What's New on Island Life NC
Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Regatta
The 7th Annual Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Regatta & Festival kicks off Friday night September 17th, 20201 from 6-9:30 pm at the Dragon Boat Team Village, located in the public parking lot on Canal Drive, behind the SeaWitch Café. The evening features live music, plus food,…
U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament
The granddaddy of King Mackerel Tournaments Forty-two years ago a small group of community leaders met and decided that they needed an event to showcase the great fall fishing Southport-Oak Island area has to offer. The prizes and expenses for the first tournament were guaranteed by…
Food & Drinks
Perfect Peach Lemonade
Fresh peaches are coming to an end as fall starts to enter the picture, so I am squeezing out every peach recipe possible before they…
Blue Crab Beignets
The best flavors of New Orleans combined with Blue Crab from the Carolina Coast is an unbeatable combination. These crab beignets are full of flavor,…
Apple Fritter Cake
The last year has been a great time to work on your baking skills and this cake is worth testing those new skills on. It’s…
Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake
Sometimes you just need a simple recipe that you can throw together in a pinch and tastes amazing— that’s what we call a win. This…
Sweet Coconut Grits & Grilled Peaches
Dessert? Breakfast? You decide! This sweet, creamy recipe for grits (more…)
Blueberry Lemon Hand Pies
These hand pies bring together some of the best tastes of summer—blueberry and lemon. You can make your own blueberry filling with fresh blueberries, sugar,…
Life on the Coast
Top Tips for Saltwater Fishing
Saltwater fishing can be tricky since there are so many different types of saltwater fish and a number of saltwater fishing techniques. A lot of…
Sea Turtle Nesting Season
It’s Sea Turtle Nesting Season and the Turtles have been coming ashore to lay their eggs. Nesting season on the North Carolina Coast lasts from…
All About Sea Glass
Sea Glass, also known as beach glass or mermaid tears, is a shard of glass that can be found on just about any coast in…
Shades of Green Sea Glass
As anyone knows who has tried to sort their green beach glass by color, there seems to be an endless number of shades of green.…
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…
North Carolina Beaches Shell Guide
One of our favorite beach activities is collecting seashells! They’re a great reminder of time spent at the beach! You can find shells here year-round,…
HOME & Garden
Native Plant Festival
The Native Plant Alliance will host its 6th Annual Native Plant Festival on Saturday, September 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New Hanover County Arboretum. This free, family-friendly…
It’s Front Porch Season
It might be a stereotype of the South to see people sitting on their front porches, but here in the south, we know the front porch is the first glimpse into…
Plant Your Fall Garden
Summer days are winding down and it’s time to think about your fall harvest. It’s time to get those fall crops in the dirt so they’ll be blooming and mature before…
History
The NC Coast’s Own Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most beloved storytellers. All of his books have been New York Times bestsellers, with over…
A Guide to Grits
Grits, whether you like them or not, are synonymous with the south. My earliest recollection of grits came from the movie My…
The History of Labor Day
For some of us, Labor Day signifies the end of Summer, for some, it’s a day off work, for some it’s the…
What Is Haint Blue?
