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. Go Shopping at Southport's Blue Crab Blue ShopIf you are looking for the perfect handcrafted souvenir, Blue Crab Blue of Southport is the shop for you! Housed in a small boat-builder's cottage located close to the Oak Island Bridge, this shop offers various handmade items like pottery, jewelry, stained glass, metal work, paintings, and more. Work from various area artists is showcased in this unique store, which offers a variety of styles to suit everyone's needs. For more information, contact Blue Crab Blue at (910) 454-8888. Take a Nature Trip To Bird IslandIf you like adventure and you enjoy viewing wildlife, you may enjoy a trip to Bird Island while you are in the Brunswick County area. Bird Island is at the south end of Sunset Beach and is one of the last undeveloped barrier islands in North Carolina. The State of North Carolina purchased the island so it could be protected from development, and several species of shorebirds live on Bird Island. An anonymous visitor created the "Kindred Spirit" mailbox, which gives nature lovers that visit the island a place to leave notes and letters about their experiences on the island. Go Shopping at the Olde Southport Village ShoppesLocated on Howe Street in Southport, the Olde Southport Village Shoppes is a collection of unique shops that are houses in various refurbished old buildings. These unique buildings bring character to the shopping area, as you can shop for today's products but think back to what may have been sold in each store in the past. Shops in the Olde Southport Village offer a variety of products, including jewelry, antiques, glassware, linens, furniture, lotion and spa ware, candy, and more! Whatever you are looking for, you can probably find it while you are in the Olde Southport Village Shoppes. Go HuntingBecause of the abundant wildlife areas in Brunswick County, many people enjoy visiting the area to go hunting each year. There are a number of areas in the region where hunters can find both large and small game, which include species of deer, black bear, wild turkey, rabbit, and dove. In Brunswick County, the Green Swamp Game Land is almost 15,000 acres and one of the most isolated areas of southeastern North Carolina. Owned by the Nature Conservancy, this area can only be traveled on foot. Other hunting lands in Pender and New Hanover Counties include the Holly Shelter Game Land, Sutton Lake Game Land and Roan Island. For more information about hunting regulations and licensing, contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at (888) 629-4535. Information and licenses can also be found at a variety of local stores, including the Wal-Mart Super Center of Southport at (910) 454-9909, the Wal-Mart Super Center of Shallotte at (910) 754-2880, the Holden Beach True Value Hardware at (910) 842-5440, or Island Tackle and Gifts at (910) 579-6116. 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. Have Breakfast at Russell's PlaceRussell's Place Restaurant, located on Oak Island, is a diner-style restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. A favorite among locals, Russell's serves omelets, biscuits, pancakes and waffles for breakfast; while the lunch menu offers sandwiches and burgers. The atmosphere in Russell's is a friendly one, with many patrons sharing conversations with those seated at nearby tables. Russell's Place is open daily and can be reached at (910) 278-3070. Travel To Myrtle Beach For a Performance in the Alabama TheaterThe Alabama Theater, located in Myrtle Beach, is one of the most popular theaters in South Carolina. While you are in the Brunswick County area, you may want to take the 20-minute drive to Myrtle Beach to view a performance here. Elaborate musical productions are performed here, and a number of country music stars perform concerts in this venue as well. Alabama Theater also hosts a variety of special holiday performances. For more information or for a schedule of events, contact the Alabama Theater at (800) 342-2262. Visit the Price Creek LighthouseThe Price Creek Lighthouse was built in 1849, which made it the last lighthouse built in the series of lighthouses on the Cape Fear coast of North Carolina. The lighthouse used to be accompanied by the two beacons - a brick structure and a wooden tower with the light keeper's house. The brick structure was damaged during the Civil War but is still standing today. The light keeper's house was damaged in the late 1800s and early 1900s and is no longer at the site. The Price Creek Lighthouse is located on private property and currently is not open to tours, though this may change sometime in the future. If you would like to view the Price Creek Lighthouse, it