as much as I enjoy an interesting bridge there's plenty of things worse than a boring bridge…read more.. like collapsed bridges. collapsed bridges are way worse than boring bridges when said bridge is part of your daily commute... gotta hate detours on the way to work because part of the road is on the bottom of the intracoastal waterway... not a whole lot of anything here for the wind to grab hold of and nothing much to obstruct the flow of waters so this one should hold up well. yeah for low maintenance bridges for putting lots of time and miles between now and the here-after. also yeah for emergency response during and after crises. double yeah for boring!!

The G. V. Barbee Senior Bridge carries North Carolina route 133 across the Intracoastal Waterway…read moreand connects Oak Island with the mainland. The bridge is 4250 feet long and is 65 feet high. 37 separate concrete girder main spans on top of 28 hollow core concrete slab approach spans. The bridge has two lanes with a double-yellow in between. There is a decently wide pedestrian/breakdown lane on each side. A number of repairs were recently completed including replacement of the concrete slabs and barrier rails, the roadway was resurfaced and some on the pier caps and columns. Originally a swing bridge back in the 1930s that was destroyed by a barge strike in 1971, the current replacement bridge was opened for traffic in 1975 and is named for a distinguished Oak Island resident. The Barbee bridge is one of two that goes to Oak Island. The Swain's Cut Bridge is about 6 miles west and brings SR 906 over the Intracoastal. [Review 13977 overall, 1299 of 2020, number 2617 in North Carolina.]

Oak Island Lighthouse NC 3-1-25 This lighthouse is in…read moreCaswell beach NC. It looks like it's made of cement and built in 1958. You can climb it but you have to reserve a guided tour online then you can climb it. It is 153 feet high and has ships ladders for steps to get to the top. You will have to go a total of 131 ladder steps. This beach area is beautiful, and we had to add this Lighthouse to our tour. Open house tours are offered Memorial Day through Labor Day Wednesday & Saturday. Other than the Lighthouse and beach there is nothing else to see. I would not make a special trip to see it but if you're in the area or want to add it to you list of seen Lighthouses go for sure. I give this Lighthouse a 4 out of 5 stars. Follow Me On Fb For More Reviews Gulf Coast Terry

Went to see this lighthouse with my family expecting some boring lighthouse. No it's not boring. I…read moreactually had a good time here and the beach access is very close which is also nice. I don't know much about lighthouses but I know this is a good one

July 2026 - The Fort Fisher Historic Site was on my list of places to see near Wilmington, North…read moreCarolina . Ft Fisher,an ancient fort during the Civil War in the 1800s, is a preserved historic site with a visitor center. The remains of the fort with walking trails are by the visitor center and both are opened to the public. The visitor center is a fairly new building has exhibit galleries, a movie cinema room, the Friends of Fort Fisher Gift Shop, an Activity Hall, and public restrooms. Ft. Fisher has a fascinating history. It was a vital port of Wilmington during the Civil War & supplied necessary goods to Confederate armies inland. The museum on the second floor has an outdoor balcony to view the remains of Ft. Fisher and the trails. It also has exhibition galleries and areas with displays of ancient artifacts, photographs, and information about Fort Fisher and the people who lived in the area & created the Fort, and its role in the Civil War and its history throughout the years. I stayed in the visitor center about 30 minutes and wished I could stay longer. I was able to see all the exhibits and see some of the videos about the fort in the cinema room. If you want to engage completely in the exhibits, go on the scavenger hunt, history, walk the trails, and see the remains, plan your visit accordingly to stay for a few hours. This would have been ideal for me. I plan to visit again and walk the trails to see the remains next time.

Beautiful walking path along the water with stunning Live Oak trees on the other side of the beach…read more Another must-see area/beach if you are visiting or plan to in the future. Tons of history here dating back to the Civil War, and it just seems like a great place to come and unwind after a long day and have a moment in nature. Approximately ten percent of Fort Fisher still stands today, along with a restored palisade fence. They offer tours of the grounds too. Live Oaks are some of my favorite trees, and I could not get enough of the beautiful opening we came upon just absolutely covered in Live Oaks. We even saw a family having a photoshoot among the trees - a great spot for photos and especially memorable planned shoots like that! If I was a local here I would probably visit this spot weekly, especially when the weather is extra nice. We went on a bit of a windy day so I know it would be even better when it's less hot out and calmer winds.

