Go Bicycling on Area Bike PathsBrunswick County is a great place to ride your bicycle, as the roads are not as busy as they are in other coastal areas of North Carolina. A 32-mile bike route takes you from Southport to Orton Plantation and Brunswick Town Historic Site. Also, a recently built 3-mile paved shoulder bike path takes you from the state ferry dock to downtown Southport. Other bike trails can be found throughout the county. For more information, you can get a bicycle trail map from the Oak Island Recreation Center at (910) 278-5518. For information about state-funded bicycle trails, you can contact the North Carolina Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation at (919) 733-2804. For your bicycling adventure, you can rent bicycles in the area from Boomer's Rentals of Holden Beach at (910) 842-1400 or Julie's Rentals of Sunset Beach at (910) 579-1211. Also, there is a full-service bicycle shop in Southport, Southport Bicycles at (910) 457-1878. 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. Play a Competitive Game of Pool at the 49Th Street Station and BarThe 49th Street Station and Bar is an Oak Island neighborhood bar that offers you the chance to socialize and play a few games of friendly competitive pool. The bar is housed in a renovated old gas station and is a popular local hangout. In addition to the games of pool, karaoke is also performed each Saturday night, and a variety of other events and fundraisers are held throughout the year. For more information, contact the 49th Street Station Game Room and Bar at (910) 278-9811. Get Married on the BeachWhat better place to have your wedding or vow renewal ceremony on the Brunswick County beaches of North Carolina? There is something quite romantic about the incoming waves and ocean breeze that makes the beach a perfect setting for your special ceremony. Because the weather and winds are unpredictable in the area, you may want to have an alternate location available in case of inclement weather. If you are interested in having your ceremony in Brunswick County, you will first need a North Carolina marriage license from the local Register of Deeds office. You can contact the Brunswick County Register of Deeds at (877) 625-9310. If you need help planning your ceremony, A Carolina Wedding of Wilmington may be able to help, and can be reached at (910) 686-2690. 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. Go Shopping in the Yaupon Tree ShopThe Yaupon Tree shop of Oak Island is a unique local store that offers a variety of products. You can choose between pottery, jewelry, unique gifts and other accessories as you browse this store. Located on East Oak Island Drive, The Yaupon Tree is a stop you won't want to miss! For more information, contact The Yaupon Tree at (910) 278-5991. Enjoy Nature on the Environmental Overlook TrailsIf you enjoy exploring, hiking, and viewing nature and wildlife, then the Environmental Overlook Trails on Oak Island are just the thing for you! A variety of trails are located in the area that will allow you to enjoy the area's natural beauty. Behind the Oak Island Recreation Center, one trail leads to the Dot Kelly Memorial Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, while another leads to the rainforest area of wetlands. In Tidal Waves Park, you can launch kayaks and canoes, or you can enjoy the Environment Crossover trail through salt marshes, trees, and wetlands. Also, a wooden walkway has been built at the west end of Oak Island, where you can view a variety of local wildlife and shorebirds. If you enjoy nature, you may want to spend an afternoon hiking along some of these interesting trails. For more information, contact the Environmental Overlook Trails at (910) 278-5518. Go Searching For Beach TreasuresWhile 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. 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. Take a Tour of Shelton Herb FarmShelton Herb Farm of Leland is a unique farm that grows a variety of herbs, specialty vegetables and native plants. Group tours are available upon request. A variety of over 800 herbs are grown at Shelton's, and you will be interested to see how an operation of this nature operates. For more information, contact Shelton Herb Farm at (910) 253-5964. | Brunswick Beaches RestaurantsOcean Breeze Beach Club2729 W Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Fish House Restaurant 5710 W 57th Place Oak Island, NC 28465 Island Way Restaurant 1407 E Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Plaza Garibaldi 8004 Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Betty's Waterfront Restaurant 1045 Varnamtown Road SW, Suite B Holden Beach, NC 28462 Driftwood Grill 3370 Stone Chimney Road Holden Beach, NC 28462 The Barbeque House 5002 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 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 Stanley's Seafood Restaurant 5515 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Provision Company Restaurant 461 Kristen Lane Holden Beach, NC 28462 Russell's Place Restaurant 5700 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Brunswick Beaches ShoppingWildflour Cakes & Pastries516 Lockwood Folly Road Bolivia, NC 28422 Local Call Surf Shop 8417 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 The Yaupon Tree 8501 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Seaside With Coffee 8017 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Island Jewelers 8801 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 The Pet Stop 8308 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Sporting Goods 8800 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Blue Water Point Motel & Marina 5710 W 57th Place Oak Island, NC 28465 Pottery by Bob Furr 521 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Ocean Crest Fishing Pier 1411 E Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Beacon One Seafood 1 Fisherman Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Robinson & Robinson Seafood 3 Fisherman Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Brunswick Beaches AttractionsBlue Water Point Motel & Marina5710 W 57th Place Oak Island, NC 28465 Ocean Crest Fishing Pier 1411 E Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Environmental Overlook Trails 3003 E Oak Island Drive 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 Yaupon Beach Fishing Pier 705 Ocean Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Holden Beach Pier 441 Ocean Boulevard W Holden Beach, NC 28462 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 Brunswick Beaches ActivitiesYe Olde Gun Club Shooting Range107 SW 20th Street Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Skate Park 49th Street SE Oak Island, NC 28465 Blue Water Point Motel & Marina 5710 W 57th Place Oak Island, NC 28465 Lockwood Folly Country Club 19 Clubhouse Drive SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 Privateer Charters 104 SE 25th Street Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Parks & Recreation Department 3003 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Ocean Rentals 4014 E Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Holden Beach Driving Range & Golf School 2355 Holden Beach Road Holden Beach, NC 28462 Oak Island Jungle Golf, Arcade & Ice Cream Shop 6321 Oak Island Drive East Oak Island, NC 28465 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 |