This guided-tour package may be the most convenient way for a daytripper to get to know Bald Head past and present. Tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday from March 15 until Thanksgiving. Call for tour days after Thanksgiving. The three-hour tour begins with a 10 AM ferry departure and includes visits to Old Baldy Lighthouse, the Smith Island Museum of History and Captain Charlie's Station. Put into service in 1817, Old Baldy is the state's oldest standing lighthouse, the second of three built on the island to guide ships across the Cape Fear Bar and into the river channel. The tour fee ($45 per adult, $40 per child 12 and younger — subject to change) includes the round-trip ferry ride, the island tour and an $10 voucher toward the purchase of lunch at the River Pilot Cafe. Stay and linger; ferries return to Indigo at the bottom of every hour. Reservations are required and can be made at the above number. For more information, call (910) 457-7481. You must arrive at the departure site by 9:30 AM for the 10 AM departure. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes as the tour requires walking.

At this site stood the first successful permanent European settlement between Charleston and New Bern. It was founded in 1726 by Roger and Maurice Moore (who recognized an unprecedented real estate opportunity in the wake of the Tuscarora War, 1711-13), and the site served as port and political center. Russelborough, home of two royal governors, once stood nearby. In 1748 the settlement was attacked by Spanish privateers, who were soundly defeated in a surprise counterattack by the Brunswick settlers. A painting of Christ (Ecce Homo), reputedly 400 years old, was among the Spanish ship's plunder and now hangs in St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington. At Brunswick Town in 1765, one of the first instances of armed resistance to the British crown occurred in response to the Stamp Act. In time, the upstart, upriver port of Wilmington superseded Brunswick. In 1776 the British burned Brunswick, and in 1862 Fort Anderson was built there to help defend Port Wilmington. The earthworks of Fort Anderson are 100 percent intact and one of the best examples of earthworks that exist today. Occasional church services are still held in the ruins of St. Philip's Church.

Admission to the historic site is free and open to the public all year, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 AM until 5 PM. The site is closed on most major holidays. From Wilmington, take N.C. 133 about 18 miles to Plantation Road. Signs will direct you to the site (exit left) that lies close to Orton Plantation Gardens. The site's visitors center offers a gift shop, a research library, an exhibit hall, a 14-minute slide presentation on the history of Old Brunswick Town, staff offices and handicapped accessibility.

Southport's oldest church was in continuous use until Easter Sunday 2004, when St. Philip's dedicated a new 350-seat church on property across the street. The new church has the traditional clapboard look on the exterior, a bell tower and carillon. The Chapel of the Cross at St. Philip's is a beautiful clapboard church erected in 1843, partly through the efforts of Colonel Thomas Childs, then commander of Fort Johnston, one block east. It stands beside Southport City Hall. Within the chapel flies nearly every flag that has flown over the parish since 1741, including Spanish and British. The building exhibits Carpenter-style Greek Revival elements, particularly evident in the pediments and exterior wooden pilasters, as well as English Gothic details. Entrance is made through the small, square tower, with its louvered belfry, simple exterior arcading and colored-glass lancet windows. The church's side windows of diamond-paned clear glass flood the sanctuary with light, illuminating the handsome tongue-and-groove woodwork on the walls and ceiling. It's a beautiful, quiet place that remains open 24 hours a day for meditation, prayer or rest as well as being available for funerals, weddings, healing services and other religious forums. Guidelines are available for those interested in using the chapel for religious purposes.

Shaded by centuries-old live oaks and aflame with color in spring, this is a park to savor — a place in which to drink in the spirit of old Smithville. The walls and entrances that embrace The Grove were constructed of ballast stones used in ships more than 100 years ago. Set back among the oaks, stately Franklin Square Gallery was once a schoolhouse and then City Hall and now is an art gallery displaying art in several media. The park is a place to indulge in local legend by taking a drink of well water from the old pump — a sip that is sure to take you back to a simpler time.

A shady little park with a gazebo, benches and a partial view of the waterfront, Keziah Park is notable for its uncannily bent live oak. Estimated to be 800 years old, the tree is called the Indian Trail Tree after the legend that it was curved while a sapling by ancient natives who used it to blaze the approach to their preferred fishing grounds beyond. It later rooted itself a second time, completing an arch.

