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Take a Trip To Winnabow To Tour the Natural Beauty Garden Spot

The Natural Beauty Garden Spot, located in Winnabow, is a local greenhouse that features a variety of local plant, shrub and tree species. Most of their products are grown in their greenhouse and include hanging baskets, trees, shrubs and bedding plants. If you are interested in learning more about the business, they offer greenhouse tours, though you will want to call ahead to make reservations. They are open from March to June, Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact Natural Beauty Garden Spot at (910) 253-5777.

Participate in a Local Fishing Tournaments

As you will find in any popular fishing area, many saltwater fishing tournaments are held in Brunswick County throughout the year. Many tournaments award great prizes to their winners, and proceeds normally benefit local charities. For more information about dates and locations of area tournaments, contact the Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Center at (910) 575-3474, the Bald Head Island Marina at (910) 454-0042, the Old Yacht Basin of Southport at (910) 278-4575, the Southport Marina at (910) 278-4137 and the Holden Beach Marina at (800) 426-6644. Also, you may want to check local listings upon your arrival for information about other area tournaments.

Watch Sea Turtle Nests

Brunswick County is one of the largest counties in North Carolina and is almost entirely surrounded by water, wetlands, and wooded areas. Because of the natural habitats found in Brunswick County, a variety of animals make their homes here. Sea turtles are no exception, and the endangered animals are protected by a variety of sea turtle protection programs that are in place in Brunswick County. A variety of volunteers monitor nests of sea turtle species, and during the June and July hatching season, volunteers watch the nests to ensure turtle hatchlings can make it safely to sea. If you happen to be in the area during the hatching season, you may be able to experience one of these amazing egg hatchings. For more information, contact the Ocean Isle Beach Turtle Watch Program at (910) 579-1016 or the Bald Head Island Turtle Sanctuary and Conservancy at (910) 457-0089.

Take a Stroll on the Riverwalk of Southport

While you are in the area, you will enjoy a relaxing stroll along the Riverwalk of Southport. Beginning at Waterfront Park on Bay Street, the Riverwalk will take you along the Cape Fear River to the Southport Marina and the Yacht Basin. From here, you can see views of Bald Head Island and Oak Island. Also in this busy area, you will be able to see various ships as they pass. On the right day, you and your family may even get to see a school of dolphins playing in the water!

Go Scuba Diving or Snorkeling

Scuba diving and snorkeling are fun adventures you can experience while you are in Brunswick County. Scuba diving is popular off the coast of North Carolina because of the large number of shipwreck remains that are found in this area - the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Snorkeling is also popular because of the interesting sea life that can be found in some local areas. If you are interested in trying either of these adventures, you may want to try Scuba South Diving Company of Southport. They offer dive charters to area waters and sites and will travel to any site along the southern coast. They also have a variety of equipment available for rent. For more information, contact Scuba South Diving Company at (910) 457-5201.

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.

Visit the Coastal Grand of Myrtle Beach

If you enjoy shopping and want to visit Myrtle Beach while you are in the area, the Coastal Grand shopping mall in Myrtle Beach is just the place for you! This mall was built on 170 acres in 2004 and has five large department stores and 120 other stores. Located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 Bypass and U.S. Highway 501, the Coastal Grand consists of 1.5 million square feet of shopping fun. In addition to the numerous stores found at the mall, a food court and a movie complex are also found here. For more information, contact the Coastal Grand-Myrtle Beach at (843) 839-9100.

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.

Spend an Afternoon at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park

The Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park, located in Myrtle Beach at Ocean Boulevard and Ninth Avenue North, has a variety of fun rides, games and activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family. The park, which is open from the middle of March through the middle of September, offers a variety of 40 rides, 25 games, gift shops, an arcade, a haunted house, and more! Also on site is a nightclub for those under 21 years old, which is called The Attic. For more information, contact the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park at (800) 819-2282.

Attend the North Carolina Festival by the Sea

The North Carolina Festival by the Sea is held on the last Saturday of October on the streets of Holden Beach. The festival features more than 160 booths of arts and crafts, a sandcastle building contest, a kite flying contest and a horseshoe competition. There are 1K, 5K and 10K races held during the festival, and a street dance with live music takes place on Saturday night. There is no admission fee to get into the festival. For more information, contact the North Carolina Festival by the Sea at (910) 842-3828.