Day trips from North Myrtle Beach ~ Chapter 2 ~ Southport, NC
Chapter Two: Live Oaks & Lighthouses
Southport and Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Chapter One took us to Charleston. This one is quieter, and honestly, I think that is the point.
Southport sits about two hours north of North Myrtle Beach, and it is the kind of town that looks like a movie set because it has been one, over and over. Live oaks, porch swings, a waterfront nobody has paved over yet. Then there is Bald Head Island, thirty minutes out by ferry, where there are no cars at all.
I have done this day. Here is how I would spend it again.
Start in Southport
The plan is to arrive early so you can enjoy a full day in Southport before you cross.
Grab coffee first. I went to Port City Java and was pleased. Then stroll the Southport Pier and Riverwalk and just take in the views.
Grab coffee and walk the Southport Pier
From here you could rent a bike, drive, or take a tour of the surprisingly famous filming locations. A Walk to Remember, The Secret Life of Bees, and Safe Haven were all shot here, along with TV shows like Dawson's Creek and Under the Dome.
Biking the island would be my choice
Then, of course, browse the boutique shops. They are unique and adorable.
If you would like a draft or a glass of wine to start your Bald Head Island adventure, grab something at Silver Coast Winery, which has a tasting room in Southport (Monday to Saturday 11 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5). Or get your brew at Cape Side Brewing (opens at noon Friday and Saturday, 1pm all other days).
Then get ready to set sail for something genuinely surreal. I always tell people I felt like I was in Jurassic Park while I was on Bald Head Island!! A 30 minute trip from Deep Point Marina to Bald Head Island, ferries depart on the hour, beginning at 7 ending at 10 pm ($20 a person plus around $13 to park.)
The ferry leaves on the hour, beginning at 7 am
On Bald Head Island
Once you arrive, rent a bike or a golf cart. No cars are allowed on the island, so you will want one or the other to be set for the day. I would opt for the bike, but depending on your activity level, you do you!
From here the world is your oyster. Hike, bike, kayak, paddleboard, or just find a beach to lounge on and take in the views.
The one must do, for the activity and more importantly the history, is Old Baldy Lighthouse. It is 108 stairs and five landings to the top, and the view over the island and the Cape Fear River is worth every one of them.
Dinner back in Southport
After your day of exploring, head back on the ferry and have dinner at Provision Company. That would be my choice, though there are plenty of other options, including some finer dining.
I absolutely adored Provisions. It felt so homey. They use an honor system, which I find fascinating. I grabbed my beverage of choice, put in my order from the chalkboard at the counter, then grabbed my book and sat on the dock to enjoy it. It is nothing fancy, but it is quite the experience. And their cucumber salad?? Chef's kiss!!
Provisions Company ~ Courtesy of their website
Edgewater 122 is another option. I have not been, but the reviews are great and there are lots of veggie options for the non meat and seafood eaters.
Before you go
Southport is not trying to impress you, and Bald Head Island is barely trying to be reached. That combination is exactly why this works as a day trip and not a weekend. You leave North Myrtle Beach in the morning and come home with sand in your shoes, a lighthouse behind you, and a cucumber salad you will be thinking about for weeks.
If you go, take an earlier ferry than you think you need. I have never once heard anyone say they had too much time on that island.
Chapter Three is coming……..
LAST CALL
Read:Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks. Filmed right here, and you will start recognizing the waterfront before you are through the first few chapters.
Drink: Enjoy a Prickly Pear Margarita at Jailhouse Provisions on Bald Head Island
Skip: The temptation to make this a half day. Southport before noon and the island after is the whole trick. Squeeze it and you will spend the good part of the afternoon watching the clock. Also, book your golf cart in advance for Bald Head, if that is your means of travel
