Margaret Rudd & Associates - Southport Trip Planning

How to Spend a Long Weekend in Southport

User One — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 15:50:23 +0000

Southport is an idyllic waterfront community in North Carolina. The community is quiet and slower-paced than neighboring beach communities, perfect for a long weekend or a couple’s retreat. Our Southport rentals sit just a short drive from Oak Island Beach while offering easy access to the local boutiques, eateries, and attractions that are unique to Southport. Book a Southport vacation rental to enjoy the easy lifestyle, stroll under the historic live oak trees, and experience the charm of downtown!

Check out our guide on what to enjoy during a long weekend in Southport!

Things To Do in Southport

Southport’s waterfront location makes it a prime destination for fishing, boating, and water sports. The top activities in the area are centered around the water. Check out a few of our favorite activities in Southport:

North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport: This museum focuses on the maritime history of the Lower Cap Fear River.
Southport Waterfront Park: This 9-acre park sits near downtown and on the Cape Fear Riverfront. The perfect spot for a sunset stroll or a midday picnic, the park is a must-visit during a Southport vacation!
Southport Pier Riverwalk: Stroll the pier and riverwalk to watch the fishermen cast their lines.
Southport Marina: Located near downtown, the Southport Marina is a hub for boating on the intercoastal waterway. Rent a boat or take a tour of the intercoastal waterway and enjoy time on the water!

Shopping in Southport

The shopping in Southport is not to be missed! With unique boutiques and gift shops, Southport is a perfect destination for strolling and window shopping! Here are a few of our favorite shops and boutiques in Southport, NC!

Southport Market: This market is a hub for Southport locals and visitors alike with ice cream, fudge, gift shop items, and unique craft items for sale. Whether you stop in to cool off with ice cream or to browse for something special as a souvenir, this one-stop shop will not disappoint!
Southport Trading Co: This gift store boasts t-shirts, clothing, jewelry, accessories, home goods, and more. Find something to remember your visit by or bring something home for a loved one!
Magnolia’s: The unique boutique is a family-owned business that sells artisan jewelry, home goods, and more. Find jewelry pieces made by artists from around the world as well as women's clothing items, artisan home décor, and more.
The Coastal Cottage Shoppe: This charming shop is a hub for artisan-crafted home goods, jewelry, décor pieces, and even refurbished furniture pieces. Find art pieces by local artists and pick up some décor with coastal flair!

Dining in Southport

The coastal community of Southport is home to delicious seafood, unique eateries, and nightlife hotspots. Check out a few of our favorite restaurants

Fishy Fishy Café: This local eatery offers lunch and dinner with dishes like coconut shrimp, po'boys, shrimp tacos, surf and turf, and more. The waterfront eatery is the perfect place to grab lunch when shopping on Howe Street!
Oliver’s on the Cape Fear: This Southport restaurant serves up southern cuisine in a more upscale dining setting. The waterfront restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating with views of the Cape Fear River. Choose between dishes such as pasta, seafood, and steaks that can be paired with choice wines.
Southport Smoke House: is a casual eatery that offers all the BBQ classics as well as mouth-watering southern sides like baked beans, mac & cheese, and potato salad!
American Fish Company: Perfect for a night out on the town the American Fish Company is the perfect place to enjoy live music. The waterfront bar is a hub for nightly live music as well as offering a full bar and cold beer.

Stay in a Southport Vacation Home

This year, our Southport vacation rentals have a reduced minimum night stay. Between June 3rd and August 26th, 2022 book a stay with a 3-night minimum! Check out our Southport vacation rentals below!

Marina View

‘Marina View’ is a 3-bedroom, 3-bath Southport vacation rental perfect for a quiet, coastal escape! The charming interior boasts plenty of modern touches while still feeling like a unique home-away-from-home. Guests of this vacation home will enjoy access to a seasonal community pool as well as a location convenient to the eateries of downtown as well as Oak Island Beach.

Book Marina View

Aunt Evelyn’s

‘Aunt Evelyn’s’ will give you the comfort of staying with family! This 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom Southport short-term rental offers views of the Southport Marina. The condo has accommodations for 6 to enjoy a stay in the quaint fishing village and enjoy amenities such as a seasonal community pool, a fully equipped kitchen, and a bright living room.

Book Aunt Evelyn's

Take a look at our Southport rentals on a map to see how close they are to everything!