Read "Gentleman Pirate" Stede Bonnet's plea for clemency, delivered just before he was hanged; view treasures rescued from local shipwrecks; see a 2,000-year-old Indian canoe fragment; inspect the fine details of nearly 100 hand-built ship models; see the military exhibit; learn about hurricanes, sharks' teeth, shrimping nets and much more in one of the region's newest and most ambitious museums. Many of the exhibits are hands-on, and a Jeopardy-style trivia board is a favorite of history buffs of all ages. The museum boasts an extensive maritime research library and video collection and is within walking distance of Southport's restaurants and shopping. Hours are 9 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. Ask about periodic special exhibits and lectures. Note: The museum is planning to move to an as yet undetermined location in September 2009. Please call for location information after that time.

Have you ever considered visiting a jail? Not an enforced visit, of course, but one during which you can leave anytime you want. If the thought intrigues you, consider the Old Brunswick Jail, after all, "It's nothing like Alcatraz, more like Mayberry." Built in 1904 and in service until 1971, this two-story structure contains some of the original accoutrement. The sliding doors to the cells remain, as does the original register of "residents." There is even some left-over graffiti (including caricatures) — mainly from the Nixon era. The jail keeper's quarters contains a pot-belly stove and pictures of the jailers. Then there are the stories — but you'll have to visit to learn those. The jail opens in April and is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays through October as well as by appointment for groups.

"The Winds and the Sea sing their requiem and shall forever more. ..." Profoundly evocative of the harsh realities endured by Southport's long-gone seafarers, the Old Smithville Burial Ground (1804) is a must-see. Obelisks dedicated to lost river pilots, monuments to entire crews and families who lived and died by the sea, and stoic elegies memorialize Southport's past as no other historic site can. Many of the names immortalized on these stones live on among descendants still living in the area.

Dressed in period costume, riding in a surrey pulled by a mule, local historian Katie Stewart offers tours of Historic Southport. She tells tales of the town's history, many with basis in fact. Interesting facts about pirates, blockade-runners and colonial settlers figure prominently in her stories. Also offered are lantern-led Ghost Walks. Dressed in an antebellum mourning gown and carrying an oil lantern, Katie will regale you with local legends of the night while you tour the Old Smithville Burying Grounds and skirt the Old Brunswick Jail. Specialty tours are available upon request, and group rates are available for organizations, clubs, schools and larger family reunions. To inquire about dates and times or to plan a tour, call Old South Tour and Carriage Company at the above number.

Orton Plantation represents one of the region's oldest historically significant residences in continuous use. The family names associated with it make up the very root and fiber of Cape Fear's history. Built in 1725 by the imperious "King" Roger Moore, founder of Brunswick Town, the main residence at Orton Plantation underwent several expansions to become the archetype of old Southern elegance. It survived the ravages of the Civil War despite being used as a Union hospital after the fall of Fort Fisher and Fort Anderson. Thereafter it stood abandoned for 19 years until it was purchased and refurbished by Col. Kenneth McKenzie Murchison, CSA. In 1904 the property passed to the Sprunt family, related to the Murchisons by marriage, and the plantation gardens began taking shape. In 1915 the family built Luola's Chapel, a Doric structure of modest grandeur available today for meetings and private weddings. The 20 acres of gardens, both formal and natural, are among the most beautiful in the east, consisting of ponds, statuary, footbridges, stands of cypress and centuries-old live oak trees. The elaborately sculpted Scroll Garden overlooks former rice fields. Elsewhere are the tombs of Roger Moore and his family. Camellias, azaleas, pansies, flowering trees and other ornamentals bloom in the spring; later, oleander, hydrangea, gardenia, magnolia, crepe myrtle and annuals burst with color. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of some of the alligators that live in the ponds, especially Buster, the 12-foot gator who has lived in the lagoon near the house for many years. The alligators often sun themselves on the banks and can be viewed from the gardens.

Touring the gardens takes an easily paced hour or more. Orton House is still a private residence and is not open to the public. The gardens are open from March through August, 8 AM to 6 PM, and from September through November, 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for children ages 6 through 16 and free for children younger than 6. Season passes and group rates are available. Orton Plantation is off N.C. 133, 15 miles south of Wilmington and 12 miles north of Southport. Nearby are the historic sites of Brunswick Town and Fort Anderson.

