The Old Brunswick Town trip started out as an excursion to Southport, NC. The idea was to visit Southport and then take the ferry to Bald Head Island, where we hoped to watch tiny little turtles making their newborn dash to the sea. But when we approached the historical marker for Charles Town (more on that in my next post) and then Brunswick Town, we couldn't resist stopping.
After our stroll through history, we did make it to Southport, but time and a 90% threat of rain chased us away.
But Southport deserves a mention. From the quick auto tour we took, by all appearances, the town seems charming. Coastal-style homes with wide front porches sit on picturesque streets or facing boats bobbing in a marina. According to Coastal North Carolina, Fort Johnston was established here in 1754 and life grew around it until finally, a port city formed. From exploring north carolina's natural areas, I learned of the effort to save old live oaks that once thrived in the area. A sight we missed, but would love to see.
Also from Coastal NC, we learned Southport was "one the first places in (North Carolina) to celebrate" Independence Day, and they're now known as the Fourth of July Capital. At least of the state. The author reports thousands of people visit Southport every year to participate in a three-day event to commemorate our nation's liberty, and indeed, we pulled into town on Friday afternoon, July 1st. Rows of small flags lined the sides of roads, and red, white and blue bunting hung from white railings of porches. We headed out of town before the masses arrived!
As I mentioned earlier, Southport is the place to go to catch the ferry to Bald Head Island. According to exploring north carolina, the ferry is also the best way to see the Cape Fear Estuary.
I'll find out next month. Every year on my birthday, we try to visit a new Carolina destination, or enjoy a favorite old one. This year, our destination is Bald Head Island. If I get my birthday wish, I'll not only visit Southport and get a good look at the estuaries, I'll be blessed enough to see iddy-biddy turtles scuttling to the sea.
For information on the Bald Head Island Ferry, click here.
A personal glimpse of outdoor destinations in and around the Carolinas. All photos and content copyrighted.
Showing posts with label NC Ferry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NC Ferry. Show all posts
Harkers Island, an Attempt at Cape Lookout, and Carteret County
Our original goal for Friday was to ferry around Shackleford Island and Cape Lookout via Beaufort, NC. A ominous storm cloud hanging overhead changed that plan. We knew better than to be on the water, so we headed to Harkers Island in search of access to Cape Lookout National Seashores.
The island is small, but it's been well settled with a history we've only begun to learn. We discovered Harkers is home to the Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitor's Center. They do not, however, have a bridge to Cape Lookout. Lesson learned: access to Cape Lookout and Shackleford Island is by ferry only. Click HERE for a list of authorized ferry services.
We did see Cape Lookout lighthouse from the Visitor's Center, but from a distance of 4.5 miles. It's a working lighthouse, and we spotted the glow from the Fresnel lens from the parking lot.
We stopped at one of the ferry services to inquire about fees and running times in preparation for our next visit. Most ferries to Shackleford and Cape Lookout are only $10 a person round trip at the time of this writing.
Next, we headed up the coast toward quiet Atlantic, NC, located in scenic Carteret County, just south of Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge. Along the way, we found the city of Davis, which has a car ferry pointed toward Cape Lookout NS. Further up the road, we also found pitcher plants alongs one of the country roads. North Carolina nurtures these endangered plants in a variety of locations along the coast, and we were pleased when we found them on this trip. We fed a host of mosquitoes as we took pictures of a few of the specimens we spotted.
Since our visit, I've purchased a book on the history of Harkers Island and have read about the settlement of Harkers by residents of Diamond City on the wilderness known as Shackleford Banks, and the changes born to the island and the economy with the building of the bridge. For more about what's quickly becoming the lost history of Harkers, go to www.bluewaternc.com/CrystalCoast/Harkers-Island/HarkersIslandHistory/
UPDATE: We did return to Harkers to take the ferry to Cape Lookout, and I finally saw the wild ponies that still roam the island:
carolinatrails.blogspot.com/2009/08/cape-lookout-lighthouse-and-ponies-of.html
The island is small, but it's been well settled with a history we've only begun to learn. We discovered Harkers is home to the Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitor's Center. They do not, however, have a bridge to Cape Lookout. Lesson learned: access to Cape Lookout and Shackleford Island is by ferry only. Click HERE for a list of authorized ferry services.We did see Cape Lookout lighthouse from the Visitor's Center, but from a distance of 4.5 miles. It's a working lighthouse, and we spotted the glow from the Fresnel lens from the parking lot.
We stopped at one of the ferry services to inquire about fees and running times in preparation for our next visit. Most ferries to Shackleford and Cape Lookout are only $10 a person round trip at the time of this writing.
Since our visit, I've purchased a book on the history of Harkers Island and have read about the settlement of Harkers by residents of Diamond City on the wilderness known as Shackleford Banks, and the changes born to the island and the economy with the building of the bridge. For more about what's quickly becoming the lost history of Harkers, go to www.bluewaternc.com/CrystalCoast/Harkers-Island/HarkersIslandHistory/
UPDATE: We did return to Harkers to take the ferry to Cape Lookout, and I finally saw the wild ponies that still roam the island:
carolinatrails.blogspot.com/2009/08/cape-lookout-lighthouse-and-ponies-of.html
OBX (Outer Banks) Ferry Schedule
For the Outer Banks ferry schedule, click here: Ferry Schedule
For reasons why you absolutely need to check that schedule before traveling to the Outer Banks, read below:
----------------
After driving from Nag's Head to Ocracoke and then having to turn and go home via the already visited Nag's Head because we missed the 5:00 PM Cedar Island ferry by three minutes (the next ferry would run at 10:00 PM) I feel the need to post a brief blurb about transportation along the OBX.
