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Watch Sea Turtle Nests

Brunswick County is one of the largest counties in North Carolina and is almost entirely surrounded by water, wetlands, and wooded areas. Because of the natural habitats found in Brunswick County, a variety of animals make their homes here. Sea turtles are no exception, and the endangered animals are protected by a variety of sea turtle protection programs that are in place in Brunswick County. A variety of volunteers monitor nests of sea turtle species, and during the June and July hatching season, volunteers watch the nests to ensure turtle hatchlings can make it safely to sea. If you happen to be in the area during the hatching season, you may be able to experience one of these amazing egg hatchings. For more information, contact the Ocean Isle Beach Turtle Watch Program at (910) 579-1016 or the Bald Head Island Turtle Sanctuary and Conservancy at (910) 457-0089.

Day Trip To Lumber River State Park

If you enjoy camping and outdoor activities, you may want to take one or two of your days in the Brunswick County area to travel to Lumber River State Park, which is near Orrum, North Carolina. Located on the Lumber River, this park offers a variety of activities including paddle sports, hiking trails, picnic areas and more! You may want to call ahead for river conditions if you plan to go canoeing or boating, as the water levels are too low for these sports during some times of the year. The park is open year-round, with varying hours of operation depending on the season. For more information, contact the Lumber River State Park at (910) 628-9844.

Go To the Movies at a Local Movie Theater

If you end up with a rainy or chilly day during your vacation, what better way to spend the afternoon than by going to see a movie at a local movie theater? There are a few options in the area where you can see the newest movie releases. In Southport, Surf Cinemas is a 4-screen theater and can be reached at (910) 457-0320 for show times. In Shallotte, Coastal Cinemas offers 10 screens and can be reached at (910) 754-7469 for show times.

Enjoy a Sweet Treat at a French Bakery

The French Bake and Pastry Shop is located on Ocean Isle Beach and offers a variety of traditional French pastries and desserts. The bakery's décor consists of yellow, blue and white, which is the design of traditional French style. The bakery's menu includes muffins, turnovers, pastries, cream puffs, croissants, cheese cakes, and more. The owner of the bakery is from Amsterdam and previously ran a successful restaurant next to the White House in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact The French Bake and Pastry Shop at (910) 575-0284.

View Area Art at the Southport Art Museum

The 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.

Attend the North Carolina Festival by the Sea

The North Carolina Festival by the Sea is held on the last Saturday of October on the streets of Holden Beach. The festival features more than 160 booths of arts and crafts, a sandcastle building contest, a kite flying contest and a horseshoe competition. There are 1K, 5K and 10K races held during the festival, and a street dance with live music takes place on Saturday night. There is no admission fee to get into the festival. For more information, contact the North Carolina Festival by the Sea at (910) 842-3828.

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.

Browse Through Local Art Galleries

If 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.

Take a Head Boat Charter Trip

Charter head boats offer a great offshore fishing experience for the beginner fisherman or for families with children. Staffed by a number of mates who will help you set your bait and reel in your fish (if needed), these boats take you right to the fish and let you have fun while you catch them. In Brunswick County, there are several options for head boat charters, which range from $40 to $100 per person for a day of fishing. In Oak Island, the BlueWater Princess can be reached at (888) 634-9005 and the Southport Fishing Center of Southport can be reached at (910) 454-4000. In Holden Beach, the Intimidator Fishing Charters can be reached at (910) 842-6200, while the Hurricane Fleet Deep Fishing Center of Calabash can be reached at (800) 373-2004.

Enjoy an Outdoor "Concerts on the Coast" Performance

The Concerts on the Coast is a summer concert series that take place in Southport, Holden Beach and Ocean Isle Beach. In Southport, the performances are held in Franklin Park on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. between June and September. In Holden Beach, the concerts are held at the Intracoastal Waterway Stage on Jordan Boulevard on Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. between May and September. In Ocean Isle Beach, the concerts are held at the Museum of Coastal Carolina on Friday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. between May and September. For more information, contact Concerts on the Coast at (800) 222-4790.