< Previous10 DO BIRDS ENJOY PEOPLE WATCHING? Natural wonders Our barrier islands are surrounded by more than water. Look in any direction, up into the sky and down below the surface, and you’ll find a world of habitats to be discovered. Tidal flats, creek-fed marshes, inlets, sand dunes, and maritime forests create healthy homes where sea creatures, plants, and wildlife thrive. They also create an endless source of amazement for visitors of every age and interest. Residents and visitors engage in supporting safe nesting sites for Loggerhead Sea Turtles on our beaches. High tides deposit an amazing array of interesting shells, especially after storms churn the waters out at sea. It seems that birds find our islands to be the perfect rest stop on their travels along the coastal flyway. (Naturally, we named Bird Island in their honor.) 800.795.7263 | NCBRUNSWICK.COM 11 all around you. Birdwatchers are often rewarded with sightings of rare species, along with glimpses of our beautiful resident bird friends. There’s something mesmerizing about the swooping flight of a snowy egret over the marsh or the fishing skills of a great blue heron. Keep your eyes open. There are as many as 330 species to be found here. Not far from the beaches, local nature preserves offer hiking trails through lowland forests. You may even spy a few carnivorous plants along the way. Take a guided eco-tour deep into a swamp park through a maze of cypress knees that native reptile and amphibian creatures call home. Take a hike. Take a boat. Take a kayak. But be sure to take time to explore the wonders around you.12 LOOK WHAT THE OCEAN BROUGHT YOU. Treasure at your feet. As the tide recedes, you’ll find that many of our beaches are laden with natural treasures brought in by the tide. Study up on the many kinds of shells here. You’ll find them to be endlessly fascinating. They are Mother Nature’s remarkable architecture for our sea creature’s homes. You’re welcome to gather shells as the ultimate beach vacation souvenir. But always remember that if you find a shell with a living creature inside, put it back on the beach or in the water so it can live peacefully and contribute to nature. New treasures arrive daily here. So come again tomorrow or try another beach to expand your collection. 800.795.7263 | NCBRUNSWICK.COM 13 STARFISH Asterias rubens Not a fish but an echinoderm, starfish famously regenerate their limbs. However, they should be handled with care. The patient may even see them move in a tidal pool. LETTERED OLIVE Americoliva sayana This olive varies from gray to reddish-brown with zigzag markings and lives near shore or on sand flats near inlets. ATLANTIC COQUINA Donax variabilis These tiny treasures, once home to a species of clam no bigger than an inch, can be found in an assortment of beautiful colors with a variety of markings. Search for these shells to collect, and keep an eye out for live coquinas to show up in the surf. BABY’S EAR Sinum perspectivum Look for this roundish shell on your stroll down the beach. It’s usually solid white with a shallow coil. Don’t be fooled by its delicate look. This shell was once home to a carnivorous creature! COCKLE Cerastoderma edule Often mistaken for a scallop, this bivalve is notable for the riotous profusion of colors it comes in. Often used by shellers to make ornaments, necklaces and other accessories. MOON SNAIL Naticarius canrena This beautiful shell can be identified by its semi-transparency. Its former occupant is known to feed on other snail and clam species. TRUE TULIP Fasciolaria tulipa This shell can be distinguished from a banded tulip by the 15 or more brown lines on the main body. Grows up to 9.5” in length. KEYHOLE URCHIN Mellita quinquiesperforata Commonly known as the sand dollar, this urchin is disc-shaped and is identified by its five keyhole slots. Please do not take any living sand dollars from their habitat. LIGHTNING WHELK Busycon contrarium This ribbed whelk with its distinctive alternating bands was used by Native American tribes to fashion both tools and jewelry. Often found in both sand and muddy areas.14 WHEN YOU’VE GOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, EVERYONE WINS, RIGHT? Make yourself at home. Stay as long as you like. Need a place for the whole family and then some? We guarantee we have the perfect beach home for your family get-together. And once you