When we were looking for beach property, we fell in love with beautiful OIB with its soft white sand and unspoiled beach. Being a SOUTH-facing island, Ocean Isle Beach is known for its gentle surf, generally without strong currents, and warm water. MUCH warmer than our neighbors in the northern Outer Banks of NC, and warmer than SC and GA, you have to go all the way to FL to find warmer water temps.
Also because it is south-facing, the sun rises and sets on each end of the island. The sunrise and sunsets are especially spectacular in the spring, fall, and winter when the sun is out over the ocean lower on the horizon.
We love that OIB is a very family-oriented beach, not a crowded tourist location. There are lots of great restaurants and fun things to do very close by, but also it's so close to North Myrtle Beach that its easy to make a day trip and then come back home to OIB.