David and Carolyn Pryor, both highly experienced educators and sailors extraordinaire, invite you to participate in their customized adventure cruises aboard the 52-foot cutter, Carolina Gale. With a cockpit that comfortably seats six passengers plus crew, a spacious salon, three queen cabins, two heads, a galley, a navigation center and a Bimini top for shade, this cruising yacht, luxuriously furnished with original artwork and hand-woven oriental rugs, provides all the comforts you need.

Priority Sailing provides opportunities to sail on the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River. Sailors of various skill levels may participate in the operation of the sailboat, or just sit back and relax. The captains provide information on history, marine life and ecology as well as sailing knowledge and skills. This blue-water cruising sailboat is an excellent choice for birthday and anniversary celebrations, family reunions, a romantic honeymoon or bed and breakfast afloat as well.

Morning, afternoon or sunset cruises sail the Atlantic Ocean along Oak Island or Bald Head Island or up the Cape Fear River along Battery Island and the Southport shore. Why not try the romantic Full Moon Cruise? (Check the website for schedule.) Weekend cruise packages are available. The dinghy, Cats Paw, can be used for exploration or trips to shore.

The Pryors have been involved with the Southport Sail and Power Squadron since its inception (see our Watersports chapter for information about the Southport Sail and Power Squadron). They both have a history of racing and cruising on numerous sailboats, have achieved Senior Navigator status through the U.S. Power Squadrons and are licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard. Interested in sailing instruction? The Pryors also operate a sailing academy affiliated with the American Sailing Association(See our Watersports chapter.)

Have you ever wondered exactly how electricity is produced by nuclear energy? Nuclear power plants are off limits to the general public, but in the Visitors Center you can see a model of the Southport plant, watch it operate and listen to the audio recording explaining the process. Do you know that one million gallons of water per minute flow through the power plant in Southport for cooling? You will find exhibits that show the methods used for keeping sea turtles from entering the intake canal and for screening fish and other sea creatures where the water enters the plant, sending them down the "slide for life" to a holding pond and returning them to their natural environment. Other exhibits include explanations of used fuel storage, a small model of a control room, the fission process, energy and more. The exhibits are open by appointment only, so it's best to call (910) 457-6041 for more information and for a listing of phone numbers. The center is closed on holidays and weekends. Programs, presentations and guided tours are available for school and civic groups with advance arrangements.

Relax and experience the quiet power of the winds aboard sailing vessel Kelly Allen, a 37-foot O'Day center cockpit sloop. Sail the Atlantic Ocean, the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Captain Bob Griffith is licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard, and sails are available year round, weather and tide permitting. You can sign up for regularly scheduled cruises and share the experience with new acquaintances or schedule a private charter. There is a minimum of two and a maximum of six passengers.

Have you ever dreamed of flying? Skydive Coastal Carolinas, a member of the United States Parachute Association, can make that dream come true! There are several options available. A tandem jump allows the first-time jumper to experience freefall from approximately 2 miles in the sky with the use of a parachute harness built for two people. This type of jump, accomplished with a certified tandem instructor, allows you to relax and enjoy the free fall and canopy ride with a minimum of ground training. As a tandem student you will be required to complete a brief ground class, usually 30 minutes. Instruction includes an overview of the jump process, climbing to altitude, exit, opening, canopy control and landing, and proper function and use of sport skydiving gear. There is even a videographer available to record the experience for you. There is skydiving instruction available to train you for Accelerated Free Fall as well. Experienced, qualified jumpers can participate in beach jumps and night jumps.

Smithville Horse-N-Buggy, a local, family-owned business, offers carriage rides and hay rides by reservation. The carriage is a beautiful Victorian style and is often pulled by a strong but gentle Belgian named Sally Jane. Other members of the family include three Percherons. The carriage ride, the transportation of choice for the First Friday Gallery Walks in Southport, is available for celebrating graduations, birthdays, Valentine's Day or any special occasion — or just because it's a beautiful way to see Southport.

