July 23, 2025: The Island Way

It was part of our story before we ever stepped inside.

Our kids grew up with vacations on Oak Island. Every day, we’d walk a familiar sandy path to the ocean and pass the same spot.

The Island Way restaurant.

Complete with white tablecloths, Island Way is one of the fanciest places on the island. The cozy building offers oceanfront views and an upscale dining experience.

When the kiddos were little, we never even considered it. Too formal, too expensive.

But time has a way of changing things.

Now they’re all grown. And as we returned to this nostalgic beach after a few summers away, their first request came quickly.

“We want to go to Island Way.”

So today, we did just that. After all those years passing by, we booked our reservation and stepped through the doors.

Seating for eight, next to the window. Seafood, steak, and pasta. Clinking glasses and funny stories.

We finally made it to the grown-up table.