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Take a Tour at Indigo Farms and Garden Center

The Indigo Farms and Garden Center of Shallotte is a great place for the kids to learn about how a produce farm is managed. Home-grown fruits and vegetables are available for purchase, or you can pick your own strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. A variety of special events are hosted throughout the year, including Farm Heritage Day and Pumpkin Day, both in October. Evening hayrides are offered in the fall. Also onsite is a bakery, ice cream shop, and florist. Hours of operation are Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact Indigo Farms & Garden Center at (910) 287-6794.

Visit the Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve

Located in Town Creek east of Winnabow, the Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve consists of 174 acres and is enjoyed by many who enjoy hiking, photography, bird watching, and more. There are 15 hiking trails located at Ev-Henwood, and each trail displays the various plants and animals that are found in the preserve. The low land forest area along the Town Creek has been left undisturbed, and you will also enjoy viewing the various small creeks that are found in the preserve. For more information, call (910) 962-3107.

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.

Go Boating

The Brunswick County area offers a variety of boating opportunities, whether you want to cruise in a small boat on the Cape Fear River or in a larger boat that can handle the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Before you take your boating adventure, be sure you are familiar with area rules and regulations. The coast of North Carolina is known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the numerous shipwrecks that have happened because of shallow water and treacherous shoals, so you will want to be familiar with area waters before taking your trip. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers Safe Boating courses throughout the year and can be reached at (910) 458-9598.

Attend the Annual Christmas by the Sea Festival

The 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.

Drink from an Old-Fashioned Water Pump at the Grove

The Grove is a historic park set among the old live oaks of Southport. Located in Franklin Square Park at E. West and Howe Streets, the entrances of this park were built from ballast stones that were used in ships more than 100 years ago. Also in this area, you will find the Franklin Square Gallery, which began as a schoolhouse, then served as the City Hall, and eventually was turned into its present use as an art gallery. Another unique aspect of this park is the old-fashioned water pump, which is still in working condition and enables visitors to enjoy well water while they relax in the park.

Take a Private Charter Boat Trip

Many visitors to the area enjoy going fishing in private charter boats. A variety of private charter options are available in Brunswick County, including full-day and half-day trips that can either go inshore or offshore. Depending on what kind of trip you are interested in, you will more than likely be able to find a captain in Brunswick County who can meet your needs. Half-day charters range from $300 to $600 and full-day charters range from $650 to $1,200. A variety of charters are available in the area. Bald Head Island offers Impulsive Charters at (910) 457-5331, while Oak Island is home to the Boss Lady Charter Boat Services at (910) 278-3433, the Fugitive Charter Boat at (910) 278-3796 and the Liquid Asset Sport Fishing Charter Boat at (910) 278-4199. Southport offers the Southport Fishing Center at (910) 454-4000 and the Salty Dog Charter Boat at (910) 278-9834. In Holden Beach, Holden Beach Charters can be reached at (910) 842-9055, while Ocean Isle Beach is home to the Voyager Fishing Charters at (910) 575-5978 and Captain Brant's Fishing Charters at (910) 575-3474.

Participate in an Area Golf Tournament

If you like taking your golf game to a competitive level, you may enjoy participating in a local golf tournament during your stay in Brunswick County. Throughout the year, a number of tournaments are held in the county, most of which benefit area non-profit organizations and charities. For more information on upcoming area tournaments, you can contact the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 426-6644, the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce at (800) 457-6964, or any of the area golf courses.

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.

Spend an Afternoon at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park

The Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park, located in Myrtle Beach at Ocean Boulevard and Ninth Avenue North, has a variety of fun rides, games and activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family. The park, which is open from the middle of March through the middle of September, offers a variety of 40 rides, 25 games, gift shops, an arcade, a haunted house, and more! Also on site is a nightclub for those under 21 years old, which is called The Attic. For more information, contact the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park at (800) 819-2282.