6/17/15
Southport NC
Posted by Bill

We first visited Southport, NC years ago when we did a side trip on a business trip in Raleigh. We spent a few days after the business trip at Carolina Beach and took the Fort Fischer ferry over to check out the town. At that time it was getting a reputation for a quaint seaport that was becoming a prime retirement location. We really liked the town, the waterfront, the proximity to beaches and proximity to Wilmington. We liked it so much that we talked to a realtor the next day and checked out some of what was available. Most of the downtown area is comprised of early 1900s homes that have been restored, maintaining the charm of the old seaport. New construction has been consistent with the surrounding architecture, and most of what comprises the town of Southport is within walking distance to the waterfront and the downtown shops and galleries. Here are some pictures of the downtown residential area:






The movie industry has used Southport to do filming, most recently Safe Haven. This is the house that was used for the main character’s house:

The waterfront along the yacht basin consists of several restaurants and a couple of bars, with a fish monger thrown in. The fish monger sells only to retail customers. There are also a couple of sailing and fishing charters that are based there on the docks. Here are some pics to give you the idea:

The waterfront along the river features stunning views, a fishing pier, several areas to picnic or relax, and a yard in front of the Maritime Museum where events are held, including concerts and a weekly open market (shown in pics below). Pics:
Market:

Views:

Picnic area:

Southport also has a highly regarded marina at the southern end of the town that is within walking distance. The marina is situated at the intersection of the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway, which makes it very convenient to travel from there, or stop there while traveling. Pics, including some of our boat Island Bound:

Our dock neighbors, John and Maryann, have a crab trap at the end of our dock. They told us to go ahead and use it and baited it with fish heads. After a few days we had some keepers:

We will harvest them in the next few days so Tricia can make some of her now famous Jalapeno Poppers stuffed with crab cheese!