4 p.m. Hit the beachThe first thing any visitor to 30A is going to want to do is run onto the sugar sand and splash around in the clear water. Succumb to temptation at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park , the westernmost of the area’s excellent public beachfront parks. The large preserve includes 10 miles of trails through forests and lakes, plus campsites, R.V. But the pristine beach is the main attraction, with more than three miles of undeveloped coast to help you transition into unplugged vacation mode. Before swimming at Topsail and other beaches along 30A, it is crucial that visitors check the government's warning flag system on the shore, as red flags indicate dangerous conditions, such as the possibility of rip currents.

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