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Our Favorite Southport Duos to Celebrate Mother's Day

jessica — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:30:09 +0000

Celebrate Mom in Southport

Moms deserve the world! With Mother's Day right around the corner, it's the perfect time to plan a trip to Southport, North Carolina. Southport is a quiet, charming place along the water where you'll find plenty of ways to shower Mom with love and gratitude. To make planning this special getaway easier, we've created a list of special duo dates with Mom in mind.

Bubbles & Blossoms

Start your day, or mid-day, with bubbles and blossoms right in the heart of Southport.

Eat: Fizzy Jane's

Located along W. West Street, you'll find one of Southport's newest spots, Fizzy Jane's. Sister to the ever-popular area eateries like Cafe Koa, KoKo Cabana, Kai Joe's, and Ruby's Coffeehouse, Fizzy Jane's is a quirky restaurant, bar and lounge that also offers a beautifully-curated brunch menu along with a selection of delicious cocktails. Pair a plate of light and fluffy French toast with a Lavender French 75 cocktail and prepare for the best day ever!

Fizzy Jane's

614 W West Street, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 363-5060

Play: Wild By Nature

After filling your bellies with bubbly (and maybe a bite to eat), take a stroll down the live oak-lined streets to visit the boutiques that scatter the area. Be sure to stop by Wild By Nature, a local full-service florist that combines the beauty of nature and one-of-a-kind art to meet all your floral needs. During the spring and summertime, you can also find wildflower bouquets available right out on the street. Order a floral arrangement for pick-up or sty by to grab some fresh cuts before continuing on your day.

Wild By Nature

411 N Howe Street, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 363-5032

Fare & Ferries

For the dedicated sightseer Mom, a landlocked lunch paired with a ferry trip to Bald Head is the perfect way to spend a day that's all about her.

Eat: Provision Company

The Provision Company of Southport (which locals refer to as "ProCo") is a long-time favorite of locals and vacationers alike. This laid back restaurant sits right on the picturesque Intracoastal Waterway. Grab an ice-cold drink from one of the coolers, place your order for peel-and-eat shrimp or a tasty cheeseburger before grabbing your seat with a view. The covered patio will have you up-close-and-personal to one of the benefits of living the coastal life!

Provision Company

130 Yacht Basin Drive, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 457-0654

Play: Day Trip to Bald Head Island

Leave your worries behind and hop on the Bald Head Island Ferry for a day trip that Mom won't forget! Just a 20-minute ferry ride away, right off the North Carolina coast, you'll find Bald Head Island, an exclusive retreat only accessible by boat where times seemed to have stopped. Grab a coffee from Sandpiper Cafe or Delphina Cantina before renting your golf cart for a day of venturing. Visit Old Baldy, one of NC's oldest lighthouses, during one of the 2-hour guided tours.

Bald Head Island Ferry Terminal

1301 Ferry Road SE, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 457-5003

Dinner & A View

Set the scene for Mom's special dinner by giving her a beautiful view.

Eat: Mr. P's Bistro

Mr. P's is the perfect spot for low country cuisine. For over 30 years, Mr. P has operated various restaurants on the island, bringing his love for cooking to life with every dish. Located in Southport's Watertower District, Mr. P's is a fantastic option for dinner with a cozy, classy atmosphere. Don't miss the infamous Oysters Rockefeller or the low country clam chowder!

Mr. P's Bistro

309 N Howe Street, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 457-0801

Play: Southport By Seaside

Let Mom enjoy Southport from a new perspective. Let Mom enjoy her favorite cocktail while she soaks in all of the love from her special day. Watch as the sun sets in the most memorable venue we have to offer!

Southport By Seaside

boattours@southportbyseaside.com
(910) 269-8674

Our Favorite Southport Duo

By far, the favorite Southport duo of Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS® is the 2 fantastic short term, Southport NC vacation rental properties we currently manage there. Located in Marina Village, both duplex-style homes offer a seasonal community pool and a convenient walkable location across from the Southport Marina.

Aunt Evelyn's

Aunt Evelyn's Southport Vacation Rental

3 Bedroom | 3 Bathroom | Sleeps 6
/vacation-rentals/aunt-evelyns

Marina View

Marina View Southport Vacation Rental

3 Bedroom | 3 Bathroom | Sleeps 6
/vacation-rentals/marina-view

Your Southport NC Vacation Experts

Give Mom the Mother's Day she deserves with a Southport, North Carolina getaway. Whether you stay a few days or an entire month, Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS® is the vacation planning experts for the Southport-Oak Island areas of Brunswick County. For our award-winning customer service, and great local suggestions, reach out to our staff for help in planning your vacation.

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