all fall in love with it, don’t be surprised if your extended family invites itself back again and again. Maybe you’re looking for a cozy room for two and breakfast served with a big helping of charm and hospitality. That’s the specialty of B&Bs located in historic Southport. You’ll also find full-service resorts perfect for a wedding or a golf gathering, locally owned inns that have been the pride of generations, and hotels that offer swimming pools and other amenities. Whether you’re in pursuit of a weekend escape or a vacation that allows you to stay for weeks to fully recharge, North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands is perfectly accommodating. 800.795.7263 | NCBRUNSWICK.COM 15 Vacation Rental Homes From smaller bungalows and cottages to homes that sleep 20 or more, you have your choice of vacation rental homes and condos throughout our islands and beaches. What’s your idea of the perfect home? A quiet screened porch? An oceanfront view? A canal setting with a private dock for a boat, kayak, crab nets, and evening cocktails? You can find homes with swimming pools and gourmet kitchens. Crowsnest perches and balconies. And many are happy to welcome your dog, too! Vacation rental homes offer privacy and flexibility for your family or group to enjoy each other’s company all day and night. Bed & Breakfasts Intimate, personal, and nostalgic, a B&B vacation takes you back to a simpler time when people opened their homes to visitors and shared their love and knowledge of the area. It’s not just the homes, but the owners’ hospitality that make B&Bs so charming. Enjoy a great breakfast and then set out for a day of exploring towns or beachcombing. Return in time for evening cocktails, wine, or tea on a veranda and share your experiences with other guests. Each B&B is unique and offers its own special appeal. Hotels and Inns There’s a lot to be said for daily housekeeping, breakfast, and a front desk attentive to your needs. Yes, a hotel beach vacation can be a sweet escape, and we offer plenty to choose from to suit your style and budget. Select from hotels on the beach, the Intracoastal, or on the mainland. Many offer catering services and banquet facilities to host weddings, reunions, and business meetings. Choose a golf resort or fairway villa for your foursome. There are also charming inns owned and operated by local families who have helped to make memories for visitors for decades, with amazing views and friendly service. Accommodations Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Bed-and-Breakfast Anchor Inn Motel 5611 East Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 910.352.4773 www.anchorinnmotelnc.com 18 rooms • island The Beach House at Oak Island 500 Ocean Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 910.278.5644 www.carolinaretreats.com/The-Beach- House-at-Oak-Island 22 rooms • island Best Western 360 Whiteville Road NW Shallotte, NC 28470 910.754.3044 www.bestwestern.com 58 rooms • mainland • breakfast Best Western PLUS Westgate Inn & Suites 1120 Towne Lake Drive Leland, NC 28451 910.371.2858 www.bestwesternleland.com 100 rooms • mainland • breakfast Brunswick Beaches Camping Resort 7200 KOA Drive SW Sunset Beach, NC 28468 1.855.579.2267 • 910.579.7562 www.brunswickbeachescamping.com 5 rooms • mainland Brunswick Plantation Resort and Golf 380 Brunswick Drive NW Calabash, NC 28467 1.800.332.8576 • 910.685.7979 www.brunswickplantation.com 343 rooms • mainland Captain Newton’s Inn 120 West Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 910.477.2743 www.captainnewtonsinn.com 3 rooms • mainland • breakfast Captain’s Cove Motel 6401 East Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 910.278.6026 www.captainscovemotel.net 42 rooms • island Causeway Inn 12 Causeway Drive Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 1.866.931.5201 • 910.579.6216 www.sloanevacations.com 35 rooms • island Comfort Suites 4963 Southport-Supply Road Southport, NC 28461 910.454.7444 www.choicehotels.com/nc351 70 rooms • mainland • breakfast Continental Condominiums 431 Sunset Boulevard S Sunset Beach, NC 28468 1.866.348.7138 • 910.579.6500 www.sloanevacations.com 27 rooms • island Days Inn 3670 Express Drive Shallotte, NC 28470 1.888.440.2021 • 910.754.3300 www.daysinn.com 61 rooms • mainland • breakfast Fairfield by Marriott Inn and Suites 5181 Southport Supply Road SE Southport, NC 