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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.

Enjoy a Meal at the Isles Restaurant

The Isles Restaurant, located on Ocean Isle Beach, offers an elegant atmosphere to match its menu. Serving both lunch and dinner, The Isles has a seafood and steak menu that ranges from catfish fingers, hot crab dip and pan-seared scallops to Caesar salad and Jack Daniels ribs. The wine list and Martini Menu also offer a variety of drinks to go along with your meal. For more information, contact The Isles Restaurant at (910) 575-5988.

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.

Go Shopping For Souvenirs at the Lighthouse Crafts and Gifts

Lighthouse Crafts and Gifts of Holden Beach is a great gift shop where you may be able to find that perfect Brunswick County souvenir! While you are in the area, you may want to stop in and check out everything this shop has to offer. For more information, you can contact Lighthouse Crafts and Gifts at (910) 842-5740.

Rent Beach Gear from Beach Fun Rentals

Beach Fun Rentals of Holden Beach is a full-service rental shop that offers a variety of items to assist you with your vacation needs. You can either pick up your items or choose to have it delivered to your rental home for FREE! Practical items like baby furniture and bed linens are available, but there are also kayaks, bikes, surfboards, Bocce Ball, boogie boards, beach chairs and umbrellas, and more are also available. If you want to have fun participating in beach activities during your stay in Brunswick County but don't want to bring everything from home, Beach Fun Rentals can help! For more information, contact Beach Fun Rentals at (888) 355-4446.

Enjoy a Performance at the Odell Williamson Auditorium

The Odell Williamson Auditorium, located in Supply, is located on the campus of Brunswick Community College. This performing arts center is a state-of-the-art facility with 1,500 seats. A variety of educational and cultural activities are held in the auditorium each year, which was built by the citizens of Brunswick County for more than 3 million dollars. Major entertainers and local and regional theater companies perform at Odell Williamson each year. For more information about events at the Odell Williamson Auditorium, call (910) 755-7416.

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.

Take a Break at a Local Coffee Shop

If you enjoy drinking specialty coffee while reading your daily newspaper or a favorite book, there are a few options for you in Brunswick County. The Flying Pig Coffeehouse of Oak Island is a bright shop with interesting furniture that serves a variety of specialty coffees and teas. Open seven days a week, The Flying Pig can be reached at (910) 278-5929. In Holden Beach, you may enjoy Cappuccino by the Sea, which serves coffees, teas and snacks. This shop also has a gift shop, and can be reached at (910) 842-3661. Finally, in Sunset Beach, The Roasted Bean Beverage Co. and Art Gallery serves gourmet coffees, teas, smoothies, sandwiches and snacks. They also have some local art on display that is available for sale, and they can be reached at (910) 575-6759.

Enjoy Legends in Concert or Tribute! the Concert in Myrtle Beach

While you are in the Brunswick County area, you may want to take an evening journey to Myrtle Beach for a Las Vegas-style musical concert. These concerts are led by performers who impersonate famous stars like Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Rod Stewart. Two of these concerts are offered in the area - the first is Legends in Concert which can be reached at (800) 960-7469, and the other is Tribute! The Concert, which can be reached at (800) 313-6685.