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Topsail Island & Vicinity |
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Beach Buggy of Topsail Island
Beach Buggy of Topsail Island's 15-passenger
chauffeured shuttle bus can be just what you need for a safe night out
on the town, a Topsail Island tour, a group outing to a sporting event,
a bachelor/bachelorette party or anywhere you and your friends or family
might wish to go together. Fully licensed and insured, Beach Buggy of
Topsail Island also provides shuttle service to the Wilmington and
Jacksonville airports. Call the above number for information or
reservations. |
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Buccaneer Cruises The
Buccaneer offers sightseeing, sunset and party cruises. Sightseeing
cruises provide the opportunity to see dolphins, osprey and other
wildlife as you cruise by Blackbeard's old hideout. Sunset cruises offer
time to relax and view Topsail's spectacular sunsets. Call Captain Dave
for cruise times and rates. To guarantee your space, stop at the Topsail
Beach Assembly Building dock to purchase tickets in advance. |
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Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base TourMain Gate base entrance on N.C. Highway 24 in Jacksonville (910) 451-1113 In 1999 the U.S. Marine Corps instituted a self-guided
tour of Camp Lejeune, home of East Coast "expeditionary forces in
readiness." The tour was designed to take visitors from pre-Colonial America
to the edge of technology on the base that serves the largest single
concentration of Marines anywhere in the world. A printed tour guide with
map, directions and a complete narrative of the 25 points of interest can be
picked up at the Main Gate base entrance on N.C. Highway 24 in Jacksonville.
The tour is well-marked by large white signs and can start at any specific
point of interest. Depending on how many sites you choose to visit, a tour
can range from one or two hours to a half or full day. The tour is free, but
can be closed down at any time for security purposes. For more information,
call the number above. |
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Dorothy's Harbor Tours Cruise Topsail Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway
in Topsail Island's tour boat, Dorothy. With seating for 28
people, this craft offers regularly scheduled daytime and sunset cruises
every day from April through September, bringing you a fantastic
opportunity to watch dolphins frolicking, ospreys nesting and many other
joys of nature. Private charters are available. Call Captain Dave
for tour departure times and rates. No food or drinks are available
onboard, but you may bring your own. |
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Karen
Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue While the primary purpose of this
all-volunteer facility is the care and rehabilitation of sick and injured
sea turtles, the center is open on a limited basis to the public. Visitors
can view large loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles and perhaps even a
rare Kemp's Ridley turtle while learning about the history and the problems
each turtle faces. Visitors will also learn about their feeding, treatment
and predicted release dates. The center is open during the summer months on
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 2 to 4 PM. Due to the
popularity and the limited size of this facility, it is best to arrive
early. No calls for reservations are accepted. The center is not open to the
public at other times of the year, and it may close without notice in the
summer for emergencies. Donations are appreciated. |
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Missiles and More Museum The Missiles and More Museum tour begins with
early Topsail Island settlers and the days of Blackbeard the Pirate and
continues on to World War II when Topsail Island became part of the training
ground for Camp Davis. The museum has several artifacts from Operation
Bumblebee, part of the nation's early space program, and from the ramjet
engines that were assembled on the island and used to propel the Talos and
Terrier rockets. Other displays include a history of each local town and the
Ocean City Beach area. Native American artifacts are also displayed and
include a dugout canoe from the 1700s. The museum is run by volunteers and
is open Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 PM in the spring and fall and
Monday through Saturday from 2 to 4 PM during the summer months. For large
groups or off-season visits call the museum to schedule a private showing
with a docent. |
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Sea Turtle
Nest Sitting Lucky vacationers walking on the beach between July and
October might spot the signs of a turtle nest about to hatch. Turtle
project volunteers prepare the nesting area for the emerging turtles by
creating runways in the sand and clearing the area of obstacles. At
night, volunteers sit by these nests and wait for the actual hatching.
When visitors and/or residents come upon a roped-off nest that has been
prepared with runways, they are welcome to join volunteers in this
awe-inspiring experience. However, survival of the baby turtles requires
patience and a willingness to follow instructions on the part of the
spectators and participants. For volunteer information on nest sitting
please call (910) 470-2880. |
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Shellabrations Turn a leisurely walk on the beach
into a learning experience for the entire family. Shellabrations offers
private, group or individual shell-identification walks along the
beaches of Topsail Island. Shelling expert Pat Crist guides your tour to
the areas where the most shells can be found at a particular time, or to
the area of your choice. There is a charge of $6 per hour for each
person, with children younger than 5 coming along for free. Reservations
are required. |
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Triple J Stables Triple J Stables offers trail rides and riding lessons.
Guided trail rides are offered by appointment and should be reserved at
least one day in advance. The stables are open seven days a week, and a
summer day camp is also available. |
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Turtle Talks Want to know more about sea
turtles? Check out Turtle Talks for an educational and kid-friendly talk
on the lifestyle and habits of loggerhead turtles. Learn all about the
Topsail Sea Turtle Project and what they do to help this endangered
species. Questions are welcomed, and admission is free. No reservations
are required. Turtle Talks are held Wednesday afternoons at 4 PM between
Memorial Day and Labor Day at the Surf City Recreation Center. |
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