Browse Through Local Art GalleriesIf you enjoy viewing (and possibly purchasing) art, you may enjoy visiting some of the art galleries located in Brunswick County. The galleries showcase a variety of local talent, most of which have art themes specific to the coastal area. In Southport, you will enjoy the ArtShak Studio, Gallery and Sculpture Garden, which features a variety of beautiful sculptures and art and can be reached at (910) 457-1757. Also in Southport, the Franklin Square Gallery at (910) 457-5450 showcases a variety of local works and also offers workshops, classes and competitions. The Ricky Evans Gallery of Southport can be reached at (910) 457-1129 and features lighthouse paintings, a historic Southport series and a coastal waterfront series. Other galleries you may enjoy are The Blue Heron Gallery of Sunset Beach at (910) 575-5088 and the Sunset River Marketplace of Calabash at (910) 575-5999. Go Scuba Diving or SnorkelingScuba diving and snorkeling are fun adventures you can experience while you are in Brunswick County. Scuba diving is popular off the coast of North Carolina because of the large number of shipwreck remains that are found in this area - the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Snorkeling is also popular because of the interesting sea life that can be found in some local areas. If you are interested in trying either of these adventures, you may want to try Scuba South Diving Company of Southport. They offer dive charters to area waters and sites and will travel to any site along the southern coast. They also have a variety of equipment available for rent. For more information, contact Scuba South Diving Company at (910) 457-5201. Enjoy the North Carolina Fourth of July FestivalIf you are in Brunswick County during the 4th of July holiday, you will enjoy the North Carolina 4th of July Festival in Southport and Oak Island. This celebration attracts about 500,000 visitors each year because of this old-fashioned family celebration. There is a parade featuring a variety of floats, bands, clowns and horses. There are firemen's games that are enjoyed by many, as well as vendors selling arts, crafts and food. There is also a naturalization ceremony that names people of various nationalities as citizens of the United States. To finish the holiday, you will enjoy the fireworks display over the water. For more information, contact the North Carolina 4th of July Festival at (910) 457-5578. Go SurfingWhile the location of the Brunswick County beaches produce moderate surf that is more suited for body boarding, some surfing can still be done in the area. Just north of Brunswick County, the Topsail Island beaches offer great surfing conditions and are just a short drive from Brunswick County. Before you head out for a day of surfing, be sure to check the local weather and tide reports, and be aware of local regulations. For more information on local regulations, as well as information about surfing lessons, you can contact the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Department at (910) 256-3925. To purchase surfing gear, you can reach Local Call Surf Shop of Oak Island at (910) 278-3306; while Beach Fun Rentals of Holden Beach at (888) 355-4446 offers equipment rentals. Take Your Kids To Captain Charlie's Kids Fishing TournamentHeld at the City Pier in Southport's Waterfront Park, the Captain Charlie's Kids Fishing Tournament is held each year to coincide with the King Mackerel Tournament. This is a great way for children to have their own tournament while their parents are out fishing in the adult tournament. Kids ages 16 and younger are welcome to enter Captain Charlie's Tournament, which is sponsored by the Southport Recreation Department and the Southport Lions Club. Kids bring their own equipment and bait, and the first 100 to enter get a free t-shirt. Prizes are given away throughout the tournament, and everyone can enjoy free hot dogs and refreshments. All fish that are caught are put back into the water in this catch-and-release tournament. For more information, contact the Captain Charlie's Kids Fishing Tournament at (910) 457-7923. Learn How To KiteboardKiteboarding is a challenging sport that requires less wind than windsurfing and has become quite popular in recent years. Kiteboarders are pulled by a large kite that flies through the air, and advanced riders are able to do tricks and jumps that carry them between 10 and 40 feet in the air. Kiteboarding is popular in the Brunswick County area, which doesn't always have enough wind for the sport of windsurfing. Though the sport can be very fun if you know what you are doing, you should take lessons before attempting to ride on your own. For more information, contact the area's kite and wind shop in Wilmington, Blowing in the Wind, at (888) 691-8034. Attend a Summer Sundays PerformanceSummer 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. Spend an Afternoon Shopping in Area Antique StoresThough there are many nice gift shops in the area, many visitors prefer to do their shopping at area antique stores. Shopping at antique stores is a great way to find unique items of the area that can't be purchased by just anyone at a souvenir shop. If you are interested in antiques, Brunswick County has a number of shops available. In