Because of the small size of these communities, there are no public schools located within the limits of Calabash, Sunset Beach or Ocean Isle Beach. All three communities are within the Brunswick County Schools region. Local elementary, middle and high schools are within 12 miles of Calabash.

The sheer number of golf courses in this area indicates how important golf is to the North Carolina lifestyle. The many local courses offer residents and visitors a chance to exercise while taking in the scenic local landscapes. If you’re in Calabash, you can look into the Brunswick Plantation & Golf Links, Calabash Golf Links, Carolina Shores Golf & Country Club, Crow Creek Golf Club, Marsh Harbour Golf Links or the Ocean Harbour Golf Links. The Brunswick Plantation facility, a semi-private course, features three nine-hole courses that can be played in three 18-hole combinations. The other courses noted are all public facilities, and together offer a range of challenge suitable for any player level.

There are also several golf options in Sunset Beach. The Angels Trace Golf Links and Sea Trail Plantation & Golf Resort are both resort facilities. Sea Trail, offering three challenging, 18-hole courses, has been recognized by “Golf Digest” and has hosted the Carolina Pro Am tournament and the PGA Tour's Carolina Open. Other options in Sunset include Oyster Bay Golf Links, the Pearl Golf Links and Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club.

In Ocean Isle, golfers may try their swing at the Brick Landing Plantation, Ocean Isle Beach Golf Course or the Ocean Ridge Plantation resort. Ocean Ridge features three 18-hole courses, one of which – Panther’s Run – is situated along a nature preserve. The course is not only challenging, as players must maneuver around lakes and waterfalls, but also quite scenic.

Other activities available locally include fishing, crabbing or shrimping along the Intercoastal Waterway, miniature golfing on Sunset Beach, deep sea fishing out of Calabash, bicycling and a variety of water sports. Also, local dining and shopping venues reflect the unique character of the Brunswick Islands and surrounding communities. History enthusiasts visit Ocean Island’s Museum of Coastal Carolina to get a closer look at life on the islands.

Less than a ten-minute drive from Sunset Beach is South Carolina’s Grand Strand. The Grand Strand begins at the South Carolina state line at Little River (in Horry County) and stretches south to Pawleys Island, S.C. (inside Georgetown County.) Considered one of the nation’s top vacation destinations, and with Murrell’s Inlet, known as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina, the Grand Strand hosts an estimated 13.5 million visitors annually. The Grand Strand has seen steady growth in population in the past several decades, and many area residents appreciate the benefits of the area’s booming economy and marvelous attractions.