A Gem

• Home
• Amenities
• Photos
• Guest Book
• Things to Do
• Current Weather
• Rates & Availability
• Book Now

Spend the Day at the North Carolina Oyster Festival

The North Carolina Oyster Festival is held each year during the third weekend of October on Ocean Isle Beach. The N.C. Oyster Shucking Championship is held at this festival, which sends its winner to the national championship. Oysters are the favorite food of the Brunswick County islands, and there are plenty of them at this festival. Live music, arts and crafts vendors, 5K and 10K races, an oyster stew cook-off and more are also offered at the festival. Admission is $3.00 for adults and free for children under 12 years old. For more information, contact the North Carolina Oyster Festival at (800) 426-6644.

Learn about the Area at the Museum of Coastal Carolina

The Museum of Coastal Carolina, located in Ocean Isle Beach, is home to the largest natural seascape replica in the Southeast. This seascape is home to sharks, dolphins, game fish, octopus, and other sea creatures, as well as a shipwreck from the 1800s. Also in the Museum, you will find artifacts from the Civil War, a Shell Room, shark jaws, wildlife exhibits, and more. A popular exhibit is the 500-gallon Touch Tank that allows you to touch and hold a variety of sea creatures, including hermit crabs, sting rays, sea stars, flounder, and more. A variety of educational events are also offered at the Museum, which is open daily during the summer. For more information, contact the Museum of Coastal Carolina at (910) 579-1016.

Have Lunch in Keziah Memorial Park

Keziah Memorial Park, located in Southport, is a shaded park that is home to the famous 800-year old live oak. This interesting tree, called the Indian Trail Tree, is curved and it is believed it is from damage done to the tree when it was just a sapling. You can enjoy relaxing in the gazebo and benches of Keziah Memorial Park, which also has a partial view of the Southport waterfront. If you would like to visit this park during your visit to Brunswick County, it is located at the intersection of West Moore Street and South Lord Street.

Have Fun with Your Family at Treasure Island Miniature Golf

Treasure Island Miniature Golf of Holden Beach will offer your family an entertaining and fun-filled afternoon of miniature golf. The unique themes of each hole will make you anxious to get to the next hole to see what challenge it has to offer. For more information, contact Treasure Island Mini Golf at (910) 842-4878.

Go Surfing

While 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.

Go Fishing from an Area Fishing Pier

Fishing is enjoyed by thousands of locals and visitors of the Brunswick County area each year. Many go offshore and inshore fishing on boats and charters, while others choose to fish from the beach or off fishing piers. If you enjoy fishing from area piers, there are a few to choose from in Brunswick County. In Southport, the City Pier at Waterfront Park is a small pier with free admission. Long Beach offers the Long Beach Pier at (910) 278-5962 and is the longest fishing pier of North Carolina. On Oak Island, you can choose between the Ocean Crest Pier at (910) 278-6674 and the Yaupon Pier at (910) 278-9400. The South Brunswick Islands offer the Holden Beach Pier in Holden Beach at (910) 842-6483, the Ocean Isle Pier of Ocean Isle at (910) 579-3095 and the Sunset Beach Pier in Sunset Beach at (910) 579-6630.

Learn How To Sail or Go Sightseeing with Priority Sailing

Priority Sailing of Southport offers both sailing lessons and sightseeing cruises of the area. Whether you want to learn how to sail or if you just want to relax while you tour the area, Priority Sailing can help! Both children and adults can learn to sail on their 52-foot cutter, Carolina Gale. A variety of sailing certification levels can be achieved when you learn from Priority sailing. A variety of sightseeing cruises are also available, including a Full Moon Cruise or Sunset Cruise or a Weekend Cruise Package. For more information, contact Priority Sailing at (910) 454-4479.

Learn about the Area's History at the Smith Island Museum of History

Located on Bald Head Island, the Smith Island Museum History is located in a building that was replicated after the original Bald Head Island light keeper's house. Located near the lighthouse, this museum features lighthouse artifacts available for viewing, and also has a gift shop with some souvenirs for sale. Some lectures and educational programs are offered at the museum, and tickets are sold for $3.00 per person to climb the Bald Head Island Lighthouse. For more information, contact the Smith Island Museum of History at (910) 457-7481.

Visit the Historic Fort Johnston of Southport

Located in Southport, Fort Johnston was opened in 1754 as the first working military installation in North Carolina, with the purpose to defend the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Fort Johnston played an important role in the Civil War and worked alongside other area forts of Caswell, Anderson and Fisher. While the main structure of Fort Johnson is no longer in place, some original structures remain, and markers tell the story of the fort that was once in place at the location. For more information, contact Fort Johnston at (910) 457-7927.

Visit Railroad Museums in Chadbourn and Fair Bluff

If you are interested in the history of the railroad industry, you may want to take a day trip to some area railroad museums. There are two railroad museums not far from Brunswick County that will teach you about this interesting aspect of history. The Atlantic Coast Line Depot Museum is located in Chadbourn, which is located off U.S. Highway 76 South on N.C. Highway 410. This depot was built in 1910 and is now home to a variety of historical displays and stories about the railroad. Admission is free to the Atlantic Coast Line Museum, which is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Also in the area, you will find the Fair Bluff Depot Museum, located in Fair Bluff off U.S. Highway 76 to N.C. Highway 904. This depot was built in 1897 for the Atlantic Coast Line and has a variety of railroad memorabilia. The Fair Bluff Depot Museum also offers free admission, and is open on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more information about the Atlantic Coast Line Depot Museum, call (910) 654-6269 and for more information about the Fair Bluff Depot Museum, call (910) 649-7707.