A Circle Tour brochure is available at the ferry offices; the Cape Fear Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, 24 N. Third Street, Wilmington, (910) 341-4030; and visitor information racks throughout the area. It directs you around a loop that includes a ride on the Fort Fisher/Southport ferry and connects Wilmington, Pleasure Island, Southport and eastern Brunswick County. The Circle Tour will bring you to seven major attractions: Battleship North Carolina (fee), Orton Plantation Gardens (fee), Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson (free), Southport Maritime Museum (fee), Progress Energy's Brunswick Nuclear Plant (free), North Carolina Aquarium (fee) and Fort Fisher Civil War Museum (free). Total time for driving is about two hours, which includes about 30 minutes riding the ferry. The brochure provides information on the attractions and ferry schedule.

This 1850 Greek Revival house and plantation is one of the oldest existing peanut plantations in North Carolina. Today, costumed guides lead visitors through this lovingly restored mansion and recount the plantation's history. Skills important to daily nineteenth-century life, such as spinning, weaving, smithery and basketry, are frequently demonstrated, and visitors are invited to walk the estate's grounds and view the plantation's outbuildings, including a tenant house, an outdoor kitchen and more.

The 67-acre Abbey Nature Preserve has a 2.4-mile nature trail winding through woods and crossing over the mill pond. Once the original site of Poplar Grove's gristmill, the preserve is now part of the Coastal Land Trust and a wonderful escape from the city. Poplar Grove, dedicated to education, preservation and service to the community, maintains a busy schedule of activities throughout the year. Annual events include a Farmer's Market, a Halloween festival, an Herb and Garden Fair, the Classy Chassis Car Show & Flea Market, and a Christmas Open House. Check out our Annual Events chapter for details on these events or call the Poplar Grove plantation offices.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Poplar Grove Plantation is 9 miles north of Wilmington on U.S. 17 at the Pender County line. Farm animals, a gift shop, a playground, a picnic area, a restaurant ,and wedding and party facilities are located on the grounds. Poplar Grove Plantation is open Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday noon to 5 PM. Please note that the last guided tour of the plantation house is at 4 PM daily. Fees for the guided house tour are $8 for adults ($6 each for groups of 15 or more), $7 for seniors and military, $5 for students ages 6 to 15 and free for children 5 and younger. Group rates are available. Poplar Grove is closed for Easter, Thanksgiving and from the week of Christmas until the beginning of February. Call for Christmas hours. Parking is plentiful, and access to the estate's grounds is free.

This 86-acre National Park Service site commemorates and preserves the land where the Revolutionary War Battle of Moore's Creek was fought in February 1776 between Loyalists and Patriots of North Carolina. A one-mile walking history trail enables you to see much of the battlefield, and there are also exhibits and an audio-visual program in the visitors center. The battle is commemorated annually during the last full weekend in February. The event features living history encampments, weapons demonstrations, colonial and military music and a wreath-laying ceremony. There is a picnic area with a covered shelter, tables, charcoal grills and restroom facilities. The park is located along N.C. Highway 210 approximately 20 miles northwest of Wilmington. Take I-40 north to Exit 408, then travel west on N.C. Highway 210 for 15 miles.