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Spend an Afternoon in the Small Town of Shallotte

Shallotte is a small town in Brunswick County that is located conveniently off Highway 17. A variety of restaurants, shops and other businesses are located in Shallotte, which is a central commerce area where visitors can purchase what they need from the various grocery stores, department stores, professional offices and restaurants. For entertainment, Shallotte is home to a 10-screen movie theater with stadium seating and a bowling alley. Whether you need to stock up on the necessities or just need a family night of movies or bowling, Shallotte is just the place for you! For more information, contact the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 426-6644.

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.

Enjoy Some Target Practice at Ye Olde Gun Club and Shooting Range

Located in Southport, the Ye Olde Gun Club and Shooting Range has a variety of activities for you. If you would like to learn how to shoot a gun, you can take safety classes and get your concealment certification at the range. If you want to spend some time doing target practice, the covered area and practice ranges are just the thing for you! Their ranges include black powder, archery and trap shooting ranges, as well as 25-500 yard rifle ranges and 7-25 yard pistol ranges. For more information about range hours or for directions to the range, contact the Ye Olde Gun Club and Shooting Range at (910) 278-3763.

Relax For an Afternoon at a Day Spa

Spending an afternoon at the spa during your Brunswick County vacation is a great way to relax. Enjoy the calm atmospheres of some local spas while you pamper yourself with a facial, massage, manicure, pedicure, and more! The E Spa & Salon in Southport can be reached at (910) 457-0009 and offers a variety of massages, hair, facials, nails, and aromatherapy treatments. Also in Southport, Totally You Day Spa can be reached at (910) 457-0502 and also offers various spa treatments for both men and women. Finally, located in Shallotte is the Kozo Hair Designs & Spa, which can be reached at (910) 754-9477 and offers hair and facial treatments, massages, nails and wedding packages.

Attend a Cape Fear Yacht Club Event

The Cape Fear Yacht Club is based in Southport and began in 1993 by area residents who appreciate the boating industry and wanted to have an organization with other members who shared their interests. Today, the Cape Fear Yacht Club is an active area organization that has various events each year. Regattas to support charity causes like their Leukemia Cup Regatta in May, summer sailing yacht racing and the annual "Blessing of the Fleet" ceremony are among some of the exciting things the Yacht Club does each year. For more information about attending some of these events, or about possible membership, contact the Cape Fear Yacht Club at (910) 845-2860.

Take at Tour of the Progress Energy - Brunswick Plant Energy Center

The Progress Energy - Brunswick Plant Energy Center is located in Southport off N.C. Highway 87. While the nuclear plant is not open to the public because of safety reasons, there is a Visitor Center here where you can learn about the process. A variety of exhibits are available here, which includes a display about how to prevent sea turtles and other sea creatures from entering the plant with the million gallons of water that flow into the plant's cooling units each minute. The exhibits will also teach you about reading electric meters, used fuel storage, generating electricity with a stationary bicycle and educational videos. Admission to the Visitor Center is free, and the tours are self-guided. For more information, contact the Progress Energy - Brunswick Plant Energy Center at (910) 457-6041.

Travel To Myrtle Beach To Tour the La Belle Amie Vineyard

Located near Myrtle Beach in Little River, South Carolina, the La Belle Amie Vineyard is an operating vineyard. The vineyard sits on 40 acres not far from the ocean in North Myrtle Beach. The vineyard has been owned by the Bellamy family since the 1800s, and is part of a former tobacco plantation. Visitors to the vineyard can sample wines, browse the gift shop, and then relax as they enjoy a glass of wine of their choice. The vineyard is open Monday through Saturday, and hours vary depending on the time of year. For more information, contact La Belle Amie Vineyard at (843) 399-9463.

Practice Your Swing at the Driving Range

If you enjoy golfing but don't have time to golf a full round at a local course, you may want to check out a local driving range. Holden Beach Driving Range is a lighted facility that has lessons available on-site. A pro shop and batting cages are also available at this location. At this range in Holden Beach, you can practice your swing 24 hours a day, because when no staff is on duty, there is a self-payment booth for your convenience. For more information, contact the Holden Beach Driving Range of Holden Beach at (910) 842-3717. Another option is the Pro Tee Practice Range in Ocean Isle Beach. They have 36 fully lighted stations, a pro shop, refreshment area, batting cages, and a mini golf course. This facility is open daily and operates with a self-payment booth. For more information, contact the Pro Tee Practice Range at (910) 754-4700.

Go Kayaking or Canoeing on the Cape Fear River

Though the Cape Fear River areas aren't recommended for beginners because of high boat traffic and dangerous currents, the more advanced kayak and canoe paddlers enjoy the Cape Fear River waters each year. The Town of Oak Island has dedicated about 24 miles of canoe water trails in the Cape Fear River, which offer various challenges and adventures for the paddlers. This trail system is known as the Long Beach Canoe Trail System, and the four trails are the 4.2-mile Lockwood Folly trail, the 7-mile Montgomery Slough trail, the 6.5-mile Howells Point trail, and the 6-mile Davis Creek trail. Some of the waters are calm and protected, while others are rough and exposed, but all areas offer a variety of scenic opportunities. For more information, contact the Oak Island Recreation Department at (910) 278-5518.

Go Bicycling on Area Bike Paths

Brunswick County is a great place to ride your bicycle, as the roads are not as busy as they are in other coastal areas of North Carolina. A 32-mile bike route takes you from Southport to Orton Plantation and Brunswick Town Historic Site. Also, a recently built 3-mile paved shoulder bike path takes you from the state ferry dock to downtown Southport. Other bike trails can be found throughout the county. For more information, you can get a bicycle trail map from the Oak Island Recreation Center at (910) 278-5518. For information about state-funded bicycle trails, you can contact the North Carolina Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation at (919) 733-2804. For your bicycling adventure, you can rent bicycles in the area from Boomer's Rentals of Holden Beach at (910) 842-1400 or Julie's Rentals of Sunset Beach at (910) 579-1211. Also, there is a full-service bicycle shop in Southport, Southport Bicycles at (910) 457-1878.