CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/35097
Congratulations Class of 2011! and sounds. You can also walk onto the ferry but, be warned, there are not usually taxis waiting on the Fort Fisher or Southport sides. You’ll have to rely on your own two feet for transportation and it is a long walk to the attractions in either area. Fort Fisher itself, a holdover from the Civil War, is well-worth a couple of hours of meandering. There’s a scenic trail with descriptive trail markers identifying the battlements and telling a bit about the fighting that took place there and some of the better known soldiers who fought. A museum on the site provides even more information about both the Confederate and the Union armies and has many relics from the war and a gift shop with affordably priced Civil-War themed souvenirs. Be sure to ask for “Sarge”, who works in the museum and seems to view each guest’s enjoyment as his personal mission. However you get there, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is a must see attraction, especially for kids. Admission ranges from $6 to $8 per person, depending on age, and buys you an opportunity to learn about the aquatic life in the region, touch horseshoe crabs in the touch tank, attend some of the many presentations on marine life and walk in the beautiful outdoor garden area. The outdoor area features several paths through large trees and around and over ponds, where dozens of turtles can be seen sunning themselves. Other activities in the Fort Fisher area include, of course, fishing. Though the Fort was named for a man named Fisher, the name does seem especially apt considering the fort’s location. Common catches include bluefish, puppy drum and Virginia mullet, as well as spot, flounder and numerous shellfish. You can also explore Fort Fisher State Recreation Area by foot. The Basin Trail winds through the marsh, allowing hikers a chance to view sound-side flora and fauna. This 1.1 mile, out-and-back trail ends at an observation deck, which is a great location for bird watching. Park rangers regularly hold educational programs about Fort Fisher State Recreation Area on subjects such as shell collecting, sea turtles, the salt marsh, bird watching and the basics of surf fishing. For the slightly more adventurous, or at least those who aren’t afraid to switch on their four wheel drive and let a little air out of their tires, four miles of beachfront at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area are open to visitors who would like to drive on the beach. There are some restrictions, though, and you must first purchase a permit from the office. But perhaps the highlight of any Fort Fisher experience is simply walking through the grove of gorgeous, gnarled live oaks that populate the rocky beach. Years of wind and bad weather have warped the trees into other-worldly shapes and made picnics in their shade an event to behold. There are twelve picnic tables with grills available on a first-come, first-served basis. The haunting beauty of the tangled trees and the shadows they cast on the sand is what sets this beach town apart from most any other — and what keeps visitors coming back, again and again. CV Check out ourMUworld.com CityViewNC.com | 75