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SwansboroThis "friendly city by the sea" is often overlooked when
it comes to its quaint, quiet and historical shopping areas, but we think
it's a unique treasure. Shops in Swansboro are basically in two areas —
along the river on Front Street and its adjoining side streets, and along
N.C. 24. We suggest you take some time to walk along the White Oak River,
shop a bit, enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants and relax in Bicentennial
Park. Harrika's Brew Haus at 911 Restoration You'll find all sorts of delights in this eclectic
shop. This unique shop offers a wide variety of items from cocktail
napkins, greeting cards and candles to garden accessories, gourmet
kitchen items and pet leashes. Let the friendly staff help you create
the perfect custom gift box. New items are always arriving, but you are
always sure to find unique sauces, oils, chocolates and other sweet
treats. There is a wide selection of teas and over 180 types of beer,
the largest selection in the county. The shop now offers inside seating
for enjoying your beverage of choice or outdoor seating in the newly
remodeled patio area. Gray Dolphin Boutique & Gift Shop Established in 1989, the Gray Dolphin Boutique & Gift
Shop has been a mainstay in the Swansboro shopping scene for years, and
the shop has a loyal following of customers from near and far. Inside
you will find fine clothing items, accessories, gifts and more. The
Mercantile The Mercantile is a unique place to shop. You will find
a variety of shopping items for all ages and interests. There are books
— cookbooks and bestsellers, local authors and historical sketches — as
well as unique gifts of all types and stylish resort wear and casual
clothes. Noah's Ark Noah's Ark is a wonderful shop to visit. You will find a
wide variety of items, including dishes, children's items, books,
nautical items and collectibles. You also will find local artwork,
gourmet foods and holiday ornaments. Quilt Cottage If you are looking for a quilt of just about any size, a
stop by the Quilt Cottage is in order. This shop offers quilts of all
types and sizes, from twin to king. They also offer accessories such as
handbags, placemats, pillows, shams, stuffed animals and other toys. Russell's Olde Tyme Shoppe At Russell's you'll find country crafts, costume
jewelry, handcrafted clothing, pottery, paintings, furniture, baskets,
silk and dried flowers, along with kitchen and cooking items. Owner
Maxine Russell also offers a wide variety of hand-painted items — from
photo albums to glass to wooden items. Each purchase in the store is
placed in a hand-painted shopping bag, a gift in itself. The store is
open daily most of the year, call ahead for off-season hours. Through the Looking Glass When you purchase a gift at Through the
Looking Glass, you can be certain it will delight the recipient. This
store has an excellent selection of home and garden accessories,
fragrances, jewelry, tableware, candles, wines and children's gifts. The
Christmas items are extensive and include decorations, nativity scenes,
dishes and more. Look for the specialized children's clothing. Need a
bouquet of silk or fresh flowers for that special someone? Through the
Looking Glass will design an arrangement sure to reflect your feelings.
You can shop here daily, but call for winter hours.
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Down EastDown East offers only a handful of shops, but
each is uncommon and well worth the trip. Because hours vary by season, we
suggest you call ahead. As you drive through the Down East area, you will
find numerous homes with signs out front welcoming you to stop and consider
buying model boats, decoys, crafts and more. Core Sound Waterfowl Museum Gift Shop Located at the end of Harkers Island Road beside the
Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitor Center, the Core Sound Waterfowl
Museum is something you do not want to miss. The museum gift shop is filled
with Down East gifts, most of which have waterfowl and environmental themes.
Decoys are abundant, along with wildlife art, books, cards, house flags,
windsocks, T-shirts, birdhouses, bird feeders and much more. The shop also
features decoy and local history exhibits. The gift store is open daily.
(For more information about the museum, see our
Attractions chapter.) |
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Capt. Henry's Gift Store This is a treasure trove of Down East decoys and lots
more. Capt. Henry's features nautical items, pottery, prints, jewelry and
wonderful decorations. Shoppers will be charmed by the baskets, birdhouses
and wind chimes. Capt. Henry's is open for business Monday through Saturday
in season and is closed in the winter. Edgewater Gardens Edgewater Gardens is a full-service lawn and garden
center. This nursery grows its own plants and specializes in herbs
and plants of all kinds. This business is located Down East, but it is worth
the drive. Sea Side Stop-N-Shop Sea Side Stop N Shop offers a variety of services.
Whether you need fuel for your car or boat or convenience store items, this
is a great place to stop. You'll also find a gift shop that offers unique
nautical items, baby gifts, seasonal items, candles and more. At the other
end of the building, Sea Side Galley offers pizzas, burgers, subs, seafood
and more to eat in or take out. |
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Western Carteret CountyThere are two things to keep in mind while shopping in
this area. First, there are quaint, unique shops scattered all along N.C.
Highway 24, so be prepared to stop (or turn around, if need be). Second,
it's a great area to find locally grown produce and goods. Never tried
boiled peanuts? You can find them here, too. Most communities in the western
part of the county have a convenience/gas store, a beauty salon and tanning
booth, or maybe a craft and flower shop. In addition to the selected stores
we describe here, two roadside stands deserve mention — Winberry Farm
Produce, on N.C. Highway 24 in Cedar Point, and Smith's Produce in Ocean,
also on N.C. Highway 24. Both offer seasonal local vegetables, Bogue Sound
watermelons and cantaloupes, canned food items and crafts. They are usually
open for business during the growing seasons of spring, summer and early
fall. Carolina Home and Garden Carolina Home and Garden offers a variety of trees,
shrubs and plants along with hardware, gardening items and lawn-care
supplies at reasonable prices. It is open daily most of the year and is
closed on Sunday in the winter. Redfearn's Nursery Redfearn's offers landscaping services and sells potted
plants, planters, garden seeds, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
The nursery is open daily, except in the winter when it closes on
Sunday. |
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Antiques ShopsThe Crystal Coast is home to a number of antiques shops. We highlight a
few in this section, and we definitely recommend a day or two of antiquing
throughout Carteret County. A popular event for those who love treasures of
the past is the Antiques Show and Sale held the last weekend in June at the
Crystal Coast Civic Center. The event features more than 40 booths of
antiques and collectibles. See our
Annual Events chapter for further details. The Marketplace Antiques and
Collectibles (252) 728-2325 The Marketplace and its companion store across the
street, The Marketplace II, display the wares of more than 55 dealers from
far and near. It's a must-stop shop for browsers and collectors, with a
variety of antiques and collectibles that will keep shopping enthusiasts
coming back for more. The Marketplace is open seven days a week. The
Marketplace II is located at 126 Turner Street and is also open seven days a
week and can be reached at (252) 728-2507. Seaport Antique Market Seaport Antiques is a treat for the senses. Here
you'll find the wares of many vendors, giving you an opportunity to see more
than one collector's items at a time. You'll find furniture, books,
glassware, knickknacks, jewelry and even some household accessories. Keep
coming back. The vendors rotate the offerings in their spaces regularly.
Seaport is open daily. |
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SwansboroSwansboro Antique Center (252) 393-6003 This rambling building shows the wares of more than 25 dealers in an
attractive space. You'll find kitchen collections, decoys, hunting and
fishing equipment, furniture, quilts, paintings, toys, books, old radios and
cameras, political memorabilia, clothing, tobacco products, old medical
items and original stained glass. For the inveterate collector, this place
shouldn't be missed. Shop here every day of the week except Monday year
round. |
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