Shoppers will want to go downtown, where specialty shops, outdoor pubs, restaurants and snack bars are within easy walking distance of each other. Walk along the waterfront or take a self-guided tour of the historic Southport Trail to learn the history of the area. Transoceanic ships pass the area and are visible from Waterfront Park. Franklin Square Art Gallery in Southport, displaying the works of the many area artists, offers workshops and classes in different media. The gallery holds a national exhibit each year. A pottery studio, which also offers instruction, is close by the gallery proper.
Smithfield Park on Highway 133 in Southport offers residents and visitors basketball, tennis and volleyball courts as well as baseball, football, soccer, softball and mini soccer fields. The park also has playground areas for children and picnic shelters. A number of community parks in the city offer residents and visitors facilities for enjoying the outdoors. For example, the Riverwalk provides a short trail along the riverfront with observation areas. Stevens Park, on 9th Street, provides an archery range, a nature trail and horseshoe pits among other facilities.
The Southport area is home to dozens of golf courses, including the Carolina National Golf Club, with a course designed by Fred Couples. The South Harbor Village Golf Course is a Par Three Executive Course and is located between Oak Island's beaches and the historic section of Southport. Several of the courses in the area are 27-hole venues.
Whether angling directly from a pier in Southport or taking a chartered trip, anglers and boaters enjoy myriad opportunities. Freshwater anglers can gain access at the Boiling Spring Lakes. Southport Marina provides access to the sea for fishermen and sailors alike. In addition, trout and flounder abound in the Intracoastal Waterway and the Cape Fear River. The annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, held in the Southport-Oak Island area, draws more than 400 boats annually and offers numerous cash prizes.
Southport is home to the NC Maritime Museum, which features exhibits relating the maritime history of the area. Ship models, rescued treasures and seafaring equipment are on display. Visitors can view a satellite photo of the Cape Fear area and learn about coastal weather, including hurricanes.
Deep Point Marina on Ferry Road offers access to the Bald Head Island Ferry. After the 20-minute ferry ride to Bald Head Island, visitors can take guided tours of Bald Head. Cottages, inns and other accommodations are available on the island for overnight stays. Considered a resort island, Bald Head offers swimming pools, spas, croquet, tennis and golf for those seeking activities, or you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere in the restaurants and clubhouse. Other attractions include a civil war fort and the Old Baldy Lighthouse, the state's oldest standing lighthouse.
