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Play Sand Volleyball on the Beach

Beach volleyball is a sport that you always see it on television and think about how much fun it would be to try it. Why not try it while you are on the beaches of Brunswick County? Playing this competitive sport in the sand will give you a great workout while you have fun with your friends and family. Many area parks and beaches offer sand volleyball courts, which are open to the public. If you don't have enough for a full "team" but still want to play, it is usually pretty easy to join in with a group who is already playing a match. Get ready for some fun!

Day Trip To Lumber River State Park

If you enjoy camping and outdoor activities, you may want to take one or two of your days in the Brunswick County area to travel to Lumber River State Park, which is near Orrum, North Carolina. Located on the Lumber River, this park offers a variety of activities including paddle sports, hiking trails, picnic areas and more! You may want to call ahead for river conditions if you plan to go canoeing or boating, as the water levels are too low for these sports during some times of the year. The park is open year-round, with varying hours of operation depending on the season. For more information, contact the Lumber River State Park at (910) 628-9844.

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.

Attend the Annual a Day at the Docks Festival

A Day at the Docks is an annual event held on the waterfront of Holden Beach each April. Free charter boat rides, live entertainment, free Coast Guard boat inspections, crafts, a sunset boat parade, and a blessing of the boats are activities enjoyed by attendees of the event each year. This event was created to celebrate the area's heritage, as well as to welcome the spring. Admission is free to the event, which is welcome to those of all ages. For more information, contact A Day at the Docks at (910) 842-4820.

Go Shopping at Callahan's of Calabash Nautical Gifts

If you are looking for the perfect nautical souvenir, the Callahan's of Calabash Nautical Gifts shop will have just the thing for you! Located in Calabash, this large store has a few shops under one roof. The Callahan's Nautical Gifts features nautical items and gifts, jewelry, homemade candy, and more. Also in the store is the St. Nick Nacks Christmas Shop, which has a variety of holiday items for Christmas, Easter and Halloween. Pea Landing Mercantile is also located in this shopping area, which has fudge and candy, gourmet foods, cookbooks, and other home and garden items. As you can see, there is something for everyone at Callahan's! For more information, contact Callahan's of Calabash Nautical Gifts at (800) 344-3816.

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.

Enjoy a Sweet Treat at a French Bakery

The French Bake and Pastry Shop is located on Ocean Isle Beach and offers a variety of traditional French pastries and desserts. The bakery's décor consists of yellow, blue and white, which is the design of traditional French style. The bakery's menu includes muffins, turnovers, pastries, cream puffs, croissants, cheese cakes, and more. The owner of the bakery is from Amsterdam and previously ran a successful restaurant next to the White House in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact The French Bake and Pastry Shop at (910) 575-0284.

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.

Take the Cape Fear River Circle Tour

Brunswick County has a few places that are included on the Cape Fear River Circle Tour, which is a driving tour that circles the Cape Fear River. If you and your family would like to take this tour, you may want to dedicate a full day of your vacation to get the full experience of all stops on the tour. The tour consists of about two hours of driving time, including the 30-minute ride on the Fort Fisher/Southport Ferry. Attractions and stops included on this tour are: Battleship North Carolina, Orton Plantation Gardens, Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, Southport Maritime Museum, Progress Energy's Brunswick Nuclear Plant, North Carolina Aquarium, and Fort Fisher Civil War Museum. You can get a brochure including a map and details about the tour at a variety tourist information racks throughout the area, or by contacting the Cape Fear Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau at (910) 341-4030.

Learn To Sail

If you are interested in the sport of sailing but aren't sure where to start, you can learn from Priority Sailing of Southport! Priority Sailing offers a variety of sailing instruction, ranging from individual, couple and group sailing for ages ranging from youth to adult. You can choose your instruction course in a variety of levels including Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Coastal Navigation, Coastal Passage Making, Offshore Passage Making and Celestial Navigation. All courses use standards set by the U.S. Sailing Association. For more information about learning to sail while you are visiting Brunswick County, contact Priority Sailing at (910) 454-4479.