What's New on Island Life NC
Seafood Of The Month: Blue Crabs
North Carolina has long been known for its bountiful seafood. Our local fishermen harvest a variety of top quality seafood products, including shrimp, blue crabs, grouper, flounder, oysters and clams to name a few. This month we celebrate a seafood lover’s favorite: Blue Crabs! Did…
National Lighthouse Day
On August 7 in 1789, Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers. In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the Act and the commissioning of the first Federal lighthouse, Congress passed a resolution that…
Food & Drinks
Seafood Of The Month: Blue Crabs
North Carolina has long been known for its bountiful seafood. Our local fishermen harvest a variety of top quality seafood products, including shrimp, blue…
Blue Crab Imperial
Augusta Moore’s Blue Crab Imperial As part of our series on the Brunswick Catch Fresh Local Seafood series we are pleased to feature this recipe…
Crab and Shrimp Casserole
Here’s a cheesy crab and shrimp casserole recipe that is easy to put together for parties or for a simple family meal. This dish makes…
Madam Mesquite Crabcakes
We want to share this delightful recipe for Madam Mesquite Crabcakes with Texas Pete Aioli from Chef Keith Rhodes – owner of Catch Restaurant in Wilmington, NC…
Crab and Shrimp Au Gratin
If I sea-food, I eat it! Especially when it’s delicious crab and shrimp smothered in cheese. This dish is a great side dish or as…
Recipe: Pear Tart
It’s Pear Season… but what can you do with all those pears? This simple but delicious recipe makes two of the best pear tarts you’ll…
Festivals And Events
Seaglass Market
Seaglass Monthly Market features quality painted, new and used furniture, jewelry, and handmade items by local artisans and craftsmen. Beautiful home decor and accessories, including…
New World Festival of the Arts
New World Festival of the Arts will be held from 10 am to 5 pm on the Manteo waterfront on Wednesday, August 16, and…
Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Run 5K
Join us for a family fun event on August 13, 2022, in downtown Beaufort: The “Yo, Ho, Ho and a bottle of Run” is a…
The Cottage Beach & Brews
Join the fun at The Cottage at The Crystal Coast as they take you on a tour of the town, tasting brews from four of…
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…
Lumina Daze
Go back in time to when big bands played and people danced through the night at the Lumina Pavilion on Wrightsville Beach, NC! The Blockade…
Olde Beaufort Farmer’s Market
The Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market is open for business! Every Saturday morning from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm the courthouse grounds are filled with friendly…
Wahine Classic Surf Contest
The Wahine Classic will be held August 13-14, 2022 in Carolina Beach, NC. We’re hoping that this year will be our biggest and most…
National Aviation Day Celebration
“Celebrating the 12 Seconds that Changed the World!” National Aviation Day is celebrated on August 19th. The First Flight Society National Aviation Day Celebration…
Sounds of Summer Concerts in the Park
The Sounds of Summer Concert at Wrightsville Beach Park are back! The concerts, held on Thursday evenings in Wrightsville Beach feature live music. The event…
Special Feature
Our Sea Turtles: A Practical Guide
Our Sea Turtles: A Practical Guide Blair and Dawn Witherington intimately reveal the lives of sea turtles in Our Sea Turtles: A Practical Guide to the Atlantic and Gulf from Canada to Mexico. The book’s pithy, well-organized sections are lavishly illustrated. It is a guide…
It’s Sea Turtle Hatching Season
It’s Sea Turtle Hatching Season and the Turtle eggs in the nests are starting to hatch. It is an exciting miracle of nature to experience. Loggerhead turtles are the primary visitors to the North Carolina Coast, but occasionally a leatherback, a green sea turtle, or…
20 Facts You Might Not Know About Sea Turtles
Sea turtles live in waters all around the world (except for the planet’s extreme north and south regions) and live as long as 80 years. There are seven species of sea turtles, and six of them—green, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley—are listed as threatened or…
Continue Reading 20 Facts You Might Not Know About Sea Turtles
Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center
When Karen Beasley saw the need to preserve and protect the Sea Turtle nests and the nesting females and hatchlings along the 26 miles of coastline on Topsail Island she wanted to take action. Karen and a group of fellow volunteers started the Topsail Turtle Project.…
Continue Reading Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center
Life on the Coast
How to Find Sand Dollars
Even the most seasoned beachcomber is excited and pleased to find a whole, intact sand dollar on the beach. A common sand dollar is another…
New Bern ArtWalk
Celebrate Spring during New Bern’s Art Walk on Friday, July 9 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, to participate in the festivities at the local…
A Ride to Remember Bike Tours
Beaufort, NC Bike Tour – You’ve read the book. You’ve seen the movie. Now, you can ride through the seaport town that became the setting…
What Are the Seneca Guns?
