Southport Named Happiest Seaside Town in America
BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN NORTH CAROLINA
The word is out! The unpretentious seaside town of Southport, North Carolina is named the 2015 Happiest Seaside Town in America by Coastal Living Magazine. For over a decade, the area has been quickly becoming one of the best places to live in North Carolina by the beach. Just ask locals and transplants and they will tell you, this coastal town, with a rich in history that dates back to more than 200 years, offers its residents plenty to be proud of.
It’s not just the smell of saltwater, the sound of cascading waves, the fresh seafood found on the menu of many waterfront restaurants, or the fact that it’s a favorite destination for vacationers that makes this beach town a top choice among national rankings. So, what’s keeping smile on the faces of residents in one of North Carolina’s largest master planned communities? There are several possible answers to the question. Let’s start with one of the obvious attractions, the white sandy beaches along the Southport barrier island chain. With six separate beach communities: Oak Island, Bald Head Island, Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, Caswell Beach, and Ocean Isle Beach, residents can enjoy a different beach almost every day of the week.
North Carolina’s coastal communities also offer some of the most spectacular sights, from Nantucket-style beachfront cottages to elegant Plantation-style homes with wrap-around porches, enclosed with white picket fences holding the secrets of history past. A peak inside these perfectly preserved structures reveal why they make for beautiful Bed & Breakfast inns. It’s the place to kick back and relax on the porch and take in the smells of the sea while sipping on a cold glass of lemonade. It’s the place to take a deep breath, listen to seagulls and let stress melt away. It’s where folks find treelined streets cascading in Spanish moss, seasonal flags blowing in the breeze and folks of all ages scooting around on their bikes. On top of that, the views of the ocean can be seen in every direction along the Southport harbor. It’s picture perfect.
There’s lots of fun things to do in and around Southport’s golf cart retirement communities. Whether it’s shopping or dining, taking up a new hobby, or learning something new, one can find just about everything in one of North Carolina’s largest master planned communities. Downtown Southport is located on the fringes of Wilmington and is home to several unique boutiques, old-fashioned hardware stores and seafood restaurants. Fresh seafood, of course, is always on the menu, but don’t think seafood is all there is to eat there. Foodies find Southport’s restaurant scene very appetizing. Residents enjoy a fine array of eateries catering to eclectic cuisines including Italian, Greek, and down home BBQ. Top off the evening with a scoop of homemade ice cream from one of the ice cream shops or grab a slice of pie from a bakery before treasure hunting on Main Street at the Christmas House store.
You won’t find Baby Boomers in Southport’s golf cart retirement communities sitting around in this small town of about 3,000. Residents are like kids who love to play and learn. As retired executives and business professionals, most continue to quench their thirst for knowledge by taking lifelong learning courses near home. Brunswick Community College offers year round educational enrichment courses along with the Southport Historical Society. At the society, one can learn about the role Native Americans, the Revolutionary War, and pirates played in Southport’s history. And speaking of learning something new, Southport is the perfect place to take up a new hobby or sport. Sailing classes are available to people of all ages and what better place to sail then in Southport. If boating isn’t for you, there are other activities available such as golf. Health and wellness enthusiasts can tap into more organized activities such as aerobics classes at the Dinah E. Gore Fitness or Aquatics Center located at the Brunswick Community College.
Even Hollywood knows that Southport, which sits on the Cape Fear River, is among the best places to live in North Carolina by the beach. The 19th century architecture, along with the beautiful waters of this harbor town makes it the perfect backdrop for television and filmmakers. More than 40 productions have filmed in the Wilmington area. Residents of Southport can bebop over to Wilmington on the ferry. The ride with a car is about $5.
But, Southport residents don’t have to look to Hollywood to be entertained. The Brunswick Big Band and Brunswick Concert Band perform free concerts several times a year. Or you can take in a Broadway musical at the Brunswick Little Theater. Year round festivals and events include the big 4th of July celebration, fishing tournaments, and arts & craft festivals. If you’d prefer living in one of the largest master planned communities, you can also find that in Southport too.
The saying “bigger is better” is way wrong here. The small town charm of Southport is exactly one of the reasons why it’s the 2015 Happiest Seaside Town in America.
If you’re exploring one of the best places to live in North Carolina by the beach, ask for our free Southport relocation information to learn more about the area.
