Living like a local: Down for day trips

Southport is one of the day trip destinations shared by Living Like a Local columnist Karen Bright. (iStock.com/Andrew Miller)

This month marks my one-year anniversary writing this column. To date, my focus has been sharing information about Wilmington and the surrounding beaches. This time, I thought I’d take you on some day trips. There are many great options for short road trips to experience the rest of southeastern North Carolina! 

For your first trip, we are going to explore further inland. North Carolina is a huge state with countless destinations worth a visit. There is a lot to see besides the ocean and beaches. While I am partial to the coast, there is fun to be had touring a good vineyard. There are many vineyards in North Carolina, but for a simple day trip, Duplin Winery is the best. It also happens to be the largest in North Carolina, and it’s only about an hour west of Wilmington in Rose Hill. 

When you arrive at the Duplin Winery, you will be greeted with a quaint town and beautiful views. Your visit should start with the Duplin Winemaker Adventure Tour. This tour is very cool! You get to see the giant wine tanks and the assembly lines, and their tour wraps up with bottling and corking your own wine! In addition to the tour, they offer wine tasting and a museum where you can view the vineyard’s history and learn about the old ways of making wine. Make sure you take home your favorites as a fun souvenir! I have a bottle of wine from the winery, called Queen Anne’s Revenge, with a great label. As a coastal North Carolinian, I am going to find a Blackbeard story wherever I can!

In the spirit of Blackbeard and his antics, it is imperative you visit Beaufort. This may be more of an overnight trip, but with multiple options for bed and breakfasts with gorgeous waterfront views, you will never want to leave. We stayed at a place directly across the street from the boardwalk. Once we arrived, we did not get in our car again. The boardwalk follows the water, and it is a great walk with many restaurants and little shops. I recommend Moonrakers restaurant. My husband and I sat at the bar, which is welcoming and provides a giant window overlooking the waterway. In addition to eating, drinking and shopping, we toured the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort. We learned a lot about pirates and ships. There is even a cannon from the Queen Anne’s Revenge! It’s nice to mix culture, education and a great night out.

For my final recommendation, I will send you to Southport. There are two ways to get there. The first and most exciting is to take the ferry from Fort Fisher. You can drive onto the ferry and the cost is $7. The ride takes roughly 30 minutes. It is recommended that you make a reservation and arrive at least 40 minutes ahead of time. Your other option is to simply drive from Wilmington. You would take U.S. 74 west to the first Leland exit then head south on N.C. Highway 133. This option will take about 50 minutes. 

Once you arrive in Southport, you will find yourself in a beautiful and historic downtown. The town is located on the water and features lots of quaint shops and boutiques. The restaurants will not disappoint! You get anything from fresh seafood to barbecue.  There are delis, waterfront restaurants and breweries. In addition to restaurants and shopping, there is another N.C. Maritime Museum. This museum offers semi-guided tours or the option to peruse on your own. Like the other destinations mentioned above, Southport is a great place to visit. 

Wilmington is a great small city with a lot to do – but it is also close to so many other towns worth a visit. Sometimes a trip for a day can be enough to feel like a great vacation, and vacations are what coastal North Carolina does best!