28461 910.454.0016 • 888.236.2427 www.marriott.com/ilmfs 80 rooms • mainland • breakfast Gray Gull Motel 3263 Holden Beach Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 910.842.6775 www.graygullmotel.com 17 rooms • mainland Hampton Inn & Suites 4820 Port Loop Road Southport, NC 28461 1.800.HAMPTON • 910.477.9830 www.hilton.com 88 rooms • mainland • breakfast Holiday Inn Express- Leland/Wilmington Area 1020 Grandiflora Drive Leland, NC 28451 910.383.3300 www.hiexpress.com/lelandnc 105 rooms • mainland • breakfast Holiday Inn Express & Suites 3400 Southport-Supply Road SE Bolivia, NC 28422 910.253.9100 www.hiexpress.com/southportnc 93 rooms • mainland • breakfast The Inn at Bald Head Island 2 Keelson Row Bald Head Island, NC 28461 910.367.7091 • 888.367.7091 www.theinnatbaldheadisland.com 10 rooms • island • breakfast The Inn at River Oaks 512 North Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 910.457.1100 www.innatriveroaks.com 16 rooms • mainland Islander Inn 57 West First Street Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 1.888.325.4753 • 910.575.7000 www.islanderinn.com 70 rooms • oceanfront • breakfast LaPolena Bed and Breakfast 201 River Drive Southport, NC 28461 910.477.6125 • 503.780.0040 www.lapolenabnb.com 4 rooms • mainland • breakfast Marsh Harbour Inn 21 Keelson Row Bald Head Island, NC 28461 833.644.2441 www.themarshharbourinn.com 12 rooms • island • breakfast Oak Island Inn 8101 East Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 910.278.1689 www.oakislandinnnc.com 16 rooms • island Ocean Crest Motel 1417 East Beach Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 910.278.3333 www.oceancrestmotel.com 42 rooms • oceanfront Ocean Isle Inn 37 West First Street Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 1.800.352.5988 • 910.579.0750 www.oceanisleinn.com 70 rooms • oceanfront • breakfast see our ad on page 67 River Hotel of Southport 706 E Moore Street Southport, NC 28461 910.294.6070 www.riverhotelofsouthport.com 68 rooms • mainland see our ad on page 65 Riverside Motel 103 West Bay Street Southport, NC 28461 910.457.6701 www.riversidemotel.net 8 rooms • mainland Robert Ruark Inn 119 North Lord Street Southport, NC 28461 910.363.4169 www.robertruarkinn.com 4 rooms • mainland • breakfast Sea Trail Villas 200 Royal Poste Road Sunset Beach, NC 28468 800.675.0193 www.seatrailvillas.com 85 rooms • mainland The Sunset Inn 9 North Shore Drive East Sunset Beach, NC 28468 1.888.575.1001 • 910.575.1000 www.thesunsetinn.net 14 rooms • island • breakfast SureStay by Best Western 4646 East Coast Lane Shallotte, NC 28470 910.755.6444 www.bestwestern.com 58 rooms • mainland • breakfast Wingate by Wyndham 1511 North Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 910.294.0264 www.wyndhamhotels.com/wingate 84 rooms • mainland • breakfast 16 NC’S BRUNSWICK ISLANDS VACATION GUIDE. 800.795.7263 | NCBRUNSWICK.COM 17 Cottages and Condos Bald Head Island Rentals P.O. Box 3012 Bald Head Island, NC 28461 1.800.680.8322 • 910.457.1702 www.baldheadislandrentals.com Bald Head Island Vacations 2H Merchant Row Bald Head Island, NC 28461 910.368-3250 • 888.367.7091 www.baldheadislandvacations.com Better Beach Rentals 8601 East Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 910.278.1147 www.betterbeachrentals.com Coastal Vacation Resorts Holden Beach 131 Ocean Boulevard West Holden Beach, NC 28462 1.800.252.7000 • 910.842.8000 www.coastalvacationresorts.com Coastal Vacation Resorts Oak Island 8118 East Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 1.888.703.5469 • 910.278.5405 www.coastalvacationresortsoakisland.com Craig Realty 3262 Holden Beach Road SW Holden Beach, NC 28462 910.842.2628 • 910.842.2777 www.craigrealtyhb.com Hobbs Realty 114 Ocean Boulevard West Holden Beach, NC 28462 1.800.655.3367 • 910.842.2002 www.hobbsrealty.com see our ad on page 68 Holden Beach Vacations 123 Ocean Boulevard West Holden Beach, NC 28462 1.800.842.6949 • 910.842.6949 www.holdenbeachvacations.com see our ad on page 67 Intracoastal Vacation Rentals 6 Marina Wynd Bald Head Island, NC 28461 1.877.344.6674 • 910.457.5002 www.bhivacations.com see our ad on page 65 Isle Sea You 44 East Second Street Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 1.866.ISLE.SEA • 1.888.623.2647 www.isle-sea-you.com see our ad on page 69 iTrip Vacations Oak Island 8821 East Oak Island Drive, Suite 4 Oak Island, NC 28465 