Enjoy an Afternoon of Water-SkiIngBrunswick County offers a variety of great waters that are suited for water-skiing, which is a popular recreational activity that can't always be enjoyed in coastal areas. In Brunswick County, the 22-mile stretch of beach between Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach is great for skiing because of its quiet surf. Also, northwest of Southport in Boiling Spring Lakes you will find Big Lake, which offers great water-skiing conditions and a free public boat ramp on Alton Lennon Drive. Take a Trip To Winnabow To Tour the Natural Beauty Garden SpotThe Natural Beauty Garden Spot, located in Winnabow, is a local greenhouse that features a variety of local plant, shrub and tree species. Most of their products are grown in their greenhouse and include hanging baskets, trees, shrubs and bedding plants. If you are interested in learning more about the business, they offer greenhouse tours, though you will want to call ahead to make reservations. They are open from March to June, Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact Natural Beauty Garden Spot at (910) 253-5777. Browse Around in Mace's Seafood, Boat Rentals, Live Bait and TackleLocated on Canal Drive in Holden Beach, Mace's Seafood and Boat Rentals, Live Bait and Tackle is just the shop for you if you want to experience the beach activities of boating, fishing, or cooking fresh seafood! Their seafood store offers a variety of local catch that will be great for the hungry appetites in your family. If you plan to spend an afternoon fishing, you can visit Mace's for your live bait and tackle needs. Finally, if you are interested in boating around the area, you may want to rent a boat from Mace's. For more information, contact Mace's Seafood, Boat Rentals, Live Bait and Tackle at (910) 842-7171. Stroll Through the Waterfront Park of SouthportThe Waterfront Park of Southport's unique location at the end of Howe Street will give you a great view of the area's waters and other landmarks. Located where the waters of the Cape Fear River, Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway meet, you can see the Oak Island Lighthouse and the Bald Head Island Lighthouse from this park. Located in the park is a trail that is almost a mile long and takes you through the city's waterfront. While you are in Southport, visiting this park is a great way to get a feel for the area's rich maritime history. Visit the Oak Island LighthouseThe Oak Island Lighthouse, built in 1958, was one of the last lighthouses to be built in the United States. Also, it is the last lighthouse in the world to be manually operated. One of three lighthouses left on the southern coast of North Carolina, the Oak Island Lighthouse is managed by the United States Coast Guard. Their weekly inspections ensure the lights in the tower continue to be in working order. The lighthouse is 153 feet high with a concrete base, and its aerobeam lights can be seen by boats that are as far as 24 miles out to sea. In 2003, the National Park Service turned ownership of the Lighthouse over to the Town of Caswell Beach. Since then, the Town of Caswell Beach created an organization to help preserve the lighthouse, which is called the Friends of the Oak Island Lighthouse. Practice Your Swing at the Driving RangeIf you enjoy golfing but don't have time to golf a full round at a local course, you may want to check out a local driving range. Holden Beach Driving Range is a lighted facility that has lessons available on-site. A pro shop and batting cages are also available at this location. At this range in Holden Beach, you can practice your swing 24 hours a day, because when no staff is on duty, there is a self-payment booth for your convenience. For more information, contact the Holden Beach Driving Range of Holden Beach at (910) 842-3717. Another option is the Pro Tee Practice Range in Ocean Isle Beach. They have 36 fully lighted stations, a pro shop, refreshment area, batting cages, and a mini golf course. This facility is open daily and operates with a self-payment booth. For more information, contact the Pro Tee Practice Range at (910) 754-4700. Visit the Holden Brothers Farm MarketThe Holden Brothers Farm Market of Shallotte is a popular destination for many visitors and locals each year. This unique place has both fields and a market, and families enjoy bringing their children to pick strawberries and tomatoes. Both the fields and the market are open from April 1 through December 25, and are located 3 miles south of Shallotte on Highway 17 West. For more information, contact the Holden Brothers Farm Market at (910) 579-4500. Have a Meal at 317 West Bay Waterway SteakhouseThe 317 West Bay Waterway Steakhouse, located in Southport, offers great views as it overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Depending on your preference, there are three unique environments for you to enjoy your dinner - the main dining rooms, the outdoor patio, or the fully-equipped bar. The atmosphere in the restaurant is sophisticated yet casual, and they serve a variety of food including steak, pork, seafood and poultry. For more information, contact 317 West Bay Waterway Steakhouse at (910) 457-0317. View Area Art at the Southport Art MuseumThe Southport Art Museum, located in Southport, offers a variety of art that is from different eras of North Carolina's history. You can begin your journey through the Museum by viewing early art of Native Americans, Scrimshaw, Early Explorers and Local Pirates. If you enjoy nautical