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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.

Visit the Holden Brothers Farm Market

The 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.

Relax or Enjoy Activities at an Area Park

The Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Department oversees numerous community and district parks in the area. All of these parks feature a variety of great facilities, including tennis courts, basketball courts, football and soccer fields, playgrounds, and picnic shelters. Some of the parks have other features like community buildings, horseshoes and shuffleboard. If you need a place to play or relax for an afternoon, one of these area parks is just the thing for you! For more information on parks in Brunswick County, contact the Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Department at (800) 222-4790.

Get a Unique Nautical Souvenir from Cape Fear Jewelers

Many women enjoy getting a piece of jewelry from the area to act as their souvenir, so after they are not on vacation anymore they can always be reminded of their fun vacation times. If you want to get a jewelry souvenir that will remind you of Brunswick County, Cape Fear Jewelers has just what you are looking for! Located in Southport, Cape Fear Jewelers has a variety of 14-carat gold nautical jewelry. They also have a selection of other jewelry, including diamonds, gemstones, silver, and more. One of their unique nautical pieces will make the perfect souvenir for you! For more information, contact Cape Fear Jewelers at (910) 457-5299.

Visit the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department Nature Center

The Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department is very active in promoting area recreation and wildlife, and this is displayed in their Nature Center. Admission is free to this great center, which offers a variety of live animals on display. Also available at the Nature Center is a talking tree trail, an interpretive trail, a walkway and picnic area and restrooms. If you enjoy nature, you won't want to miss a stop at the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department Nature Center, which can be reached at (910) 278-5518.

Take the Southport Trail Area Walking Tour

If you are interested in the history of the area, you will enjoy the Southport Trail, which takes you on a 2-mile walking tour through 25 historic landmarks of Southport. Along the walking trail, you will see sites such as the Stede Bonnet Memorial, the Brunswick County Jail and Fort Johnston. This tour is also a great way to view the unique southern architecture that is full of gables, porches, and other unique features. For a free brochure or for more information, contact the Southport Visitor Center at (800) 388-9635.

Take at Tour of the Progress Energy - Brunswick Plant Energy Center

The Progress Energy - Brunswick Plant Energy Center is located in Southport off N.C. Highway 87. While the nuclear plant is not open to the public because of safety reasons, there is a Visitor Center here where you can learn about the process. A variety of exhibits are available here, which includes a display about how to prevent sea turtles and other sea creatures from entering the plant with the million gallons of water that flow into the plant's cooling units each minute. The exhibits will also teach you about reading electric meters, used fuel storage, generating electricity with a stationary bicycle and educational videos. Admission to the Visitor Center is free, and the tours are self-guided. For more information, contact the Progress Energy - Brunswick Plant Energy Center at (910) 457-6041.

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.

Take an Adventure in the Green Swamp

Northwest of Supply, you will find a 150,000-acre preserve called the Green Swamp. Managed by the Nature Conservancy, this preserve is full of wildlife and vegetation and is home to a variety of wildlife, including red-cockaded woodpeckers, black bears and bobcats. Several carnivorous plant species are also found in the preserve, including the Venus Fly Trap. For more information, including a map or local guide schedules, contact the Nature Conservancy at (910) 762-6277.

Go Boating

The Brunswick County area offers a variety of boating opportunities, whether you want to cruise in a small boat on the Cape Fear River or in a larger boat that can handle the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Before you take your boating adventure, be sure you are familiar with area rules and regulations. The coast of North Carolina is known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the numerous shipwrecks that have happened because of shallow water and treacherous shoals, so you will want to be familiar with area waters before taking your trip. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers Safe Boating courses throughout the year and can be reached at (910) 458-9598.