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Take the Bald Head Island Historic Tour

If you would like to learn more about the unique history of Bald Head Island, you may want to take the Bald Head Island Historic Tour. The tour includes visits to the Bald Head Island Lighthouse, the Smith Island Museum of History, and Captain Charlie's Station. The tour is two hours long and is available from March 1 through November 30. The tour begins each day with a 10:00 a.m. ferry ride from Southport to Bald Head Island. The cost of the tour (which includes the cost of the ferry ride and lunch at the River Pilot Cafe) is $40 for adults, $35 for children 12 years old and younger. The ferry departs from Bald Head Island to return to Southport at 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Bald Head Island Historic Tour at (910) 457-5003.

Practice Your Swing at the Driving Range

If 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.

Go Searching For Beach Treasures

While you are hanging out on the beaches of Brunswick County, you may want to go beachcombing for beach "treasures" that are found in the area. Shells and shark's teeth are easily found on the beaches, especially after storms and hurricanes. On a normal day, the best time to search for treasures is after high tide. Shark's teeth normally sparkle at the water's edge in coarse, wet sand. Whole sand dollars are also very common on the beaches of Brunswick County, but make sure you leave the live ones on the beach. If they are still brown and furry, they are alive and should be returned to the water. If they are white and skeletal, you can take them home with you! Whatever you find at the beach, it is a good idea to clean your treasures with mild bleach water.

Go Camping

If you enjoy the wilderness, you may want to try camping for a night or two during your stay in Brunswick County. A variety of camping facilities are available in the area, ranging from the remote, undeveloped Masonboro Island to the modern private campgrounds with electric and water facilities. No matter what type of camping you prefer, be sure to check the local weather forecast before heading out on your camping trip. Remember to take sunscreen and insect repellent, and beware of poisonous snakes. Depending on where you camp, you can enjoy activities like hiking, bicycling, canoeing, fishing, and more! A few campgrounds you could try are: the KOA Kampground of Sunset Beach at (888) 562-4240, Ocean Aire Camp World Inc. of Supply at (910) 842-9072, and Sea Mist Camping Resort of Shallotte at (910) 754-8916.

Visit the Historic Fort Johnston of Southport

Located in Southport, Fort Johnston was opened in 1754 as the first working military installation in North Carolina, with the purpose to defend the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Fort Johnston played an important role in the Civil War and worked alongside other area forts of Caswell, Anderson and Fisher. While the main structure of Fort Johnson is no longer in place, some original structures remain, and markers tell the story of the fort that was once in place at the location. For more information, contact Fort Johnston at (910) 457-7927.

Take a Cruise with Starship Deep Sea Fishing and Scenic Cruises

Based 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.

Enjoy a Meal at the Live Oak Café

The Live Oak Café of Southport gets its name from its unique location underneath an old live oak tree. The café is housed in a refurbished historic home with original wood floors, brightly colored walls, quaint dining rooms, pub-style tables, and more. If you prefer, you can enjoy your meal on the screened porch or sip your wine in the herb garden. American food with a Cajun kick makes up the menu at Live Oak Café, which is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner. For more information, contact the Live Oak Café at (910) 454-4360.

Spend the Day at the North Carolina Oyster Festival

The North Carolina Oyster Festival is held each year during the third weekend of October on Ocean Isle Beach. The N.C. Oyster Shucking Championship is held at this festival, which sends its winner to the national championship. Oysters are the favorite food of the Brunswick County islands, and there are plenty of them at this festival. Live music, arts and crafts vendors, 5K and 10K races, an oyster stew cook-off and more are also offered at the festival. Admission is $3.00 for adults and free for children under 12 years old. For more information, contact the North Carolina Oyster Festival at (800) 426-6644.

Attend a Summer Sundays Performance

Summer Sundays of Southport consists of a series of outdoor concerts that are sponsored by the Southport Visitor's Center and the City of Southport. Held in the historic Keziah Memorial Park, the concerts feature a variety of music styles performed by local artists. Concerts are held on Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. between May 29 and August. Concert attendees range from children to senior citizens and can bring chairs, blankets, picnic baskets. For more information, contact Summer Sundays at (910) 457-7927.

Enjoy a Sweet Treat at Sandman's Candyland or Sandman's Ice Cream

Sandman's Candyland and Sandman's Ice Cream of Holden Beach has something for everyone's sweet tooth! Sandman's Candyland on Jordan Boulevard has a variety of over 100 different candies ranging from new to old-fashioned. The candy store is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sandman's Ice Cream on Ocean Boulevard West has 25 fun flavors of ice cream that will hit the spot any day of the week! The ice cream store is open daily from 2:00 to 11:00 p.m. For more information, contact Sandman's Candyland at (910) 842-6322 or Sandman's Ice Cream at (910) 842-5743.