Newcomers to the South are confronted with a lot of terms and ideas that may seem foreign to them. They may be…
Featured Events
Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
The Wilmington 1/2 Way to St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival will be celebrated on Saturday, September 18, 2021. The parade will start at 11…
Continue Reading Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
3rd Annual Emerald Isle Fall Fishing Tournament
The 3rd Annual Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament will be a family-friendly King Mackerel tournament where elite and sport fishermen alike can compete and provide a…
Continue Reading 3rd Annual Emerald Isle Fall Fishing Tournament
Food Truck Jamboree
Join Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department for our September 15th, 2021 food truck jamboree! This event is open to the public and free. The…
Fall Fun Fest
It’s time for our annual Fall Fun Fest in New Bern, NC! We’ve got thrill rides, kids rides, live entertainment, wrestling, crafts, vendors, and of…
Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Regatta
The 7th Annual Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Regatta & Festival kicks off Friday night September 17th, 20201 from 6-9:30 pm at the Dragon Boat Team…
Fall Kayak Fishing Tournament
Kayak fishing enthusiasts are invited to participate in this dawn-to-dusk catch and release tournament on the Outer Banks starting September 11th through September 19th, 2021.…
Weekly Events
Downtown Manteo Market
The Town of Manteo’s Downtown Market is a popular weekly event for locals and visitors alike. The 2021 market will be bursting with activity this year…
Poplar Grove Farmer’s Market
The Farmers’ Market at Poplar Grove provides an opportunity for local growers and producers to sell their goods directly to consumers. The market strives to…
Wrightsville Beach Farmer’s Market
The Wrightsville Beach Farmer’s Market will open for the season starting May 17th, 2021, through December 13th, 2021. The market is every Monday from 8 am…
Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market
Visit the Carolina Beach Farmers’ Market at Carolina Beach Lake Park every Saturday from May 15th, 2021 through October 2nd, 2021. The Carolina Beach Farmer’s…
Wilmington Riverfront Farmers Market
We are excited to bring you an amazing lineup of Farmers and Artisans for the 2021 season.The RFM will feature many new vendors to this…
Downtown ILM Market
Our Saturday market will feature Wilmington’s finest local producers and artisans selling their goods directly to consumers, while also educating on local farming and local…
Travel
New Bern’s Historic Aerie Bed and Breakfast
Located in the heart of Historic of New Bern, Aerie Bed & Breakfast is a short walk to exploring Tryon Palace, local cuisine & delightful stores! The historic Street-Ward residence,…
Continue Reading New Bern’s Historic Aerie Bed and Breakfast
Visit The Birthplace of Pepsi – NC!
First time visitors to the town of New Bern should be aware that there is only one cola drink to ask for in this town! The community has a proud…
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 and Wilmington. The brick…
Old Baldy Lighthouse
The Bald Head Lighthouse, affectionately known as Old Baldy, is North Carolina’s oldest surviving lighthouse. (more…)
Island Life NC Picks
Nicholas Sparks’ New Book, The Wish
Nicholas Sparks’ latest book, The Wish, will be released on September 28, 2021, read about it and pre-order the book from the Island Life NC Store Here. From the author…
Sea Glass Rarity Guide
In hopes to standardize sea glass color names for collectors, jeweler Meg Carter created this guide as a reference and a beautiful work of art. Eighty-one different sea glass colors…
Gardening in the South
Here’s a fabulous book for learning all about… you guessed it Gardening In The South! A gardener’s plant choice and garden style are inextricably linked to the place they call…
Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast
The Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast is the perfect resource for coastal residents and visitors along the Carolina Coast. It’s a great beachcomer’s handbook that is useful to any…
The Southern Surfcaster
One of our all time best sellers! – The Southern Surfcaster: Saltwater Strategies for the Carolina Beaches & Beyond The Southern Surfcaster will increase your knowledge of fishing and help…
The Saltwater Table
The Salt Water Table is a culinary travel fantasy, celebrating the food of the Southeastern coast Whitney Otawka is the award-winning chef of Greyfield, a celebrated Carnegie-built inn located on…
Coastal Living
Historic NC Coastal Map For Coastal Home Decor!
In 1729 the Province of Carolina was divided when the descendants of seven of the eight Lords Proprietors sold their shares back to the Crown. Only the heirs of Sir George Carteret…
Continue Reading Historic NC Coastal Map For Coastal Home Decor!
Easy Ways To Raise Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Whether your planning to sell your home or just make it look a little more presentable we’ve got some small tips that will maximize your home’s appeal and value. Of course, you…
Hawthorne at Pine Forest
Brand New Apartments Now Open! Welcome to Hawthorne at Pine Forest Apartments in Oak Island, North Carolina, a brand new apartment community offering luxurious one, two and three bedroom homes. With an…
Coastal Real Estate Is Back!
The Coastal North Carolina real estate market is jumping! Residential real estate sales in Brunswick County totaled $1.2 billion in 2017 passing the billion dollar mark for the first time since 2005.…
