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2025 Educational Activities Guide

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Wilmington Sunset Beach Ocean Isle Beach Holden Beach Oak Island Bald Head Island Southport Kure Beach Carolina Beach WrightsvilleBeach
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Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park

There’s an ocean of adventures waiting for visitors at the Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park. Featuring a full range of entertainment options including a water park, mini golf course, go karts, arcade, and so much more, veritably every visitor...

Experience coastal charm at The Salty Ro...

Welcome to The Salty Rooster, your ideal hideaway located in the gorgeous Ocean Isle Beach. This roomy home offers a enchanting blend of comfort and coastal appeal, making it an ideal getaway for families or groups seeking a memorable beach...

  • Ocean Isle Beach
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Victory Beach Vacations

Visitors who are on the hunt for the postcard-perfect vacation rental in the heart of the Carolina Beach or Kure Beach area will find an enticing selection and plenty of friendly customer service when they rent through Victory Beach Vacations. Based...

Oceanfront Boardwalk Top Floor Condo wit...

This freshly refreshed, oceanfront condo is in the heart of Carolina Beach, within walking distance to every business in the downtown district. No need to anxiety about having to find a parking spot! This 3rd floor corner unit has spectacular vistas...

  • Carolina Beach
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 7
Southport, NC Museums

The lower Cape Fear region has played a role in American history since the region was first discovered by Spanish explorers and English colonists. At the same time, the local coastal habitats have been heralded (and preserved) as some of the most...

Savannah Suite on Front

Located in the center Wilmingtons most historic row of homes. Your Mansion district downtown condo is your calming hideaway. Appreciate private access to this first floor condo with comfortable furnishings, a humongous front porch & complimentary...

  • Wilmington
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Bald Head Ferry

The Bald Head Island Ferry Terminal is the gateway to exploring the small, but popular paradise of Bald Head Island. Located on the northern edge of the roughly 5 square mile island, and bordering the Cape Fear River, the terminal deposits visitors...

Best Surf Fishing Gear for 2025

Once you have your coastal recreational fishing license in hand, it’s time to start thinking about gear. Anglers will find tons of options when it comes to equipment for casting into the surf, from custom designed rods and reels at local...

Welcome to Marsh Harbour Inn-Captains Qu...

Welcome to the Penthouse! The coastal bungalow design and décor feature soft hues in coastalcolors as the ideal backdrop to gorgeous marina, ocean, river, and marsh vistas. French doorsopen onto your private deck appointed with comfortable seating...

  • Bald Head Island
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
Southport, NC Fishing Guide

With a backbone in both commercial and recreational fishing, it should come as no surprise that fishing is big in Southport. This small community’s love of fishing is visible around every corner – from the specials boards of local...

Southport Educational Activities

Established in the 1700s, and boasting a landscape of unique coastal ecosystems, Southport is a prime destination to learn about the history, environment, and culture of the scenic Brunswick region. From unique museums and monuments, to outdoor...

Sandy Toes Bungalow: Dog-Friendly with P...

4 Bedrooms | 3 Full Bathrooms2 Kings | 2 Queens | 1 Twin-over-double Bunk Bed | 1 Queen Sleeper CouchLive your best beach life at Sandy Toes Bungalow! Let your cares drift away as you float in the backyard's private saltwater pool, savor island...

  • Oak Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 13
Bald Head Island Lighthouse - Old Baldy

It's hard to confuse the Old Baldy Lighthouse with the other Carolina lighthouses that guard the Eastern Seaboard. The unique structure has undergone some interesting natural and manmade changes during its nearly 200 year lifespan, but many visitors...

Bald Head Island

Bald Head Island, a roughly 5 square mile southern North Carolina barrier island that extends into the Atlantic Ocean, may be a small and secluded island destination, but it makes up for its size with a world of exclusive and elite vacation style.

Free Pet Fee for One Dog - Mellow Yellow

Mellow Yellow offers traditional value in Carolina Beach UnitsAllows Short Stays - 1st Pet Free all Summer Long!3 Bedroom / 3 Bathroom / Sleeps 6Mellow Yellow is a comfortable and cheerful vacation rental just four blocks from the beach! You will...

  • Carolina Beach
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Southport City Dock

Renowned as a small but substantial piece of Southport’s history that was almost lost in the wake of 2016’s Hurricane Matthew, the Southport City Dock reopened to grand acclaim in the 2021, and has regained its reputation as a popular...

