Somehow, I had never been to Southport, NC before this month! Southport is a little slice of beach town heaven. Near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, Southport is a part of New Brunswick County. In 2916, Its estimated population was 3,625. Compared to Raleigh… that’s around 46,000 less!
Southport has become a popular filming location for television and movies. You probably saw this adorable town in the film adaption of Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven.
Southport makes the perfect day trip! The town is so little that you can pretty much see all of it within 24 hours!
The Ferry
The easiest way to get from the Wilmington area to Southport, North Carolina is by way of the ferry. I also think this is the most fun way! The Fort Fischer ferry travels back and forth from Pleasure Island all day from 5:30 am to 7:00 pm.
The ride is a total of about 20-minutes and instead of driving, you can actually get out of your car and enjoy the beautiful scenes. The ferry ride is enjoyable and smooth. It’s a wonderful way to start out your trip!
The Visitor’s Center
This was our first stop of the day. The Visitor’s Center/Riverwalk offers a relaxing, gorgeous place to stop and enjoy. We ended up taking A LOT of pictures here (since it offered such a beautiful backdrop). There are rocking chairs and swings throughout the grounds for you to take a load off.
You can also take a short walk on Southport’s pier. The pier is located by the visitor’s center and is the perfect place for fishing, birdwatching, or just settling into a wooden bench and admiring the miles of open water views.
Blue Cow Grille
The Blue Cow Grille is a just short walk away from The Visitors Center. Blue Cow Grille offers delicious food and friendly atmosphere! I totally suggest getting the jalapeno poppers and bologna sandwich! But they offer tons of great burgers if that’s more your thing!
As an honorable mention… I’ve also heard wonderful things about Fishy Fish Cafe. Fishy Fish Cafe is your spot for water-front dining.
Maritime Museum
The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport is one of three maritime museums that lies along the eastern portion of NC. The museum offers the really cool coastal history of the lower Cape Fear River including shipwrecks, the Civil War, hurricanes, piracy, etc. You’ll totally want to spin the big ship’s wheel or pretend to shoot the canon.
The Maritime Museum, Blue Cow Grille, and Visitor’s Center are all in walking distance so you may just want to find a good parking spot for half the day.
Southport Marina
The Southport Marina is huge! Actually, it’s one of the largest in North Carolina! Back in 2008, the entire facility underwent extensive renovation and upgrades.
You can walk around the waterway and enjoy the view of over 200 boats. However, the boat dock does cost a small fee for access. Or you can hang out in the gazebo right by the marina and enjoy the boats for free!
Are you planning on visiting Southport, North Carolina anytime soon?
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