This 2-mile-long walking tour links 25 historic landmarks, among them the tiny Old Brunswick County Jail and the Stede Bonnet Memorial. Architectural beauty abounds along the route, revealing Queen Anne gables, Southport arch and bow, and porches trimmed in gingerbread. The free brochure describing this informal, self-guided chain of discoveries can be obtained at the Southport Visitor Center, 113 W. Moore Street (where the tour begins) Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM in summer. Off-season, call for information at (800) 388-9635.

After St. James Episcopal Church left Brunswick Town in favor of the rival port of Wilmington, the Anglican parish of St. Philip formed in 1741. In 1754 it began building a brick church at Brunswick, the seat of royal government in the colony. After struggling with finances and a destructive hurricane, the church was finally completed in 1768, only to be burned by the British in 1776 (the colony's first armed resistance to the Stamp Act occurred nearby at the royal governor's residence). Today, all that remains of St. Philip's church, the only Colonial church in southeastern North Carolina, is a rectangular shell — 25-foot-high walls, 3 feet thick — plus several Colonial-era graves (some of which are resurfacing with time). The ruin's round-arched window ports are intact and suggest Georgian detailing, but little solid evidence exists about the building's original appearance beyond some glazing on the brick. Three entrances exist, in the west, north and south walls, and three, triptych-style windows open the east wall. Services are still held held periodically within the ruins. The body of North Carolina's first royal governor (Arthur Dobbs) is reputed to have been interred at St. Philip's, as he requested, but it has never been identified. St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Southport was named after the Colonial parish to perpetuate its memory.

Built c. 1890 for a total of $3,300, this church is the third to occupy this site. Today the building features two of the area's best stained-glass windows (at either side of the sanctuary); handsome, diagonally paneled walls; and a beaded ceiling (i.e., finished with narrow, half-round moldings) finished by a 15-year-old carpenter. Emblazoned across the original front-transom window is the abbreviation "M.E.C.S." (Methodist Episcopal Church, South), a remnant of the days when the church was split from its northerly brethren due to the Civil War. The clapboard exterior includes Shingle-style detailing, a cedar-shingled roof and a gabled bell tower. Trinity Church stands at the corner of N. Atlantic Avenue, east of the Fire Department and across the street from the post office.

At the end of Howe Street, you'll come upon this breezy little park and take in the breathtaking scene at the convergence of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. From the swings overlooking the waterfront you can see Old Baldy Lighthouse and Oak Island Lighthouse (the brightest in the nation). Gone are the pirate ships and menhaden boats, but the procession of ferries, freighters, barges and sailboats keeps Southport's maritime tradition alive. Stroll or cycle the Historic Riverwalk trail, an easy 0.7-mile scenic route that meanders from the City Pier, past the fisheries and the small boat harbor, and culminates at a 750-foot boardwalk with benches and handrails over the tidal marsh near Southport Marina. Leave your bike in the rack and walk on to the gazebo for an unbroken view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the ship channel. It's a restful, romantic place where the only sounds you're likely to hear are the cawing of crows and the clank of halyards.

If you like wandering and looking for wildlife, these trails are for you. The Butterfly/Hummingbird Garden is located on the trail behind the Recreation Center at 3003 E. Oak Island Drive. There are elevated platforms overlooking the path, which includes indigenous trees and flowers and plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. At the east end of 31st Street (next to the Recreation Center) is Tidal Waves Park, where you will find a small picnic shelter near the floating dock, which can be used for launching canoes and kayaks. Canoe/kayak trail maps are available at the center. The Environment Crossover crosses the Davis Canal, giving an elevated view of the canal and the wetlands on either side. The trail winds through the trees to the other side of the island, and a crossover walk leads to the ocean side, giving a closer view of the salt marsh. Wildlife, such as snakes, raccoons, deer and various birds, make their appearances here. The Town of Oak Island has also purchased land at the west end of Oak Island, where they are preserving the dunes. Paths wander through the dunes and stop at overlook points where you may chance to see red fox, black snakes, fiddler crabs, loggerhead sea turtles, raccoons or several species of shorebirds.

