What's New on Island Life NC
Bald Head Island Howl at the Moon!
Join in a Bald Head Island tradition and be a part of the largest beach party each month when the full moon rises out of the…
New Bern ArtWalk
ArtWalk is a free self guided walk to over 30 different stops in the downtown New Bern area to visit stores and galleries. Join downtown businesses…
Food & Drinks
Italian Meat Loaf
Some say meat loaf is the perfect comfort food for cold weather night. Try this new take on an old favorite! Italian Meat Loaf 2…
French Stew
A hearty stew for those cold winter nights, it can be quickly prepared in the morning and ready for the evening meal. The red wine…
Recipe: Oyster Stew
Here is another easy to fix recipe that will warm up your family on a cold winter night! The ingredients are simple and you…
Seafood Chowder
Winter days call for comforting soup and we look forward to this hearty seafood chowder all year long! It’s creamy but not too heavy, it’s…
Brunswick Stew
In the south when the weather gets colder, we make stew. More specifically, Brunswick Stew. The origin of this old southern recipe is unknown, Virginia,…
Cheesy Vegetable Soup
Serve this soup with a hot pan of cornbread, and you’ll have a complete meal. Cheesy Vegetable Soup Serve this soup with a hot pan…
Whiskey Soaked Bread Pudding
I have never liked bread pudding…until I tried this one. Seriously it’s so good. If you’re a bread pudding fan, or if you’re not, I’d…
Recipe: Real French Onion Soup
There is nothing better on a cold wintry night than a warm crock of real French onion soup! It is so delicious and warms you…
Festivals And Events
East Coast Shag Classic
The East Coast Shag Classic takes place at the beautiful Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach! Thursday, January 30, 2025 12:30 PM Sunday, February 2,…
Wilmington’s Fourth Fridays
Wilmington’s Fourth Fridays Art Walk is a self-guided tour featuring exhibitions of various artistic genres including oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography, wood, metals, ceramics, mixed…
Bald Head Island Howl at the Moon!
Join in a Bald Head Island tradition and be a part of the largest beach party each month when the full moon rises out of…
Annual Hot Cocoa Crawl
There’s nothing like the holidays to transform the Harbor of Hospitality® into “The Hot Cocoa Capital of the World!” Head on out to Elizabeth City…
HOME & Garden
Ken Buckner Beach Prints For Home Decor
We found these local beach prints perfect for decorating a home at the beach. These Giclee museum quality prints by Artist, Photographer Ken Buckner are perfect for the island living lifestyle.…
Venus Flytrap
Most folks know that the Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that “eats” it’s prey – mostly spiders and insects. but did you know that this is the only place in…
Dwayne Schmidt’s Photos
These Coastal NC beach prints of photos by Dwayne Schmidt are perfect for decorating a home at the beach! Dwayne Schmidt is a award winning photographer who travels from the mountains…
Carolinas Gardener’s Handbook
The Carolinas Gardener’s Handbook is your one-stop source for all your questions about gardening in the Carolinas! Creating a flowerbed that draws admiring looks from passersby, complementing the look of your…
Travel
Island Life NC Magazine Makes FeedSpot’s Top 20 NC Travel Magazines in 2025
Island Life NC Magazine has made the list of FeedSpot’s Top 20 North Carolina Travel Magazines in 2025 FeedSpot has selected the best North Carolina Travel magazines from thousands of…
Continue Reading Island Life NC Magazine Makes FeedSpot’s Top 20 NC Travel Magazines in 2025
The Islands Of North Carolina
The coast of North Carolina is primarily made up of a number barrier islands all offering a wide variety Island Living Lifestyles. NC’s Brunswick Islands: At the southern border where…
North Carolina’s Best Kayaking Spots
North Carolina is home to 17 river basins many of which connect to the biggest waterways in the States, such as the Mississippi, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic…
Sand Dollar Island, North Carolina
Beachgoers often comb the shores searching for Sand Dollars, nature’s version of buried treasure. These flattened sea urchins that populate our oceans make for fun collectibles for vacationers and beach…
Arts
East Coast Shag Classic
The East Coast Shag Classic takes place at the beautiful Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach! Thursday, January 30, 2025 12:30 PM Sunday, February 2,…
Wilmington’s Fourth Fridays
Wilmington’s Fourth Fridays Art Walk is a self-guided tour featuring exhibitions of various artistic genres including oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography, wood, metals, ceramics, mixed…
Robert Ruark
Acclaimed and prolific writer Robert Ruark, who grew up in Southport, achieved worldwide fame and wealth by writing about his memories and experiences of his…
NC Artist: Ivey Hayes
When you think about vibrant colors, scenes of the North Carolina coast, and melodic jazz rhythms, you think about beloved artist Ivey Hayes. Ivey Hayes…
Life on the Coast
Bald Head Island’s Nature Trail
The Kent Mitchell Nature Trail is actually several trails – some of them will take you through the forest and others will take you over…
Eastern North Carolina Sayings
If you live in the South long enough, you’ll notice we speak a slightly different language. Sure, it’s still English but it’s got a little…
Book: Sunset Beach A History
A full history of Sunset Beach NC with stories from many of the “old timers” who were eye witnesses to events. Some are funny, some…
Island Life NC 2024 Gift Guide
Make gift-giving a breeze this season with the help of our Holiday Gift Guide! We’ve curated a selection of items by Coastal NC artists, authors…
Dale Varmnam’s Fort Apache
Sometimes we find some of the most interesting places along the NC Coast when we aren’t even trying! Dale Varnam’s 28-acre Fort Apache in Supply…
Shrimp and Grits Cookbook
Nathalie Dupree was ahead of the curve eight years ago with her classic book Shrimp and Grits. Now, this Lowcountry comfort combo is found on…
History
NC’s State Dance – The Shag
The North Carolina “state dance” is the traditional beach music dance — the shag. What a huge testament to the rich history of beach music! As…
Historical Society To Honor Fall Of Ft. Fisher
In honor of the 160th anniversary of the fall of Fort Fisher which occurred on January 15th, 1865, the Southport Historical Society is inviting Dr. Chris…
Continue Reading Historical Society To Honor Fall Of Ft. Fisher
Ft Fisher: Last Confederate Port
In the final years of the war between the States, Wilmington, North Carolina was the second most important city to the Confederate States of America. Only…
Price’s Creek Lighthouse
In 1848 the United States Congress authorized the construction of eight lighthouses along the Cape Fear River to illuminate the twenty-five mile stretch between Oak Island…