Southport, NC Kayaking Guide

Surrounded by creeks, rivers, and coastal terrain, Southport is understandably a dream destination for kayakers of all varieties. From this central and slightly inland launching point, visitors can cruise past towering trees and deep maritime...

Duplex on the island of Sunset Beach!  P...

Welcome to Beach Access! *New in 2024 - We are renting our whole home to guests this year!* The ideal beach abode for the whole family, multiple families or extended families that need street level access. An painless walk to the public beach...

  • Sunset Beach
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Canal Front Condo with boat slip

Savor your stay at this canal front Ocean Isle Beach condo! This centrally located condo has everything you need from a entirely equipped kitchen to a boat slip right in your backyard. You are two blocks from beach access at the pier and a doorstep...

  • Ocean Isle Beach
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Southport Waterfront Park

While Downtown Southport has an ample supply of wide front porches to take a load off and enjoy a breeze, many longtime visitors attest there's no better place to relax than the Southport waterfront Park.

Top 10 Things to do in Southport, NC

Southport is a charming coastal town where shopping, dining, history, and just enjoying a waterfront breeze are all celebrated on a daily basis. And while it’s tempting to just find a shaded front porch, settle in, and admire the view &ndash...

Private Room Minutes away from the beach...
4.9
(32)

Private deck entrance to a cavernous room separate from the home. Enormous airy bathroom with a rain shower. Modest kitchenette to brew that morning coffee. The suite is huge with a separate lounge area. Control your own climate with an in-suite...

  • Wilmington
  • 1 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 2
Southport Marsh Walk

Nature lovers who want to take an in-depth and self-guided exploration of Southport's wild terrain can take an easy stroll down the "Marsh Walk." This long boardwalk that begins along Brunswick Avenue on the edges of the busy downtown ends...

The 7 Best Beach & Fishing Coolers 2025

Nothing beats an ice-cold beverage while relaxing on the beach. Nothing is worse than reaching for an icy drink and finding your cans swimming. Coolers are essential for family days on the sand. A good modern cooler will keep food and drinks fresh...

Ocean Front with Spectacular Views!

Come savor the charming ocean front vistas. It comes outfitted with everything you need to appreciate a calming trip to Oak Island. This Ocean Front home is freshly modernized. It is a 4 bedroom - 2 bathroom, that accepts up to 10 guests. This home...

  • Oak Island
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Fort Fisher State Historic Site

Clean and uncluttered beaches and a remarkable local history combine to make the Fort Fisher State Historic Site one of coastal North Carolina's most treasured barrier island attractions. This incredible locale, just miles away from Carolina Beach...

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

The fascinating galleries throughout this extensive complex encourage visitors of all ages to meet and mingle with their aquatic neighbors, from interactive exhibits to "touch tanks" where patrons can have personal encounters with local bamboo...

Old Brunswick County Jail Museum

Take a trip back in time without ever leaving the heart of Southport for a fascinating and educational visit to the stoic Old Brunswick County Jail Museum. Found within a multi-story brick building on the corner of Nash and Rhett Streets, this...

Airlie Gardens

Arlie Gardens is home to a stunning collection of natural gardens and eye-catching artworks which continually impresses visitors to the Wilmington area. Established in 1901, and originally used as a private garden for the wealthy Pembroke family...

North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport

Downtown Southport visitors who want to learn more about this community’s essential role in North Carolina history, or who just want to enjoy a rainy day adventure that’s filled with maritime culture, can pay a visit to the engaging...

Oak Island Lighthouse

The Oak Island Lighthouse and Coast Guard station have a long history together, and the tall lighthouse tower stands as a welcoming beacon to visitors who head to these picturesque shores. As the newest lighthouse in North Carolina, the distinctive...

Museum of Coastal Carolina

The Museum of Coastal Carolina is the only North Carolina Natural History Museum that’s located on a barrier island, and is a fun destination for visitors of all ages to dive deep into the unique and beautiful coastal region. Located in the...

Cape Fear Riverboats

Narrated sightseeing tours, & private charters on the Cape Fear River. Featuring the Henrietta.  Cape Fear Riverboats is Wilmington NC’s longest continuously running cruise line. We’ve been in business since 1987 and are...

