CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/24236
t Photo courtesy of Southport - Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce “On a romantic weekend you need to throw in something for the guys or else they’ll lose interest,” she joked. Finally, more adventurous weekend guests might try fishing, either by boat or from the pier or waterfront, or renting bicycles or kayaks from The Adventure Kayak Company, she said. And for the truly adventurous, she says that while a walk through the Old Smithville Burying Ground, with graves dating from the 18th Century, might sound spooky to some, for others it is positively beguiling. Sphar also recommends that travelers wile away some time in the town’s waterfront area, which seems to have been carved straight from a Nicholas Sparks’ novel. (And, in fact, Sparks’ latest novel “Safe Haven” is set in Southport.) A dozen front porch-style swings face the harbor, practically insisting that lovers stop and canoodle while gazing at the passing boats. One swing boasts plaques listing the dates and details of all the couples who got engaged while sitting there. Nearby is the Cape Fear Restaurant and Lounge, where the menu items go by names of famous Carolina shipwrecks. A short distance away in the marina would-be sailors can hone their skills — or leave their boats tied to the dock while they eat a fried fish sandwich in the Fishy Fishy Cafe. In fact, if you walk in most any direction from the waterfront you’re bound to amble past something historic and intriguing. A plaque on one building notes that acclaimed author and adventurer Robert Ruark wrote “The Old Man and the Boy” about living in Southport, his home town. Tiny gift shops, galleries and boutiques seem to appear in every nook and cranny, offering something for nearly everyone. Even kids can get in on the charm as The Christmas House and Bull Frog Corner both offer such a wide array of toys and candy that youngsters of every age feel transported to a magical land. The average temperature in Southport in February is about 60 degrees, meaning you’ll want to bring a jacket but can probably skip the scarf and gloves for your strolls through the maze of streets, where you’ll find a wide variety of dining options. You might stop in The Pharmacy on East Moore Street in the center of town for an elegant meal or Joseph’s Italian Bistro, a New York-style restaurant. The Live Oak Cafe offers a creative menu sure to please a foodie and has a casual and cozy atmosphere, while Mr. P’s Bistro and Provision Company both offer seafood staples and low-country favorites served alongside an inviting atmosphere. Southport is close enough to Fayetteville that you could easily drive down and back in one day and not need to spend a night, or could choose to make a night or a weekend of it. There are plenty of lodging options to choose between. In the center of town there are several bed and breakfasts and small inns located in restored Victorian homes and on the outskirts of town (which is just a couple of miles from the center of town) you’ll find several large chain hotels. Whether you drive down and back in a day just to enjoy a quick change of scenery or you stay and make a getaway of it, you just might fall in love with Southport. Or, better still, you might fall in love (again) while you’re there.CV CityViewNC.com | 63 Southport has been featured in the television shows “Dawson’s Creek” and “Spies” and in the movies “Firestarter”, “Crimes of the Heart”, “Weekend at Bernie’s”, “Amos and Andrew”, “Inkwell”, “Night Flier”, “Domestic Disturbance”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, “Summer Catch”, and “A Walk to Remember.” ravel