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Have a Meal at 317 West Bay Waterway Steakhouse

The 317 West Bay Waterway Steakhouse, located in Southport, offers great views as it overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Depending on your preference, there are three unique environments for you to enjoy your dinner - the main dining rooms, the outdoor patio, or the fully-equipped bar. The atmosphere in the restaurant is sophisticated yet casual, and they serve a variety of food including steak, pork, seafood and poultry. For more information, contact 317 West Bay Waterway Steakhouse at (910) 457-0317.

Go Horseback Riding

While you are visiting the Brunswick County area, you and your family may want to give an afternoon of horseback riding a try. Horseback riding can be a fun way to view a portion of the area from a whole new perspective! In Holden Beach, K&K Stables consists of 18 acres with shady trails. They offer Western-style riding lessons and guided trail rides. For more information, contact K&K Stables at (910) 842-8002. In Calabash, Peachtree Equestrian Center is located on 127 acres, with 70 acres of shaded trails. Trail rides, outdoor riding rings and an indoor riding arena give you a variety of options for your riding experience. Lessons are also available in both English and Western riding styles. For more information, contact Peachtree Equestrian Center at (910) 287-4790.

Eat Some Authentic Seafood in the Small Town of Calabash

Calabash is a small town in the Brunswick County area that is known as the "Seafood Capital of the World." Many people travel to Calabash each year to enjoy their unique style of seafood, which mixes southern cooking with seafood to create a unique taste known as "Calabash-style." With its location near the Atlantic Ocean and also as the most southernmost river town in North Carolina, the first Calabash Restaurant was opened in 1935 as an oyster roast. If you enjoy seafood, you may want to stop in and try some seafood - "Calabash-style!"

Visit the Beautiful Orton Plantation Gardens

Located just north of Southport, the Orton Plantation Gardens are on the grounds of the Orton Plantation, which was built in 1725. The Gardens at Orton Plantation began in 1904, with the addition of Luola's Chapel in 1915. The chapel and gardens are still used today as sites for meetings and private weddings. The gardens consist of a variety of ponds, statues, fountains, trees, and more. Late winter to late spring offer the best times to visit the gardens, as most of the blooming flowers and trees are active during this time. The gardens are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from March to August and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from September to November. Admission is $9.00 for adults, $8.00 for senior citizens, $3.00 for children ages 6 to 16 and free for children under six years old. For more information, contact the Orton Plantation Gardens at (910) 371-6851.

Visit the Price Creek Lighthouse

The Price Creek Lighthouse was built in 1849, which made it the last lighthouse built in the series of lighthouses on the Cape Fear coast of North Carolina. The lighthouse used to be accompanied by the two beacons - a brick structure and a wooden tower with the light keeper's house. The brick structure was damaged during the Civil War but is still standing today. The light keeper's house was damaged in the late 1800s and early 1900s and is no longer at the site. The Price Creek Lighthouse is located on private property and currently is not open to tours, though this may change sometime in the future. If you would like to view the Price Creek Lighthouse, it is located on the west bank of the Cape Fear River and can be seen from the Southport/Fort Fisher Ferry.

Enjoy a Sweet Treat at Sandman's Candyland or Sandman's Ice Cream

Sandman's Candyland and Sandman's Ice Cream of Holden Beach has something for everyone's sweet tooth! Sandman's Candyland on Jordan Boulevard has a variety of over 100 different candies ranging from new to old-fashioned. The candy store is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sandman's Ice Cream on Ocean Boulevard West has 25 fun flavors of ice cream that will hit the spot any day of the week! The ice cream store is open daily from 2:00 to 11:00 p.m. For more information, contact Sandman's Candyland at (910) 842-6322 or Sandman's Ice Cream at (910) 842-5743.

Enjoy a Concert of the Sea Notes Choral Society

The Sea Notes Choral Society of Brunswick County is a non-profit organization that consists of volunteers, and is based in Southport. More than 100 members are a part of this chorus, which is open to anyone with an interest in singing. Rehearsal is held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport. Three concerts are performed throughout the year, including a spring concert, Fourth of July concert and a Christmas concert. Chorus members pay $25 per year for annual dues, and admission to the concerts is free, though donations are accepted. For more information, contact the Sea Notes Choral Society at (910) 278-5542.

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.

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 Kayaking or Canoeing on the Cape Fear River

Though the Cape Fear River areas aren't recommended for beginners because of high boat traffic and dangerous currents, the more advanced kayak and canoe paddlers enjoy the Cape Fear River waters each year. The Town of Oak Island has dedicated about 24 miles of canoe water trails in the Cape Fear River, which offer various challenges and adventures for the paddlers. This trail system is known as the Long Beach Canoe Trail System, and the four trails are the 4.2-mile Lockwood Folly trail, the 7-mile Montgomery Slough trail, the 6.5-mile Howells Point trail, and the 6-mile Davis Creek trail. Some of the waters are calm and protected, while others are rough and exposed, but all areas offer a variety of scenic opportunities. For more information, contact the Oak Island Recreation Department at (910) 278-5518.