There is one highway on the OBX, and at places where that highway ends at the tip of a few islands, the ferry system begins. This isn't an optional mode of transportation; a way of amusing the kids while at the beach (oh look, Mommy, let's take the ferry!) it's the only way to island hop to certain destinations, and if you miss the ferry, you may be sunk.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
If you're planning to travel to the Outer Banks this summer and you have to reach a destination at a specific time, check the Department of Transportation's Ferry Schedule before you go. The ride across the water will add a distinct OBX flavor to your journey, but running late by even a few minutes may ruin your plans if you miss the boat.
For reasons why you absolutely need to check that schedule before traveling to the Outer Banks, read below:
After driving from Nag's Head to Ocracoke and then having to turn and go home via the already visited Nag's Head because we missed the 5:00 PM Cedar Island ferry by three minutes (the next ferry would run at 10:00 PM) I feel the need to post a brief blurb about transportation along the OBX.
There is one highway on the OBX, and at places where that highway ends at the tip of a few islands, the ferry system begins. This isn't an optional mode of transportation; a way of amusing the kids while at the beach (oh look, Mommy, let's take the ferry!) it's the only way to island hop to certain destinations, and if you miss the ferry, you may be sunk.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
If you're planning to travel to the Outer Banks this summer and you have to reach a destination at a specific time, check the Department of Transportation's Ferry Schedule before you go. The ride across the water will add a distinct OBX flavor to your journey, but running late by even a few minutes may ruin your plans if you miss the boat.
Bath, NC
"Bath. The oldest town in North Carolina. Founded in 1705. Notable residents: Edward Teach and a surveyor named John Lawson. Notable visitors: George Whitefield."
And so I began my short story, "Saints and Sinners", which I set in Bath, North Carolina. Like my characters, we learned that much and more during our visit to the state's oldest town.
Historic Bath, as it's called, is located on the southern portion of the Ablemarle-Pamlico peninsula, between the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. We'd looked forward to exploring this area, especially after visiting New Bern and Edenton. Because the three towns are often grouped together as being the oldest in NC, we had some expectations before we arrived. Consequently, we were surprised.
Where Edenton and New Bern are home to streets lined with fabulous examples of architecture, Bath resembles a friendly residential neighborhood, not a once bustling port town or home to the notorious pirate, Blackbeard.
Bath is a town of firsts: the first established town, though not the first established settlement. That would be the lost colony of Roanoke. Site of the first colonial shipyard and library*, and though I'm having trouble finding the reference, I believe it was the site of the first Post Office, or postal route.
And the first town in North Carolina to have been cursed by George Whitefield. As the story goes, residents, who decades before had hosted Blackbeard, kicked the great evangelist out of town.
Delana pointed to a one-room brick church in the midst of a cemetery. A carpet of leaves, dry and brittle from lack of nutrients, coated the ground. Several lifted on a gust of wind and swirled above the heads of concrete angels praying over weathered headstones tilting in the soil. --Saints and Sinners
We walked around the quiet streets for a while, admiring the view of Bath Creek, historic houses and churches, and the cemetery at St Thomas Episcopal Church. The little church has a history of its own, dating back to 1734.
And then, like my characters, we left Bath, but not the memory of this charming little hamlet.
Together, we walked outside where cherubs bowed their heads in silent prayer. Water from a pillow of cloud above us saturated the air. I inhaled the refreshing scent, and leaving Bath, I finally felt clean. - Saints and Sinners
An interesting, and informative excursion. While we're discovering much of what eastern North Carolina has to offer, we're learning there's more to see than we had anticipated.
And so I began my short story, "Saints and Sinners", which I set in Bath, North Carolina. Like my characters, we learned that much and more during our visit to the state's oldest town.
Historic Bath, as it's called, is located on the southern portion of the Ablemarle-Pamlico peninsula, between the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. We'd looked forward to exploring this area, especially after visiting New Bern and Edenton. Because the three towns are often grouped together as being the oldest in NC, we had some expectations before we arrived. Consequently, we were surprised.
Where Edenton and New Bern are home to streets lined with fabulous examples of architecture, Bath resembles a friendly residential neighborhood, not a once bustling port town or home to the notorious pirate, Blackbeard.
Bath is a town of firsts: the first established town, though not the first established settlement. That would be the lost colony of Roanoke. Site of the first colonial shipyard and library*, and though I'm having trouble finding the reference, I believe it was the site of the first Post Office, or postal route.
And the first town in North Carolina to have been cursed by George Whitefield. As the story goes, residents, who decades before had hosted Blackbeard, kicked the great evangelist out of town.
Delana pointed to a one-room brick church in the midst of a cemetery. A carpet of leaves, dry and brittle from lack of nutrients, coated the ground. Several lifted on a gust of wind and swirled above the heads of concrete angels praying over weathered headstones tilting in the soil. --Saints and Sinners
We walked around the quiet streets for a while, admiring the view of Bath Creek, historic houses and churches, and the cemetery at St Thomas Episcopal Church. The little church has a history of its own, dating back to 1734.
And then, like my characters, we left Bath, but not the memory of this charming little hamlet.
Together, we walked outside where cherubs bowed their heads in silent prayer. Water from a pillow of cloud above us saturated the air. I inhaled the refreshing scent, and leaving Bath, I finally felt clean. - Saints and Sinners
An interesting, and informative excursion. While we're discovering much of what eastern North Carolina has to offer, we're learning there's more to see than we had anticipated.
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