Southport, NC: Historic Coastal Living on the Cape Fear River

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

	Southport/Oak Island Chamber of Commerce

Daytripping in Southport

eminiscent of an old New England fishing village, the historic waterfront town of Southport overlooks the Cape Fear River where it merges into the Atlantic Ocean.

Oak trees draped with Spanish moss line the streets of enticing neighborhoods marked by a Victorian influence.

The town of 2,700 is a virtual treasure chest of seacoast life, antiques and photogenic scenery. Several movies have been filmed here and it's a major stop on the Intracoastal Waterway for yachts moving from northern ports to Florida.

Its history is rich with stories of pirates and Confederate blockade runners. The area is home to two significant lighthouses: Old Baldy, erected in 1817, the oldest in North Carolina, and Oak Island, the brightest light in the United States.

You can see both lighthouses from Waterfront Park, where you can also watch large oceangoing ships as they head up the Cape Fear River toward Wilmington.

With more than thirty golf courses in the county and nearly year-round golf weather, the area deserves its nickname “North Carolina's Golf Coast.”


he one-mile walking tour of this charming and historic town takes you by twenty-five historic sites, including parks, homes, churches, inns, forts and public buildings. Southport has several local art galleries and a large art colony is located in nearby Wilmington. Southport is a seafood lover's delight. The locally famous “Calabash” style of cooking seafood, especially shrimp, originated in nearby Brunswick. Newcomers who are looking for relaxation and retirement opportunities, as well as younger people who wish to escape the stress and traffic of large city living, find Southport offers many housing options. Wilmington, only 45 minutes north, is a thriving city of nearly 100,000 that is known for a regional visual and performing arts center, the University of North Carolina (13,000 students), a fine historic district, and one of the largest motion picture and television studios outside of Hollywood. Several lovely communities are nearby, attracting folks from everywhere. Read more about Southport: The 50 Best Small Southern Towns, by Gerald Sweitzer and Kathy Fields




Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management.