Considered one of the strongest forts of its time, Fort Caswell originally encompassed some 2,800 acres at the east end of Oak Island. Completed in 1838, the compound consisted of earthen ramparts enclosing a roughly pentagonal brick-and-masonry fort and citadel. Caswell proved to be so effective a deterrent during the Civil War that it saw little action. Supply lines were cut after Fort Fisher fell to Union forces in January 1865, so before abandoning the fort, the Caswell garrison detonated the powder magazine, heavily damaging the citadel and surrounding earthworks. What remains of the citadel is essentially unaltered and is on the grounds of the Baptist Assembly of North Carolina, which owns the property. A more expansive system of batteries and a sea wall were constructed during the war-wary years from 1885 to 1902. Between the Tuesday after Labor Day and the Friday before Memorial Day, Fort Caswell is open for self-guided visits Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 8 AM to noon. Admission is $3 per person.

Standing on the ocean floor would be a wonderful way to experience the marine environment up close. Visitors to this museum can do the next best thing — walk through The Ocean Reef. This third-largest natural seascape diorama in the Southeast is home to life-sized models of sharks, dolphins, game fish, octopus and crustaceans. The Sea Shore gallery contains more than 200 shells and a 500-gallon Touch Tank stocked with sea stars, whelks, horseshoe crabs, sea anemones, spider crabs, hermit crabs, an assortment of fish and more. Visitors may walk through the dune in the Legacy of the Loggerhead exhibit to view nests from the interior or watch a video filmed on Ocean Isle Beach about the life cycle of loggerhead turtles. Hands-on exhibits and extensive wildlife dioramas depict the plants and animals that live in the Green Swamp, barrier islands and coastal plains. You will find an aviary as well. The museum hosts special family programs during the summer and activities throughout the year. Check website for details.

Who would expect to find a winery just 15 minutes inland from the beach? Not just any winery, mind you, but an upscale, commercial vineyard and production facility situated on 40 acres, surrounded by dense, Carolina woods; a winery that has been winning gold, silver and bronze medals for their wines since opening in May of 2002. The folks at Silver Coast Winery invite you to sample wines in the tasting room, tour the winery and learn about wine making. Their tasting room includes a large selection of award-winning wines and gifts (see our Shopping chapter), and the art gallery offers an eclectic display of art from local artists. Plan a private party, corporate event or wedding (see our Wedding Planning chapter), or just enjoy a picnic lunch in the breezy gardens. They also host a variety of special events throughout the year, including their annual Purple Feet Festival. During January and February, opening hours are Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 PM. March through December hours are Monday through Saturday 11 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from noon until 5 PM.

Ingram Planetarium is named for Stuart Ingram, a navigator of WWII planes who used the constellations and planets to chart his way. His quest for sharing his learning led to founding both the Ingram Planetarium and the Museum of Coastal Carolina. The planetarium boasts a state-of-the-art facility with a 40-foot dome theater, which seats 85 people. Programs change seasonally. The planetarium hosts special sky events, telescope clinics and other activities, such as laser light shows in December and July. Summer special programs include Reptiles in the Sky Dome (which includes live snakes) and a lecture on nesting sea turtles. ViewSpace is an award-winning exhibit featuring a continuous broadcast of the most recent updates directly from NASA. The Galaxy Gift Shop is a veritable storehouse of fun, educational gifts. The Planetarium hosts school groups and tour groups with advance reservations. Pi Day and Space Day on March 14, 2009, is one example of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy programs and activities. Check the website for details.

The Hurricane Fleet Deep Sea Fishing Center, with more than 30 years experience accommodating passengers, is located in the middle of the “seafood capital of the world,” where shrimp are a very large part of the catch. Have you ever wondered just how and where the shrimp are caught? Why not take a cruise on the 90-foot Hurricane II, which engages working shrimp boats while their crews explain shrimping along the Carolinas. You will see dolphin and sharks feed on the by-catch as the nets are pulled only a few feet from the bow of the Hurricane II. Most popular among all ages is the Dolphin Adventure Cruise. Cost is $21 for adults and $18 for children 11 and younger. Known for their deep-sea fishing experiences, the Hurricane Fleet has an open party boat for half-day and Gulf Stream fishing, with prices ranging from $42 to $90. Their fleet of sport-fishing vessels is available for private charter for inshore, offshore and Gulf Stream fishing for tuna, dolphin and wahoo. All fishing cruises include bait, tackle, rod and reel and fishing license. All vessels are U.S. Coast Guard approved. Call for additional information, cruise schedules, rates and reservations.