910.250.3016 www.oakisland.itrip.co Margaret Rudd & Assoc., Inc., Realtors® 210 Country Club Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 1.800.486.5441 www.rudd.com see our ad on page 62 McClure Realty Vacations 24-A Causeway Drive Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 1.800.332.5476 • 910.579.3586 www.mcclurerealtyvacations.com Oak Island Accommodations 8901 East Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 1.888.288.3694 www.oakislandgetaway.com see our ad on page 63 Proactive Vacations 3369 Holden Beach Road Holden Beach, NC 28462 910.842.1550 www.proactivevacations.com see our ad on page 64 Sloane Realty Vacations Ocean Isle Beach 16 Causeway Drive SW Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 1.800.843.6044 • 910.579.6216 www.sloanevacations.com see our ad on page 66 Sloane Realty Vacations Sunset Beach 420 Sunset Boulevard South Sunset Beach, NC 28468 1.866.348.7138 • 910.579.6500 www.sloanevacations.com see our ad on page 66 Southport Realty, Inc. 727 North Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 910.457.6401 www.southport-realty.com St. James Properties 4006 St. James Drive Southport, NC 28461 1.800.245.3871 • 910.253.4734 www.stjames-properties.com Stellar Beach Realty & Rentals 10B Causeway Drive Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 919.322.8137 www.stellarbeachrealty.com Sunset Properties 419 South Sunset Boulevard Sunset Beach, NC 28468 1.866.976.8204 • 910.575.8662 www.sunsetbeachnc.com Sunset Properties 100 Causeway Drive, Suite 2 Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 1.866.976.8204 • 910.575.8662 www.vacationrentalsatoceanisle.com Sunset Vacations 401 South Sunset Boulevard Sunset Beach, NC 28468 1.800.331.6428 • 910.579.9000 www.sunsetvacations.com Tiffany’s Beach Properties 4 Maritime Way Bald Head Island, NC 28461 910.457.0544 www.tiffanysbeachproperties.com Williamson Realty Vacations 119 Causeway Drive SW Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 1.800.727.9222 • 910.579.2373 www.williamsonrealtyvacations.com see our ad on page 66 Golf Packages Pet Friendly Wedding PackagesBehind the beaches: a different water world awaits. Few experiences are more serene and inspiring than a glide through the salt marshes and waterways of North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands. Whether you choose to travel by kayak, paddle board, or canoe, your perspective changes with this close-range view sitting just above the water’s surface. Explore an ecosystem of oyster beds, fish, crabs, and skates. In these quiet realms you can hear the call of birds, the rustle of marsh grass, and the splash of fish skipping through the water— along with the occasional squeal of delight from friends and family who spy something new. No need to haul equipment from home. Our expert outfitters have everything you need to explore our wetlands, including gear, training, and tips for the best routes. The entire county offers paddling experiences, including blackwater rivers and creeks as well as the Intracoastal Waterway. Keep your eyes open for otter, deer, egrets, great blue herons, and brown pelicans, as well as bottle nose dolphins on their own fishing expedition. How about a guided tour? Plan a half- or full-day tour with the experts to get the most out of your experience. Outfitters can arrange everything for you, 18 HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE MARSH BY MOONLIGHT? 800.795.7263 | NCBRUNSWICK.COM 19 OUTFITTERS The Adventure Kayak Company, Inc. Beach Fun Rentals Beachway Rentals and Services, LLC Blue Planet Watersports Boomers Rentals, LLC Coastal Urge Island Dan’s Julie’s Rentals Long Beach Paddle Company Mr. Beach Rentals OKI Paddle Co. The Sail Shop Salty’s Surf Shop Sandlappers Beach Supplies Summertide Adventure Tours Sunset Beach Umbrellas Surf Unlimited your family, or group, including kayak, canoe, or paddle board rentals and transport, along with expert guidance through marshland mazes and waterways. You may opt for a twilight tour to enjoy a magnificent sunset and stargazing from your kayak—truly a one- of-a-kind experience to write home about. Rather walk than paddle? Several of our towns provide boardwalks and scenic walkways along our rivers, marshes, and the Intracoastal Waterway. Bring your fishing gear or camera as you look for blue heron, eagle, spot, flounder, and alligator. Next >