Attend the Annual Christmas by the Sea FestivalThe 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. Have a Meal at 317 West Bay Waterway SteakhouseThe 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. Day Trip To Myrtle Beach For the Carolina OpryThe Carolina Opry is one of the most popular tourist attractions of South Carolina, and is located in Myrtle Beach, which is just 20 minutes from the beaches of Brunswick County. The Carolina Opry shows offer both comedy and music, and styles of music range from bluegrass and country to gospel and oldies. There is also a special Christmas concert that is performed during the holiday season. Because of the show's popularity, you will want to call ahead to reserve your tickets. For more information, contact the Carolina Opry at (800) 843-6779. Take a Workshop from the Oak Island Art GuildThe Oak Island Art Guild offers free monthly workshops to the public. Led by experienced area artists, these workshops teach a variety of art topics including watercolor, oils, acrylic, pastel, clay, tile painting, calligraphy, abstracts, and more. Meetings are held at the Oak Island Recreation Center on the second Friday of each month. The Art Guild is also involved in a variety of local events and organizations in the Oak Island area. For more information, contact the Oak Island Art Guild at (910) 201-4090. Take a Stroll on the Riverwalk of SouthportWhile 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! Travel To Myrtle Beach To the Family Kingdom Amusement and Water ParkLocated just a short distance from Brunswick County in Myrtle Beach, you will find the Family Kingdom Amusement and Water Park. Located at 300 South Ocean Boulevard, this family amusement park is the only oceanfront water park located on the Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach. The Swamp Fox, a rollercoaster made entirely of wood, is a popular ride at the park. The 33 rides found at the park are sure to include one of your favorites. The park also has a section called Kiddie Land, which has 18 rides for young children to safely enjoy. For more information, contact the Family Kingdom Amusement and Water Park at (843) 626-3447. Play a Competitive Game of Pool at the 49Th Street Station and BarThe 49th Street Station and Bar is an Oak Island neighborhood bar that offers you the chance to socialize and play a few games of friendly competitive pool. The bar is housed in a renovated old gas station and is a popular local hangout. In addition to the games of pool, karaoke is also performed each Saturday night, and a variety of other events and fundraisers are held throughout the year. For more information, contact the 49th Street Station Game Room and Bar at (910) 278-9811. Visit the Oak Island LighthouseThe Oak Island Lighthouse, built in 1958, was one of the last lighthouses to be built in the United States. Also, it is the last lighthouse in the world to be manually operated. One of three lighthouses left on the southern coast of North Carolina, the Oak Island Lighthouse is managed by the United States Coast Guard. Their weekly inspections ensure the lights in the tower continue to be in working order. The lighthouse is 153 feet high with a concrete base, and its aerobeam lights can be seen by boats that are as far as 24 miles out to sea. In 2003, the National Park Service turned ownership of the Lighthouse over to the Town of Caswell Beach. Since then, the Town of Caswell Beach created an organization to help preserve the lighthouse, which is called the Friends of the Oak Island Lighthouse. Go SurfingWhile the location of the Brunswick County beaches produce moderate surf that is more suited for body boarding, some surfing can still be done in the area. Just north of Brunswick County, the Topsail Island beaches offer great surfing conditions and are just a short drive from Brunswick County. Before you head out for a day of surfing, be sure to check the local weather and tide reports, and be aware of local regulations. For more information on local regulations, as well as information about surfing lessons, you can contact the Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Department at (910) 256-3925. To purchase surfing gear, you can reach Local Call Surf Shop of Oak Island at (910) 278-3306; while Beach Fun Rentals of Holden Beach at (888) 355-4446 offers equipment rentals. Participate in a Local Fishing TournamentsAs 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. | Oak Island RestaurantsCaptain Stanley's Seafood Restaurant5515 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Beana's Kitchen at the Beaach 106 SE 58th Street PO Box 115 Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Sub Shop & Deli 5705 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Russell's Place Restaurant 5700 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Tropical Treats 5811 East Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 LunaPops 5818 Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Little Bit's Grill 5902 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Bogey's Restaurant 5908 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 The Barbeque House 5002 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 The Flying Pig Coffeehouse 6006 Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Turtle Island Restaurant & Catering 6220 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Pizza Shack 6212 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island ShoppingThe End106 SE 58th Street Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Motorsports & More 5319 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Pawn, Bait & Tackle Shop 5422 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Burlington Outlet 5817 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Eagles Beachwear & Sport Shop 5802 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Pain 5119 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Bubba's 5825 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Lucia's Gifts 5820 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 J. Huffman 5818 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Senior Craft Shop 5918 E Oak Island Drive PO Box 61 Oak Island, NC 28465 3 Cheers Party Rentals 5022 E Oak Island Drive Suite #2 Oak Island, NC 28465 Island Gift Baskets 6018 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Brunswick Beaches AttractionsEnvironmental Overlook Trails3003 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Yaupon Beach Fishing Pier 705 Ocean Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Ocean Crest Fishing Pier 1411 E Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 South Harbour Village 4909 Fish Factory Road Southport, NC 28461 The Oak Island Lighthouse 1100 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Indigo Plantation & Marina 6099 Indigo Plantation Road Southport, NC 28461 Southport Marina 701 W West Street Southport, NC 28461 NC Baptist Assembly / Fort Caswell 100 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Fort Johnston Intersection of Davis and Bay Streets Southport, NC 28461 North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport 116 N Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 Southport Historical Society 501 N Atlantic Avenue Southport, NC 28461 The Old Brunswick County Jail 501 N Atlantic Avenue Southport Historical Society Southport, NC 28461 Brunswick Beaches ActivitiesOak Island Jungle Golf, Arcade & Ice Cream Shop6321 Oak Island Drive East Oak Island, NC 28465 Ocean Rentals 4014 E Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Parks & Recreation Department 3003 E Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 Privateer Charters 104 SE 25th Street Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Golf Club 928 Caswell Beach Road Oak Island, NC 28465 Endless Summer Sailing Cruises 4909 Fish Factory Road South Harbour Village Marina Southport, NC 28461 South Harbour Village 4909 Fish Factory Road Southport, NC 28461 Oak Island Skate Park 49th Street SE Oak Island, NC 28465 Oak Island Fun Park 4434 Long Beach Road SE Southport, NC 28461 St. James Plantation 4006 St. James Drive Southport, NC 28461 Cattail Cruises & Tours 4320 Southport Supply Road SE, Suite #600 Southport, NC 28461 Priority Sailing Academy 5900 Dutchman Creek Road Southport, NC 28461 |