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Ride Your Bike on the East Coast Greenway

The East Coast Greenway was developed to try to connect all major East Coast cities with a continuous off-road path. Recently, Brunswick County has joined the East Coast Greenway, which is a 2,600-mile trail that begins in Canada and ends in Key West, Florida. Bikers, hikers, inline skaters and wheelchairs enjoy portions of this trail throughout the year, which has been compared to an urban Appalachian Trail. For a map or for more information about the trail, contact the East Coast Greenway at (401) 789-4625.

Attend the Annual Christmas by the Sea Festival

The Christmas by the Sea Festival, sponsored each year by the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, is an annual festival to celebrate the Christmas holiday. The moderate climate of the North Carolina Coast makes the weather beautiful in December, and this festival is a great way to celebrate! Fresh mistletoe and seashell ornaments are available for purchase at local shops, and oyster stuffing is a popular local holiday food. The festival occurs during three weekends of December and involves a variety of community organizations. A parade and tour of homes in Oak Island kicks off the festivities for the first weekend, and the second weekend takes visitors to Southport for a historic home tour, lighted boat parade, choral concert and a variety of great local shopping. Finally, the third weekend finishes the festival with a band concert and a variety of children's activities. For more information, contact the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce at (800) 457-6964.

Have Fun with the Adventure Company

The Adventure Company of Southport offers a variety of outdoor adventure trips that you can enjoy while you are in the Brunswick County area. Their specialty is kayaks, and you can choose between a variety of kayak tours, rentals and environmental programs. Single and tandem kayaks are available for rental and range from $30-$40 for four hours, $45-$55 for a full day and $140-$175 for five days. Kayak tours begin at $45 per person, but family discounts are available. The Adventure Company also offers bicycle tours of historic Southport, and a variety of adventure trips to countries like the Bahamas, Honduras, Chile, and more! For more information, contact The Adventure Company at (910) 454-0607.

Visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport is home to a variety of exhibits and artifacts that will teach you about the maritime history of the area. Local shipwreck treasures, sharks' teeth, a fragment from a 2,000-year-old Indian canoe, and shrimping nets are among the items you will find at the museum. Visitors of all ages enjoy the trivia board located in the museum, and there is also a research library and video collection available. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $2.00 for adults (ages 16 and older), $1.00 for seniors (62 and older), and free for children less than 16 years old. For more information, contact the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport at (910) 457-0003.

Travel To Myrtle Beach To Visit Ripley's Aquarium

Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is an interesting place to visit to view area sea creatures and habitats. Located at the edge of Broadway at the Beach, exhibits and programs in the aquarium will teach you and your children about various aspects of sea life. Many sea creatures are on display, including sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, and other exotic fish species. There is also a unique "Titanic" display for your enjoyment. For more information, contact Ripley's Aquarium at (843) 916-0888.

Ride Personal Watercraft in the Intracoastal Waterway

Though there aren't many opportunities for riding personal watercraft in Brunswick County, a variety of options are available in the nearby Cape Fear area. Riders launch into the Intracoastal Waterway from Sneads Ferry and Wrightsville Beach, which are both just a short drive from Brunswick County. For more information about personal watercraft safety courses, contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at (910) 270-9830. For information about rentals, contact Paradise Landing in Sneads Ferry at (910) 327-2114 or Performance Watercraft of Wrightsville Beach at (910) 799-9283.

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.

Go Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean

Swimming is a popular activity enjoyed on the beaches of Brunswick County each year. For your safety, many beaches are staffed with lifeguards in the spring and summer. When you are swimming in the ocean, be careful of rip currents and sea creatures. The surf is usually quite moderate in the area, but you should always swim with a partner. The warm ocean water and fine sand will make for a great day of swimming and sunbathing at the beach!

Go Surfing

While 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 an Art Class from the Associated Artists of Southport

The Associated Artists of Southport is a non-profit organization that is housed in the Franklin Square Gallery. The group educates and promotes original art within the community, and offers various workshops and competitions held throughout the year. Drawing and painting classes are held on Monday through Friday, and pottery classes are also held in the facility. Classes and other activities for children are also offered. For more information, contact the Associated Artists of Southport at (910) 278-5562.