Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / June 27, 1991, edition 1 / Page 44
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Day Trips From Paradise BY MARJORIE MEGIVERN If you're a visitor to the South Brunswick Islands, you have made a brilliant choicc of a va cation spot. If you live here, you're a genius, indeed. In both cases. Paradise is all around you. There arc no more beautiful, un obstructed beaches on the eastern seaboard, no greater collection ? of great golf courses, no better I fishing, no nicer people, and no islands with the kind of peace and family orientation found in the South Brunswick Islands. We even have the only museum of natural history in the coastal Carolinas! " Should you, however, be in clined toward a little standard sight-seeing, you're still in the right place. The best of both worlds is what you get here, be cause from Brunswick County you can trek into adjoining counties for a day of something different Each of the following trips can be accomplished easily in a day. To the north. New Hanover County offers some exciting his tory in two different locations. Each one could occupy a short, unhurried day or, being just 20 miles apart, they could be com- III bined. The Battleship You will first encounter the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial as you cross the bridge leaving Brunswick County. A tour of this "great la dy" of World War II is an adven ture for youngsters but enjoyable to adults as well. Commissioned in 1941, the ship earned 15 battle stars in WWII and participated in every Immortal Showboat," an outdoor sound and light spectacular that be gins nightly at 9 p.m., June 7 through Labor Day. From a 1,000 seat grandstand near the ship, you will relive the colorful history of the battleship from its construction in 1937 to the present. There is narra tion of exciting events in the ship's AMY GRINGLE of St Louis, gingerly handles a living starfish in the touch tank at the N.C. Aquarium. E. Lee vulnerable and leading to the South's defeat In 1960 the Fori Fisher State Historic Site was established, a 180 acre tract that is now the state's most visited state historic site. The visitor center offers a 15-minute film of the fort's military history and numerous panoramas and arti facts, including items recovered from sunken blockade runners. Outside, you can visit the re mains of one of the most impor tant earthwork fortifications in the south, with a restored pal isade fence and newly-erected roadside exhibits that explain and describe what you're seeing all along the site. There is also a building where underwater archaeology is pur sued and a shaded picnic area. All is free to the public and open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. N. C. Aquarium Follow a winding road beyond Fori Fisher and enjoy a visit to the North Carolina's Aquarium. There is a pretty thorough marine education in this building, espe cially for children, who can de light in the Touch Tank, picking up a starfish, getting close to many small creatures. The larger creatures, on the other hand, like a ferocious shark, are securely enclosed in a huge central tank, swimming for your entertainment. There is much more in the aquarium for the whole family to enjoy, plus a well-equipped gift shop. Except for the shop, the ex perience is free. There you have one or two day trips, depending on how tena cious you are as a sightseer and major naval offensive in the Pacific theater. It was dedicated in 1961 to veterans of all U.S. services who fought in that war. The USS North Carolina is now open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., every day of the year, with a two-hour, self-guided tour available to crew's quarters, galley, engine room, pilot house, sick bay, a Kingfisher float plane and the museum. Children un der six are welcome free of charge, while those six through 11 pay S2.50 and adults 12 and over pay $5.00 For even more drama, you can enjoy the 70-minute drama, "The t ImlHliiiaflii iTTffl i i?-- ? career, blending historic voices, stir ring music, sound effects and lights. The fee for adults is $3.50, for chil dren six through 11, $1.75, while younger children are admitted free. Fort Fisher Following Hwy. 421 from the battleship memorial to Kure Beach, you will come upon another chunk of history in another century. Fort Fisher was built during the Civil War near the lip of the Cape Fear River to protect Wilmington, the South's chief blockade-running port. The fort fell January 15, 1865, leaving the army of General Robert *?! ? ?'* ? history buff. Brookgreen Gardens A third recommended experience is south of Brunswick County in South Carolina's Horry County, just beyond Myrtle Beach. As opposed to historical adven tures, this visit to famed Brook green Gardens is an exercise in art and beauty. The sculpture gardens, just off U.S. 17, were opened in 1933, a dream of Anna Huntington who, with her husband, Archer Milton Huntington, purchased the land for a winter home in 1930. .. < w> & ' " VISITORS to the Fort Fisher Historic Site stroll in front of fortifications where Civil War soldiers des perately defended this important last port of entry in the South. SWF PHOTOS BY MAIUOHIE MEGIVERN BENNY, ALENA AND RYAN WALKER of Garner enjoy a dis play of artifacts in the Fort Fisher Historic Site Museum in Kure Beach. Construction began at once on gar dens that would house the world's finest sculpture and most beautiful plants and flowers. Mrs. Huntington herself sketched the layout, which took the form of a butterfly with outstretched wings. By 1968 a visitors pavilion was under construction and a modest fee for visitors was initiated. It remains modest, $5 for adults, $2 for chil dren. In that same year a green house was built, and brochures printed. In 1970 the gardens re ceived the Governor's Travel Cup Award as the most outstanding trav el attraction in South Carolina. The year 1977 was a banner year at Brookgreen, even though the coldest winter on record. Indigen ous plant species were established in the wildlife park, deer intro duced, a bird sanctuary begun and thousands of azaleas and wax myr tles placed along the drive. The sculpture collection that is so aesthetically arranged in gardens and along walks now includes 525 works by 231 sculptors. There are also wildlife park trails, a new visi tors center that frequently offers Sunday afternoon musical or dra matic programs, a bird aviary, a mu seum shop and a cassette tour of the collection. This attraction has become a "must-see" for all who visit the South. It was voted 'The Best Place to Take Guests" in a recent reader's poll by a local newspaper and has received numerous other awards. These are just three days of re warding travel to special attractions that are easily reached from the South Brunswick Islands, the hub of your vacation life. The best part of these and other "day trips" is get ting back to catch the sunset on the water, rejoicing that you're once again in Paradise. IS PUBLISHED AS A SUPPLEMENT TO / THE BRUMSWICKftftEACON SHALLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA STAFF Edward M. & Carolyn H. Sweatt Publishers Edward M. Sweatt Editor Marjorie Megivern Associate Editor Will Cockrell Golf Editor Carolyn H. Sweatt Advertising Director Peggy Earwood Office Manager Timberley Adams & Cecelia Gore Advertising Representatives Tammie Galloway & Dorothy Brennan Graphic Artists William Manning Pressman Lonnie Sprinkle Assistant Pressman Brenda Clemmons photo Technician Cover Photograph by Steve Smith. Photographic Concepts. LTD.
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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June 27, 1991, edition 1
44
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