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Take a Workshop from the Oak Island Art Guild

The Oak Island Art Guild offers free monthly workshops to the public. Led by experienced area artists, these workshops teach a variety of art topics including watercolor, oils, acrylic, pastel, clay, tile painting, calligraphy, abstracts, and more. Meetings are held at the Oak Island Recreation Center on the second Friday of each month. The Art Guild is also involved in a variety of local events and organizations in the Oak Island area. For more information, contact the Oak Island Art Guild at (910) 201-4090.

Go Shopping at the Olde Southport Village Shoppes

Located on Howe Street in Southport, the Olde Southport Village Shoppes is a collection of unique shops that are houses in various refurbished old buildings. These unique buildings bring character to the shopping area, as you can shop for today's products but think back to what may have been sold in each store in the past. Shops in the Olde Southport Village offer a variety of products, including jewelry, antiques, glassware, linens, furniture, lotion and spa ware, candy, and more! Whatever you are looking for, you can probably find it while you are in the Olde Southport Village Shoppes.

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.

Take the Cape Fear River Circle Tour

Brunswick County has a few places that are included on the Cape Fear River Circle Tour, which is a driving tour that circles the Cape Fear River. If you and your family would like to take this tour, you may want to dedicate a full day of your vacation to get the full experience of all stops on the tour. The tour consists of about two hours of driving time, including the 30-minute ride on the Fort Fisher/Southport Ferry. Attractions and stops included on this tour are: Battleship North Carolina, Orton Plantation Gardens, Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, Southport Maritime Museum, Progress Energy's Brunswick Nuclear Plant, North Carolina Aquarium, and Fort Fisher Civil War Museum. You can get a brochure including a map and details about the tour at a variety tourist information racks throughout the area, or by contacting the Cape Fear Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau at (910) 341-4030.

Go Bicycling on Area Bike Paths

Brunswick 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 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!

Learn about the Agri-Tourism Industry of Brunswick County

There are a number of local farms in Brunswick County that are available for tours. Your family may enjoy an afternoon tour of a produce farm, aquatic farm, cattle or swine farm, or a tobacco or cotton operational farm. Several of the produce farms allow you to pick your own tomatoes, strawberries, and other in-season fruits and vegetables, while the other types of farms will enable you to get a glimpse into the farm operation lifestyle. For an informational guide about the various farms in the area, contact the Brunswick County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at (910) 253-2610.

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.

Browse the Shops at Howe Street Purveyors

The Howe Street Purveyors shopping center is located near downtown Southport on Howe Street. You won't be disappointed by the nice shops in this center, which offer a variety of clothing for your family, as well as a food-related gift shop. Papaya Island at (910) 457-0256 offers comfortable clothing for your family, while Bermuda Bay at (910) 457-1030 offers beach clothing. Also in the shopping center is Cat on a Whisk at (910) 454-4451, which offers a variety of gourmet foods and food-related gadgets.

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.