At Trailborn Surf & Sound, guests in oceanside rooms look out over sparkling blue waters while those staying on the sound side are treated to pink sunsets over the waterway. The 151-room hotel, previously known as The Blockade Runner, changed ownership and was reimagined and reopened in early 2025 as part of the Trailborn hotel brand, which emphasizes outdoor experiences. Guests can choose their own adventure from paddleboarding to surf lessons to lounging on the beach under an umbrella. Accommodations are stylish yet unfussy, with furnishings and art in soft whites, blues, and oranges—a cool, comfortable place to land after a day spent in the sun.
- On-Site Dining: Tables at La Duna Paradiso are laden with coastal Italian plates like spaghetti and blue crab and Tuscan pork belly paired with vibrant drinks from Bar Duna like the Endless Summer with tequila and cream of coconut. Poolside, Blockade Surf Bar offers bites and sips that hit the spot after a day of swimming: pair the Blockade smashburger with a Watermelon Wave rum cocktail.
- Neighborhood: Venture into downtown WB for a bite to eat at Trolly Stop Hot Dogs, Tower 7 Baja Mexican Grill, and The Original Ice Cream Stand and pop into Sweetwater Surf Shop to browse surfboards and apparel. Walk The Loop, a 2.5-mile stroll around the island, wander among the blooms and butterflies of Harbor Way Gardens, and attend free concerts at Wrightsville Beach Park on Thursday evenings in the summer.
- Amenities: Guests can lounge by the pool, book in-room massages, and order room service. The hotel also offers activities including a sunset harbor cruise, yoga, kayaking, and kiteboarding.
- Don’t Miss: The opportunity to hop in the ocean as soon as you drop your bags off in your room.
