Time is life’s greatest luxury. When you can dedicate an hour to watch the morning sky gently rise from deep orange to rose pink over the ocean at Wrightsville Beach (from under the covers of your bed), you know you are wealthy and in the right place.
This is your beach vacation stay at the oceanfront Blockade Runner Beach Resort on Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. It’s an unhurried, gentle calling to reconnect with simplicity.
Like the flocks of birds, large and small flying by your balcony window. Or the ducks bobbing with the waves before the surfers come out to claim them as their own.
This 50-year old boutique hotel, owned by a North Carolinian family, offers Southern grace and warm hospitality.
Blockade Runner Resort is located on the narrowest part of the barrier island, which means you are a few steps to the ocean and a few steps to the sound.
Another of life’s luxuries await you at Blockade Runner Resort: access to both glorious sunrise and sunset moments.
The resort is named for the blockade runners, which were small, fast Confederate ships that circumvented the Union Navy blocking the port of Wilmington to deliver goods to their army.
Checking-in: the Blockade Runner Beach Resort
Upon check-in at the front desk, you enter a dreamlike watery world. A giant colorful sculpture resembling a sea anemone greets you, fish swimming above the bar on a blue tiled background beckon you to play, and aqua color waves spanning the ceiling invite you to slip into Island time and life.
This fun, light tropical décor continues throughout each of the seven floors, with unique styles like nautical and bohemian, creating a retro-hip look that merges with family-friendly, coastal heritage.
Blockade Runner Rooms
The 150 rooms of the Blockade Runner are divided between two wings; one is seven stories, the other is four stories.
Bright and elegantly decorated rooms are designed to steer you towards the view, either over the hypnotic waters of the ocean, or the bustling Intracoastal Waterway.
Large glass sliding doors open your false balconies to let in some cool, water fed breezes.
If you want to go lux, the large premiere oceanfront rooms offer a wide private balcony with an outdoor fireplace, and large bathrooms with soaking tubs and rain showers.
All other rooms have Juliette balconies, or balconets. That is large, floor to ceiling windows that open.
Sunrise lovers will enjoy the views of the beach; sunset dreamers, the Intracoastal Waterway views.
Our pick, are the ocean rooms, as you can lie in bed to see the sunrise, and we recommend you experience sunset from the South end of Wrightsville Beach NC with your picnic and coozies anyway!
Blockade Runner Resort Beachfront
If you’re looking for hotels near Wrightsville Beach, staying at Blockade Runner Resort puts you perfectly suited to the town of Wrightsville Beach and the vibe that says go slow and play with the ease and vivacity of a child.
This Wrightsville Resort has 500 feet of beautiful sand beaches with a lifeguard stand out the front.
You are spoiled for choice of water activities: kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, sailing, diving and fishing. Surfboards, body boards, stand-up paddle boards and other beach toys are available on a first come, first served basis.
You can hire certified instructors, on the property, including morning yoga programs. Families also will enjoy the vast offerings of the kid programs.
If you do get tired of the rolling surf and miles of pristine beachfront, you can move to the large expansive lawn area and tropical gardens of the resort, all managing to maintain your views of the beach.
Take a swim in the pool, order a drink from the bar, or grab prime position on one of the giant swinging hammocks.
The outdoor pool at Blockade Runner includes a little swim-through entrance to the fitness center to a small splash pool about four feet deep.
Relax poolside on a pool chair or in a cabana with a book, swim, or indulge in a burger, lobster nachos, and a cocktail.
The spacious lawn and gardens are popular for games of corn hole, bocce ball, or volleyball.
Fire pits lay waiting for you in the evening hours.
For an extra beach treat, oceanfront yoga is offered every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8 a.m.
Check current prices for your dates of stay here!
Sandcampers Children’s program
As we visited during the off-season, Sandcampers wasn’t running, but previous guests rave about this addition to a family-vacation.
The program runs from June 1 to the end of August and provides specialized entertainment for kids 4 to 12 years old.
The program runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m and includes lunch. On Friday evenings, the program is available from 6 to 9 p.m. for parents who would like some adult time and an evening out on their own.
East Oceanfront Dining
Pull up a chair in front of the massive windows facing the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy some delicious local seafood, or dine outside on the patio area (we loved this for breakfast).
Pre-Covid times buffet breakfasts were an option which we did not experience, instead ordering direct off the menu is the current option.
The lunch and dinner menu changes seasonally since the chef relies heavily on local produce and fresh caught seafood. Some of our favorite dishes were the lobster, scallops, steak and burger.
As mentioned, you can also get light snacks – burgers, quesadillas etc from the Sea Escape pool bar.
Easy access to explore Wrightsville Beach
With stunning Wrightsville Beach a short stumble from your room, you can be there in moments without the hassle of worry about parking which can be very difficult here, especially on a weekend or holiday times, and that’s another reason why we love staying at this resort!
If you do want to leave this escape haven, we recommend you exchange your car for a bike and get around Wrightsville style.
Within a few pedals you’ll find yourself at many local farm-to-table establishments, craft breweries, and beach bars.
Now that is simple luxury at its essence. Time just slowed down for you.
If you’re looking for Wrightsville Beach oceanfront hotels, as Australians we think we know a good beach when we see one, and Wrightsville is our favorite beach town in North Carolina. And you can’t go wrong at the Blockade Runner!
Related Posts:
- 1 day itinerary for Wrightsville Beach
- 2 days of things to do in Wrightsville Beach
- 13 of the best things to do on the North Carolina beaches
Pin Below To Save On Pinterest:
I took a part time job here back in June. I was headed afternoon surfing and did a quick drive by, in an effort to get my 17 yr old son employed. My job status has changed, due to current events. YOU DESCRIBED a day in my life as a fortunate employee. Setting up beach chairs at Sunrise with young adults who could be my grandchildren, cleaning rooms on the 7th floor with jaw dropping views on sound side, and ocean side, renting out water equipment, while watching people smile. All while getting paid, and a heck of a good workout. I tracked my last Sunday in Housekeeping at 24,000 steps and 51 floors climbed! I have a true love for this Hotel. It’s Heaven.
Hey Rick,
Thanks for sharing your appreciation for your time working at the Blockade Runner Resort. Definitely a great “office” you had with setting up on the beach each morning and those ocean views from the rooms. Wow, that’s a lot of steps you accumulated each day, nice bonus 🙂 We love Wrightsville Beach (and this hotel) and hope to revisit soon from Raleigh.
More than happy to show/help/advise with some additional local insights on your next visit. I love SUP surfing and exploring here. My goal is try and get out in the H20 everyday. On a positive Covid note, I’ve been able to do that….Sometimes even 2-3x’s a day! My wife and 2 sons moved here 8 years ago….permanently. She’s a Santa Cruz, Ca. native. We met out there back in the 90’s. She calls Wrightsville Beach, Santa Cruz 30 years ago. When live music is allowed again, you won’t find a better venue than Greenfield Lake. It’s amazing….we lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, before a move to ATL, then the mountains of NC, before Wrightsville Beach. It’s hands down our favorite for live music. Hopefully to return soon, I’m jonesing pretty bad for Live Music. YouTube has good stuff, but nothing like Live…..more than happy to share anything I know about the area, and beyond.
These are awesome tips Rick. Thank you! We had not heard of Greenfield Lake but it sounds like our kind of place. We miss live music the most too and will be making sure next summer we make it all about live music. This will be high on our list.