themes, you will like the displays of Cape Fear Lighthouses, Early Maritime, Ships in a Bottle and Model Ships. Art from past wars is also displayed, which features the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Whatever your interest in art, the Southport Art Museum will have something on display to suit you! The Museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and admission is free. For more information or for tour reservations, call (910) 457-6166. Take a Cruise with Starship Deep Sea Fishing and Scenic CruisesBased in Southport, the Starship Deep Sea Fishing and Scenic Cruises offer a variety of passenger charters and cruises for your enjoyment. Departing from the Southport Marina, The Starship is a 70-foot vessel that accommodates up to 140 passengers. Fishing trips are available for either a half or full day - half day trips run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and cost $55 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under, while full day trips run from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and cost $70 for adults and $50 for children 12 and under. If fishing isn't for you, you will enjoy the dolphin and scenic cruise, which runs from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in June, July and August and costs $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for children 12 and under. Finally, sunset cruises are given from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and include a light buffet. The cost for the sunset cruise is $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for children 12 and under. To make reservations for any of these cruises, or for more information, contact the Starship Deep Sea Fishing and Scenic Cruises at (910) 454-4000. | Brunswick Beaches RestaurantsFish House Restaurant5710 W 57th Place Oak Island, NC 28465 Driftwood Grill 3370 Stone Chimney Road Holden Beach, NC 28462 Fulford Junior Fish House 3330 Old Ferry Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Holden Beach Seafood Fish House 1075 Songbird Lane SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Captain Pete's Restaurant 103 South Shore Drive Holden Beach, NC 28462 Paradise Cafe 102 Jordan Boulevard Holden Beach, NC 28462 Betty's Waterfront Restaurant 1045 Varnamtown Road SW, Suite B Holden Beach, NC 28462 Patronies Pizza 2625 Holden Beach Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Ocean Breeze Beach Club 2729 W Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Dip at the Dock - Hand Dipped Ice Cream 1305 Cedar Landing Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Sandman's Ice Cream 112 Ocean Boulevard W Holden Beach, NC 28462 Treasure Island Miniature Golf & Oasis 3445 Holden Beach Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Brunswick Beaches ShoppingBlue Water Point Motel & Marina5710 W 57th Place Oak Island, NC 28465 Wildflour Cakes & Pastries 516 Lockwood Folly Road Bolivia, NC 28422 Mace's Seafood & Boat Rentals, Live Bait & Tackle 115 Canal Drive Holden Beach, NC 28462 Star Seafood 3330 Old Ferry Road Holden Beach, NC 28462 Eagle Seafood Co. 450 Sabbath Home Road Holden Beach, NC 28462 Armax Gift Baskets 450 Sabbath Home Road Holden Beach, NC 28462 Carson Varnam's Oyster Market 175 Varnamtown Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Robinson & Robinson Seafood 3 Fisherman Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Beacon One Seafood 1 Fisherman Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Garland's Fresh Seafood 2 Fisherman Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Captain Pete's Seafood Market 101 South Shore Drive Holden Beach, NC 28462 Sandman's Candyland 109 Jordan Boulevard Holden Beach, NC 28462 Brunswick Beaches AttractionsBlue Water Point Motel & Marina5710 W 57th Place Oak Island, NC 28465 Holden Beach Marina 3238 Pompano Street SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Cedar Landing Marina & Seafood 1305 Cedar Landing Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Holden Beach Pier 441 Ocean Boulevard W Holden Beach, NC 28462 Ocean Crest Fishing Pier 1411 E Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Environmental Overlook Trails 3003 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Yaupon Beach Fishing Pier 705 Ocean Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 South Harbour Village 4909 Fish Factory Road Southport, NC 28461 Brunswick Beaches ActivitiesBlue Water Point Motel & Marina5710 W 57th Place Oak Island, NC 28465 Sea Thriller Watersports, Inc. 5710 57th Place West Oak Island, NC 28465 Lockwood Folly Country Club 19 Clubhouse Drive SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Sea Thriller Watersports, Inc. 1305 Cedar Landing Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Holden Beach Driving Range & Golf School 2355 Holden Beach Road Holden Beach, NC 28462 Treasure Island Miniature Golf & Oasis 3445 Holden Beach Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Super Track Go Carts & Bumper Boats 3437 Holden Beach Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Fantasy Isle Ice Cream & Mini Golf 3354 Holden Beach Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Harbor Island Miniature Golf & Family Game Room 3340 Holden Beach Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Ye Olde Gun Club Shooting Range 107 SW 20th Street Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Skate Park 49th Street SE Oak Island, NC 28465 Carolina National Golf Club at Winding River Plantation 1643 Goley Hewett Road Bolivia, NC 28422 |