I felt serene and accomplished that I could find this mailbox tucked away in a part of the…read morebeautiful Sunset beach just like it was featured in the Nicholas Sparks book 'Every Breath'. It was on my bucket list for 5 years and I finally made it :) The walk to the mailbox from the 40th street was surely not a short one, roughly 3 miles to & fro but was worth it every minute. I went on a chilly December morning, so wasn't surrounded by a lot of folks which I sort of liked as it gave me some alone time with my thoughts. The abundance of shells everywhere on the sand made me a child once again, making me happily collect a whole lot of them as souvenirs. Finally the mailbox - Reading through countless pages of beautifully penned words by people who were there before me, gave me an undescribable connect to them. So many emotions - happiness, grief, thankfulness, separation among others. When I think about that spot, I could still hear the sounds of the waves crashing and a light, cool breeze blowing. It's a memory I'll cherish for years to come. You need to visit it at least once in your lifetime. It is definitely something being there. Note: Parking is very tight so try going early. And, the notebooks are archived at UNCW Archives @ Wilmington. Call them to read years of previous entries.

A bit of a walk but so worth it! Nothing better than a walk on the beach all to The Kindred Spirit…read moreMailbox. There is no sign or directions....just a mailbox on beach. A neat experience. Inside the mailbox you will find notebooks where you can write your own personal message. A message of your own can be whatever you like. A must see and do in my book. Facing the Sunset Beach Pier walk right about a mile or so. Walking the beach on the right high up on dune you will see a small hill of sand leading to the mailbox and a couple benches. Keep walking! You will find it.

The Price's Creek Range Light is the last remaining a series of range lights that once guided ships…read morealong the Cape Fear River between the Atlantic and the port of Wilmington. Price's Creek originally featured two range lights - a shorter front tower and a taller rear light with keeper's quarters. Mariners would align the two lights vertically to stay centered in the channel, a vital technique for navigating the shifting sands and shoals of the river. Built in 1849, it is a modest two-story brick tower that is tucked along the eastern edge of Southport where Price's Creek meets the river. During the Civil War, the lighthouse served as a signal station for Confederate forces, helping coordinate communication between Fort Caswell and Fort Fisher and guiding blockade runners past Union ships. After the war, the lighthouse was decommissioned and never maintained. Today, the front tower stands as a weathered shell with its lantern and lens long gone, visible only from the water. The rear tower was long ago scavenged for its bricks by locals. We spotted the front tower today as we approached Southport on the Fort Fisher ferry. The structure is on private property owned by Archer Daniels Midland making animal feed here. The lighthouse and the land are not open to the public, remains a quiet icon for lighthouse enthusiasts and history buffs. [Review 1362 of 2025 - 4481 in North Carolina - 24914 overall]

Along the way to Fort Fisher, this marker points out some industrial history that looks to be long…read moregone. It's all beach houses and such along here now. The marker has the same text on both sides, reading "Ethyl-Dow plant, which operated here, 1934-1945, pioneered extraction of bromine from sea water. Element used in Ethyl, anti-knock gas compound." There is more information online. In 1934, Dow Chemical's plant commercially extracted bromine from sea water. Bromine was primarily used in Ethyl, an anti-knock gasoline additive, and the site was chosen for its ideal water conditions and natural features, including a Carolina bay and a Civil War-era trench. Built during the Depression for three million dollars, the plant treated 2,000 gallons of sea water to produce one pound of bromine, reaching a peak output of 15,000 pounds per day. Though operations ended in 1946, remnants of the facility remain. This is marker number D-98 and it was erected in 1993 by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. There isn't really space to park and read the marker. [Review 1358 of 2025 - 4477 in North Carolina - 24910 overall]

The Fort Johnston-Southport Museum & Visitor's Center is a great way to start your exploration of…read moreDowntown Southport. Admission is free. The museum part provides good background information on the town and its history. One room contains all the films made in the area and also has some memorabilia from those films. The Visitor's Center has many brochures and maps and the ladies working the day I was there were very helpful about parking and about my ferry ride the next day.

Extremely friendly and helpful staff!!! Very interesting historical place. The view is amazing. If…read moreyou are visiting the area stop here first. If you have any questions the staff can help you out!

Great place to walk the beach, relax and enjoy the sunshine. Wonderful views and very relaxing…read morebeach with amazing scenery.

This beach was beautiful! It was really windy though. More windy at this beach than at Oak Island…read moreBeach. But this must be the local beach because it was quiet and not nearly as occupied as Oak Island Beach. And while I enjoyed Oak Island for a little R&R on the beach - this one was just so beautiful. It felt more relaxed due to the nature and scenery. The sand soft on my toes, the wind blew salty sea water in my hair. The few other people I saw here - were doing the same thing I was doing. Just going for a stroll, sinking their toes in the sand. Dare I say it was kind of magical? It was just so quiet and peaceful. Reminded me of being in Northern California and the beaches up in Humboldt County. The water appeared to be so blue too! The color was just beautiful!