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport is one of three maritime museums sponsored by the state that lies along the eastern portion of NC. The Southport branch focuses on the maritime history of the lower Cape Fear River, and contains a...

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014, the Cameron Art Museum has grown over the past five decades into one of coastal North Carolina's premier collections of regional, national and international art, filling virtually every corner of its gallery...

The Cape Fear Museum, (shorthand for the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science), has been educating and entertaining visitors for well over 100 years. Founded in 1898, the museum is the oldest operating museum in North Carolina, and welcomes...

The USS Battleship North Carolina is an unmistakable site in Downtown Wilmington. Taking up a large portion of the waterfront docks, this historic World War II moveable landmark is a must-see for Cape Fear vacationers.

With Wilmington's distinguished history as a thriving port community, few folks recognize at first that part of this reputation stemmed from its legacy as a bustling railroad center. In fact, for well over 125 years, railroading was the top industry...

E-BIKE TOURS — An Experience For All Levels! Our goal is to make you feel like a local as you explore all Wilmington has to offer. If you’re looking to check out some of the best breweries in town, visit unique neighborhoods, and take in...

Bald Head Historic Island Tours works in conjunction with the Old Baldy Foundation to introduce Cape Fear vacationers to the historic Bald Head Island, or “Old Baldy” lighthouse. Located on a 10-acre site on the secluded Bald Head...

There's a reason why the wild terrain of Bald Head Island and its surrounding islands remains distinctively wild, and the primary responsibility of retaining this native nature is in the hands of the local Bald Head Island Conservancy. Overseeing a...

Take a trip back in time and embark on an exploration of one of the East Coast’s oldest lighthouses with a visit to “Old Baldy,” or more formally, the Bald Head Island Lighthouse. Located on the western heart of Bald Head Island...

When driving or strolling past the Bellamy Mansion, visitors are often transported back to a different time, when the Antebellum South was in full prestige, and Wilmington was a bustling, pre-Civil War port town. Located on Market Street, just...

The Children's Museum of Wilmington, located in historic Downtown Wilmington on Orange Street, is an ideal destination for adventurous kids who want a day full of imagination exploring the world of art, science, and even pirates! Designed...

Fort Anderson, also known as Brunswick Town, is the historic site of the first permanent settlement in the Cape Fear area. Established nearly 300 years ago in 1726, and destroyed just a few decades later by British Soldiers during the start of the...

Military members in need of a beach vacation will find the Air Force Recreation Area in Carolina Beach a welcome home base. A unique mix of cottages, mobile homes, and RV and tent sites, this veritable waterfront resort has a fantastic location and...

Serving as a regional hub for the North Carolina Coastal Federation, the Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center is a unique destination in the heart of Wrightsville Beach that offers a wealth of events and activities to appeal to coastal...

Visitors who love the beach but have an equal appreciation of the starry Carolina skies, or visitors who just want to take in a completely unique theater experience, should plan a rainy day trip to the Ingram Planetarium. The extensive attraction...

The Latimer House Museum and Gardens has a key role in Wilmington's historical culture. Built in the early 1850s and still preserved as one of the region's many opulent homes which have been converted to museums, this "residence" has also been the...

The coastal waters and rivers of Brunswick County have served as an economic engine for the citizens of this county.  This is not only  true now but dates back to the very early days of Brunswick County.  Our seafood is regarded as...

Wilmington visitors can enjoy a visit to one of the oldest peanut plantations in the country with an easy drive to the Poplar Grove Plantation. Located just north of the center of Wilmington along US Highway 17, this semi-remote site is a...

Budding biologists with an inherent curiosity about their coastal surroundings will have a blast at Wilmington’s own Sea Turtle Camp – an enriching summer camp program for teens to learn more about these beautiful creatures, as well as...

More than 120 coastal communities oppose offshore drilling- the coast has spoken, and we are determined more than ever to protect our coast. Communities, elected leaders, and impacted businesses and residents along the Southeast spoke out strongly...

The Old Brunswick County Jail is a favorite stop along any historic Downtown Southport walking tour, as the early 1900s structure is chock-full of stories which span from its stately brick architecture to its original sprinklings of graffiti, still...

The Stanback Coastal Education Center is one of the newest landmarks in Wrightsville Beach, and is an all-encompassing station for preserving the local history and ecology for future generations. Boating a facility that doubles as an office for the...