mark and Amy topped off the afternoon with treating each of us to whatever we wanted at Flavas across the street. Who am I to refuse a waffle cone with coffee ice cream and sprinkles? I would highly recommend anyone in the Southport Oak Island area to take this cruise with Southport Boat Rentals. Seeing everything from the water will give you a brand new perspective of your magnificent surroundings and how blessed we are that we can enjoy such wonderful gifts of nature and the beauty of the water in NC. Enjoy!

We arrived in Southport too late for a beach day, so we decided to explore the market and booked a…read more6 pm cruise. Such a great decision - overcast weather and beautiful scenery. Our guide was knowledgeable and gave us all types of insider tid bits, not just the run of the mill tour info and history. It lasted about an hour, and again, our amazing guide was accommodating and chased a few dolphins so the kids on board could see them. Another plus- you're allowed to bring drinks on board and there's a few bars nearby to grab and board. Overall, pricing is great and hospitality is even better. Definitely treat yourself on a slow day in Southport or post-dinner cruise.

Great experience renting from Mr. Beach Rentals! First time ever renting a kayak and stand up…read morepaddle board so I called their office to book. Everyone was super helpful over the phone and were more than willing to answer all my questions. Delivery/drop off was easy, paddles, boards, and lifejackets were at our rental house by the time we arrived. Equipment was in great condition, clean, and ready to go. Whenever we're in Holden Beach again we will be renting through Mr. Beach, thanks!

Delivery and pick up were on time! The employees were incredibly kind and made sure everyone was…read morecomfortable with their kayaks and that the seats were adjusted properly. They gave suggestions on where to paddle, and tips on the current. Would definitely use them again!

Years later and we're still using PIR!! It's saves us from hauling chairs and setting up umbrellas…read more It's up and ready when we get there and take em away when we're done. They drive down the beach from time to time if you need help or want something extra. Or you can call and they're there within 10minutes or less. I highly recommend using them for your beach vacation whether it's for a day or longer. They're always nice and accommodating. Thank you for making our family vacations that much easier!

I've used this company for the past six years to rent two umbrellas and four chairs for a week. I…read morewas happy with the service most years. This year I paid nearly $300, but they failed to deliver them on 3 out of 5 days. I had to call and track down the owners each morning just to get the equipment I'd already paid for. I'll be using another company next year. Do not recommend.

Great time with Captain Steve. Brought my 4 kids and he was great, patient and safe…read more Everyone caught a fish--by far a great value.

Had a great day out on the open water with Captain Rob. Caught some dinner and made some new…read morefriends. Highly recommend!

We've stayed at several Safe Harbor marinas up and down the East Coast -- Blue Water, Solomons…read moreIsland, and Charleston, to name a few -- and have always had excellent experiences. Unfortunately, Safe Harbor South Harbor Village was the complete opposite and left us absolutely shocked by the lack of professionalism and hospitality. Several days before arriving, I called ahead to ask if they had a "pay to use the facilities" option for anchoring vessels -- something other Safe Harbor locations handle courteously. The dockmaster was polite, helpful, and said it wouldn't be a problem; we just needed to "take care of the dock hands" and could use the showers and laundry. When we arrived, everything seemed fine. We gave a gratuity, received a fob, and went to use the facilities. Moments later, we were confronted by an angry man who claimed to be the general manager, demanding to know what we were doing and accusing us of trespassing. His tone was hostile and accusatory from the start -- no attempt to understand, no professionalism. He even threatened to fire the dockmaster who had helped us and spoke condescendingly to my wife in front of other guests. Completely disgusted, we returned the fob and left immediately. We called Morningstar Marina just down the ICW and were treated with warmth, respect, and genuine hospitality -- everything this location lacked. It's a shame, because Safe Harbor's brand has always represented consistency and courtesy. But until corporate addresses the toxic management at South Harbor Village, we'll be taking our business -- and our recommendation -- elsewhere.

Dates: July 26 - 29 LOA: 48' Beam: 15' Draft: 3'4"…read more Nice, well cared for marina. The staff is all very nice, helpful, and accommodating. Be warned there is a strong current when coming around the fuel dock to the inside of the marina for the slips. We managed with twin screws, but slack tide would be much easier. The dock hands warned us to come around at a 45 degree angle to avoid a shoaling at low tide. Pump out is at the fuel dock, so plan on doing so as you come or go. Two great restaurants on location to choose from - a "big deck" energy bar and grill, and a quaint Italian restaurant that is only open for dinner. Both are worth stopping at. Uber is not available in this small town and the marina is far from everything. The dock office has a list of taxi companies to try if you are needing to head into town at all. While we were there, the mens room was having the floor redone, so men were having to wait in line for the handicapped / family restroom to shower on shore. The women's room had two stalls and a shower and was very nice. We didn't use the laundry but they do have it on site.

If you want to see the beach from a different perspective, I highly recommend a tour on the inland…read morewaterway side with Tour H2O. Yesterday was our second tour with them and definitely won't be our last! Capt. Jon "Koozie" was a great guide. He made the trip interesting with the history and anecdotes he shared. They have a variety of tours to choose from, and you also choose the length of your trip. Do it! You won't be disappointed.

We were sad not to get much wildlife seen today, but it was a pleasant conversation and pleasant…read moreride. The captain was very accommodating to my dog.

Professional beach chairs and umbrellas rental place. They set the beach chairs and umbrellas for…read moreus. The crew is very attentive and courteous. Friendly, good prices clean. Highly recommended!

I've known Tony many years, so he was my first choice in helping me recently with a stand-up paddle…read moreboard. He talked to me about options, gave advice, and recommended what would be the best fit to make some memories on the water! He is honest, caring, and hardworking to help deliver the best experience for you on Pleasure Island. If you are visiting, or live in the area, he can help tailor your rentals. From relaxing on the beach (chairs & umbrellas), to making your stay more enjoyable off of it (bike rentals to cruise the boardwalk!)-he has it all. Tony has a wealth of knowledge as a local for must-do's on your trip; Not only that, who better to get surf lessons from than a pro long boarder? If you are coming to Carolina Beach, Tony and his crew can help you out with what you need to have a great day at the beach and beyond!

A great rate for a good time kayaking and exploring the inner water way of Oak Island. A small…read morebusiness ran out of a home, but has good equipment and launch point. Although the boat traffic is a little heavy there is plenty of open water or side channels to explore. A little slow to connect and get going with little direction but ended with good and fair customer service. Did have to help with getting kayaks up and down dock and all life vest a bit old and worn. Did not take the tour but the self guided fun was more than worth the $15 per hour per person.