Ocean & River VIEWS
may 2021 26
WBM
Starting close to home is a good first step.
Wrightsville Beach residents are likely already
acquainted with the John Nesbitt Loop, a
2.5-mile route that starts at the town complex,
goes down Causeway Drive, turns at North
Lumina Avenue, back up West Salisbury Street,
and back down Causeway to the starting point.
Parking is free for the first two hours at Wrights-ville
Beach Park, but walkers can join the Loop
at any point.
The Loop is popular with walkers, runners, dog
owners, residents and visitors. Along the way, the
route passes marshlands, crosses Banks Channel,
and goes past many of the town’s churches, restau-rants
and watering holes. Other points of interest
include Johnnie Mercers Pier and the Wrightsville
Beach Museum of History. About a dozen beach
access points are just a slight detour away for
anyone who wants to feel the sand between their
toes and take in ocean views.
There are reasonably wide sidewalks along the
entire Loop, making it easy to navigate around
fellow pedestrians along most of the route, but
it does get narrow at the bridges over Banks
Channel.
“The best thing our dog, Floyd, loves about
walking the Loop are the treats from Wrights-ville
Beach Art Company,” says Niccole Rosin, a
Channel Walk resident from Raleigh. “That’s how
we met the owner, Jazz Undy. He has dog treats
and our dog literally sniffed him out and pulled