History of Lighthouses on North Carolona coast

Solitude , Quiet and Peace of Mind : Beaches That Time Forgot

News article by J .S . Fletcher , Kathy M . Newbern The Washington Times , April 13 , 1995

by Kathy M . Newbern , J .S . Fletcher

BRUNSWICK ISLAND , N .C . - The whole strand of Brunswick County beaches stretch like a big summer smile from Wilmington , N .C , to Myrtle Beach S .C . The time for them is when sitting on a front-porch rocker and contemplating the incoming waves is goal enough for a vacationer

These southern beaches of North Carolina have long existed in the

shadow of the big boy to the north - the mighty Outer Banks with its Cape Hatteras Lighthouse , Jockey 's Ridge National Park , Wright Brothers National Monument and "Lost Colony " outdoor drama

But a hundred-plus coastal miles to the south , beyond the stream of Virginia traffic that finds its weekend way to Duck , Kitty Hawk , Nags Head and Buxton , lies plenty of what attracts people to the beach : lots of sun , sand and ocean

Add to that a noticeable lack of traffic - one southern North Carolina island allows no cars - and you 've discovered one of the Southeast 's best-kept getaway secrets : the beaches of Brunswick County . They 're in the northernmost subtropic region of the East Coast , meaning you 'll find nearly as many palms there as pines

Brunswick County 's biggest city , Long Beach , has only 5 ,000 people , and its county seat of Bolivia is a mere speck in the road . Chances are , you may have seen more of the county than you know . One of its magical places , the beautiful wanna-be port city of Southport , has appeared many times in recent years on the silver screen , perhaps most notably in the Sissy Spacek-Jessica Lange film "Crimes of the Heart

Remember that gorgeous old Victorian home where the three sisters constantly run in and out - and up and down the stairs ? Well , it 's in Southport , but it 's been restored so well that you might not recognize it from its big-screen version . No problem . Just ask directions from any of the friendly shopkeepers , such as Joan Lawrence , who was holding down the fort at the Southport Maritime Museum on the main street , North Howe , during our visit , or Daneille Williams at Danelly 's Herb Garden just across the way

Or , for the more official route , there 's the Southport Visitor 's Information Center on Moore Street . The staff there most likely will direct you to the serene Waterfront Park and the adjacent Riverwalk , a series of waterfront boardwalks at the town 's edge , ending at the Southport Marina , which hosts the U .S . Open King Mackerel Fishing Tournament each October . Alligators sometimes loll in the marsh grass along the path 's course

Our visit yielded an up-close view of some playful Atlantic dolphins . At night , both the Bald Head Island and the Oak Island lighthouses ' beacons can be seen

You may want to check out Southport 's resident ghost , Tony , a 19-year-old seaman who died...