While not unique to the Carolina coast, the Seneca Guns are certainly most common along our shores. The Seneca Guns are loud booming noises, most…
Backroads: Olde Church Antiques
It has been there for decades with travelers and locals driving right by Olde Church Antiques on highway 17 in the quaintly named town of…
NC’s Own: James Taylor
Although Singer-songwriter James Taylor was born in Boston, Massachusetts, he grew up in Carrboro, North Carolina. Taylor’s father was a faculty member and then Dean…
HOME & Garden
Best Fall Blooming Bulbs to Plant Now
The leaves are beginning to turn and drop, but you can still enjoy some vibrant colors in your garden. Fall is a great time for planting bulbs, they sprout fairly quickly…
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…
Top Tomato Growing Tips
Tomatoes are an integral part of summer in the south. There’s nothing like picking a ripe tomato off the vine. Whether you make a delicious tomato sandwich, tomato pie, or toss…
Preserve Your Summer Fruits And Vegetables
During World War II many Americans, Canadians, Brits and even Australians were encouraged to plant (more…)
Explore Airlie Gardens: A Historical Garden by the Sea
 Generations of locals and tourists travel to the historic property and leave amazed by the breathtaking display of elaborate gardens, local wildlife, historic structures, walking trails, sculptures, 10-acres of freshwater…
Continue Reading Explore Airlie Gardens: A Historical Garden by the Sea
Starting a Vegetable Garden
Having your own vegetable garden is a great way to get outside, save a bit of money, and eat a little healthier. Overall, it’s a win for everyone. We’ve got all…
History
The Ghost of Blackbeard
On Ocracoke Island is a small channel of water known as Teach’s Hole. This inlet is reported to be the spot where…
A History Of Surfing
Surfing is an amazing sport with an impressive history. The coast of North Carolina plays a huge role in the story of…
Climb Bodie Island Lighthouse
Take a walk through a piece of history at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is open to climbing Wednesday-…
A Guide to North Carolina Lighthouses
A total of nine coastal lighthouses dot North Carolina’s shoreline from the Outer Banks to the Brunswick Islands. Though long ago they…
Travel
Old Baldy Lighthouse
The Bald Head Lighthouse, affectionately known as Old Baldy, is North Carolina’s oldest surviving lighthouse. (more…)
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…
Island Life NC Picks
Holden Beach’s “Olden Holden Bike Tour”
The “Olden Holden Bike Tour” is a great way to get some exercise, see the sights, and learn a little bit of Holden Beach History. So, grab your two wheeler,…
How To Share An Article Or Recipe
If you’d like to share an article or a recipe with a friend just do the following: 1) Click on the Email Icon (looks like a tiny…
How To Hunt for Shark’s Teeth
We all want to leave the beach with a little sun on our skin, a dose of salt and vitamin D and a piece of treasure to take home with…
History Of NC’s Low Country
When people think of “The Low Country” they generally think of South Carolina, however, North Carolina has it’s own “Low Country”! Definition of low country from Mirriam-Webster’s Dictionary: a low-lying…
Sydney Long: Creative Changemaker
Sydney Long is the brains (and the hands!) behind Sun Vow Jewelry, a collection of laid-back, luxury pieces inspired by the sea. Sydney was born and raised chasing seagulls and…
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 the world. The pieces of…
Coastal Living
Climb Bodie Island Lighthouse
Take a walk through a piece of history at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is open to climbing Wednesday- Saturday From April 27th though early Fall. First climb begins…
Learn to Fish for Crabs
Crabbing is a fun and easy way to spend a few hours at the beach. What makes crabbing unique among the different kinds of fishing is how easy it is—it’s a great…
The Beach Zones
 The beach zone extends from the low-tide water level to the “foot” or base of the primary dune. At first it seems to be without life, except for an occasional gull…
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 Ocean. Getting…
