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Learn about the Nursery Industry at Phillips Nursery

Phillips Nursery is a local plant nursery, located in Leland. You can visit Phillips to see how a nursery of its nature is managed, or you can purchase some North Carolina bushes or shrubs to plant in your landscaping. When you visit Phillips Nursery, you will be able to enjoy a piece of North Carolina in your landscaping, even after your vacation is over! Specializing in container-grown shrubs, shade trees, potting mix and loads of bark, Phillips Nursery is open year-round. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, contact Phillips Nursery at (910) 253-6692.

Enjoy Legends in Concert or Tribute! the Concert in Myrtle Beach

While you are in the Brunswick County area, you may want to take an evening journey to Myrtle Beach for a Las Vegas-style musical concert. These concerts are led by performers who impersonate famous stars like Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Rod Stewart. Two of these concerts are offered in the area - the first is Legends in Concert which can be reached at (800) 960-7469, and the other is Tribute! The Concert, which can be reached at (800) 313-6685.

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.

Participate in an Area Walking or Jogging Race

If you are an athlete who enjoys taking running to a competitive level, you may enjoy competing in an area Brunswick County race. The Annual Oak Island Lighthouse 10K/5K Run/Walk is a popular race that is sponsored by the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce. This race takes participants on a scenic tour over the Oak Island Bridge, through the Oak Island village and past the Oak Island Lighthouse. This fun event attracts many participants each year. For more information, contact the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce at (800) 457-6964. Also held in Brunswick County during the annual Oyster Festival is the North Carolina Oyster Festival Road Race. These races consist of a 10K, a 5K, and a 1-mile Fun Run. For more information, contact the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 426-6644. Other races may be held during your stay in Brunswick County, so you may want to check local listings upon your arrival.

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.

Spend an Afternoon Shopping in Area Antique Stores

Though there are many nice gift shops in the area, many visitors prefer to do their shopping at area antique stores. Shopping at antique stores is a great way to find unique items of the area that can't be purchased by just anyone at a souvenir shop. If you are interested in antiques, Brunswick County has a number of shops available. In Southport, you may enjoy Magnolia Gifts and Antiques at (910) 457-4982, Northrup Antiques Mall at (910) 457-9569, or Southport Antiques at (910) 457-1755. Also, you may want to travel to nearby Burgaw, which is home to the Burgaw Antiqueplace, which consists of items from 50 dealers. The Burgaw Antiqueplace can be reached at (910) 259-7070.

Visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport is home to a variety of exhibits and artifacts that will teach you about the maritime history of the area. Local shipwreck treasures, sharks' teeth, a fragment from a 2,000-year-old Indian canoe, and shrimping nets are among the items you will find at the museum. Visitors of all ages enjoy the trivia board located in the museum, and there is also a research library and video collection available. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $2.00 for adults (ages 16 and older), $1.00 for seniors (62 and older), and free for children less than 16 years old. For more information, contact the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport at (910) 457-0003.

Visit the Oak Island Lighthouse

The 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.

Watch Sea Turtle Nests

Brunswick County is one of the largest counties in North Carolina and is almost entirely surrounded by water, wetlands, and wooded areas. Because of the natural habitats found in Brunswick County, a variety of animals make their homes here. Sea turtles are no exception, and the endangered animals are protected by a variety of sea turtle protection programs that are in place in Brunswick County. A variety of volunteers monitor nests of sea turtle species, and during the June and July hatching season, volunteers watch the nests to ensure turtle hatchlings can make it safely to sea. If you happen to be in the area during the hatching season, you may be able to experience one of these amazing egg hatchings. For more information, contact the Ocean Isle Beach Turtle Watch Program at (910) 579-1016 or the Bald Head Island Turtle Sanctuary and Conservancy at (910) 457-0089.

Attend the Brunswick Islands Home and Garden Show

Held each year in March, the Brunswick Islands Home & Garden Show displays a variety of area merchants and business that offer goods and services for the needs of your home and family. Almost 100 businesses participate in this show, which is held at the West Brunswick High School in Shallotte. The show normally runs throughout the weekend, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, contact the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 426-6644.