Southport, you may enjoy Magnolia Gifts and Antiques at (910) 457-4982, Northrup Antiques Mall at (910) 457-9569, or Southport Antiques at (910) 457-1755. Also, you may want to travel to nearby Burgaw, which is home to the Burgaw Antiqueplace, which consists of items from 50 dealers. The Burgaw Antiqueplace can be reached at (910) 259-7070. Participate in a Local Fishing TournamentsAs you will find in any popular fishing area, many saltwater fishing tournaments are held in Brunswick County throughout the year. Many tournaments award great prizes to their winners, and proceeds normally benefit local charities. For more information about dates and locations of area tournaments, contact the Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Center at (910) 575-3474, the Bald Head Island Marina at (910) 454-0042, the Old Yacht Basin of Southport at (910) 278-4575, the Southport Marina at (910) 278-4137 and the Holden Beach Marina at (800) 426-6644. Also, you may want to check local listings upon your arrival for information about other area tournaments. Take a Day Trip To Faircloth Exotic Animal ZooIf your children enjoy viewing unique animals, you and your family may enjoy taking a day trip to the Faircloth Exotic Animal Zoo, located in Bolivia. They have a unique variety of small and large breed animals, including Highland bulls, Watusi cows, Texas Longhorns, Zebu cows, lions, bears, yaks, tigers, black leopards, zebras, monkeys, buffalo, camels, and more! They also manage a petting zoo with lambs and goats, which are always a favorite with children. This unique zoo is open daily year-round from 9:00 a.m. until dusk. For more information, contact the Faircloth Exotic Animal Zoo at (910) 253-6820. | Brunswick Beaches RestaurantsHuddle House Restaurant132 Country Club Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 China Garden 300 Yaupon Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Domino's Pizza 402 Yaupon Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Frosty's Ice Cream 8600 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Chasers Bar & Grill 8520 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Thai by the Sea 705 Yaupon Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 South Harbour Village 4909 Fish Factory Road Southport, NC 28461 Duffer's Pub & Grille at the Oak Island Golf Club 928 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Jones' Seafood House 6404 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Wildlife Restaurant & Grill 4381 Fish Factory Road SE Oak Island, NC 28461 Oak Island Jungle Golf, Arcade & Ice Cream Shop 6321 Oak Island Drive East Oak Island, NC 28465 Turtle Island Restaurant & Catering 6220 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Brunswick Beaches ShoppingBoat House Gifts128 Country Club Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Karen's Just Dessert 3 St. Andrews Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Frosty's Ice Cream 8600 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Island Wear 8600 East Oak Island Drive Suite #6 Oak Island, NC 28465 Seaside Baskets 706 Yaupon Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Haag & Sons Seafood 7901 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Yaupon Beach Fishing Pier 705 Ocean Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Town & Country Marine 3918 Old Bridge Road SE Oak Island, NC 28461 Boat House Marine 3974 Old Bridge Road Southport, NC 28461 Bounceez Party Rentals 5146 Minnesota Drive SE Southport, NC 28461 Dutchman Creek Bait & Tackle 4019 Long Beach Road SE Southport, NC 28461 Renee's Fine Jewelry 4146 Long Beach Road Southport, NC 28461 Brunswick Beaches AttractionsYaupon Beach Fishing Pier705 Ocean Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 South Harbour Village 4909 Fish Factory Road Southport, NC 28461 The Oak Island Lighthouse 1100 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Indigo Plantation & Marina 6099 Indigo Plantation Road Southport, NC 28461 Southport Marina 701 W West Street Southport, NC 28461 NC Baptist Assembly / Fort Caswell 100 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Fort Johnston Intersection of Davis and Bay Streets Southport, NC 28461 North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport 116 N Howe Street 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 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 Brunswick Beaches ActivitiesEndless Summer Sailing Cruises4909 Fish Factory Road South Harbour Village Marina Southport, NC 28461 South Harbour Village 4909 Fish Factory Road Southport, NC 28461 Oak Island Golf Club 928 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Jungle Golf, Arcade & Ice Cream Shop 6321 Oak Island Drive East Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Fun Park 4434 Long Beach Road SE Southport, NC 28461 Priority Sailing Academy 5900 Dutchman Creek Road Southport, NC 28461 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 Surf Cinemas 4836 Long Beach Road SE Southport, NC 28461 Ocean Rentals 4014 E Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Pirate's Hideaway Mini Golf 4874 Long Beach Road SE Southport, NC 28461 Cape Fear Maritime Passenger Co., LLC 230 Caswell Avenue Solomon T - The Heritage Boat at the Southport Marina Southport, NC 28461 |