is located on the west bank of the Cape Fear River and can be seen from the Southport/Fort Fisher Ferry. Visit the Old Brunswick Town State Historic Site/Fort AndersonThe Old Brunswick Town State Historic Site/Fort Anderson in Southport marks the first permanent European settlement located between Charleston and New Bern that was successful. Founded in 1726, Brunswick endured attacks from both Spain and Britain, and Fort Anderson was built in 1862 to help defend Wilmington. Today, visitors can still see Fort Anderson, whose earthworks are completely intact. The site is open year-round from Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free, and the site also has a visitor center, gift shop, research library, and more. For more information, contact the Old Brunswick Town State Historic Site/Fort Anderson at (910) 371-6613. | Brunswick Beaches RestaurantsDuffer's Pub & Grille at the Oak Island Golf Club928 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Yacht Basin Provision Company 130 Yacht Basin Drive Southport, NC 28461 Fishy Fishy Cafe 106 Yacht Basin Drive Southport, NC 28461 Flava's Coffee Shop 310 W Bay Street Southport, NC 28461 Dry Dock Restaurant 115 Yacht Basin Drive Southport, NC 28461 PJ's Restaurant & Market 614 W West Street Southport, NC 28461 Fish Tales Restaurant & Tiki Bar 606 W West Street Southport, NC 28461 Cape Fear Restaurant & Lounge 101 W Bay Street Southport, NC 28461 The Trolley Stop 111 S Howe Street, Suite A Southport, NC 28461 Port City Java Coffee House 113 N Howe Street PO Box 10145 Southport, NC 28461 The Pharmacy Restaurant 110 E Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 Thai Peppers Restaurant 111 E Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 Brunswick Beaches ShoppingPotter's Seafood94 Yacht Basin Drive Southport, NC 28461 Cape Fear Coppershop 600 W Brunswick Street, Suite #5 Southport, NC 28461 Southport Bait & Tackle 701 W West Street Southport, NC 28461 Karen's Just Dessert 3 St. Andrews Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Waterfront Gifts & Antiques 117 S Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 The Christmas House 104 W Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 Cape Fear Jewelers 102 E Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 Old Elegance Antiques 105 S Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 Splish Splash 104 E Moore Street Oak Island, NC 28465 Good Ship Lollipop 108 E Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 Etcetera 112 E Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 Southport Antiques 105 E Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 Brunswick Beaches AttractionsThe Oak Island Lighthouse1100 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 NC Baptist Assembly / Fort Caswell 100 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Southport Marina 701 W West Street Southport, NC 28461 Indigo Plantation & Marina 6099 Indigo Plantation Road Southport, NC 28461 North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport 116 N Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 Southport Parks and Recreation Department 107 E Nash Street Stevens Park Southport, NC 28461 The Chapel of the Cross at St. Philip 205 E Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 Fort Johnston Intersection of Davis and Bay Streets Southport, NC 28461 Southport Historical Society 501 N Atlantic Avenue Southport, NC 28461 The Old Brunswick County Jail 501 N Atlantic Avenue Southport Historical Society Southport, NC 28461 South Harbour Village 4909 Fish Factory Road Southport, NC 28461 Yaupon Beach Fishing Pier 705 Ocean Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Brunswick Beaches ActivitiesOak Island Golf Club928 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Winds of Carolina Sailing Charters 701 W West Street Southport Marina Southport, NC 28461 Starship Deep Sea Fishing & Scenic Cruises 701 W West Street Southport Fishing Center Southport, NC 28461 Cape Fear Maritime Passenger Co., LLC 230 Caswell Avenue Solomon T - The Heritage Boat at the Southport Marina Southport, NC 28461 Cape Fear Sailing Academy 5003 O'Quinn Boulevard Suite G Southport, NC 28461 Priority Sailing Academy 5900 Dutchman Creek Road Southport, NC 28461 Southport Parks and Recreation Department 107 E Nash Street Stevens Park Southport, NC 28461 Sailtime Southport 4956 Long Beach Road, Suites #14-119 Southport, NC 28461 The Cutting Edge II 505 N Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 Endless Summer Sailing Cruises 4909 Fish Factory Road South Harbour Village Marina Southport, NC 28461 South Harbour Village 4909 Fish Factory Road Southport, NC 28461 The Adventure Company 807 Howe Street, Suite A Southport, NC 28461 |