Natural Attraction
attractions, civil war, recreation, tourism,
More than 30 miles of beautiful Atlantic beachfront line the coast of Onslow County, affording scenic and recreational opportunities galore, but the county also is home to rivers, historic sites, cultural destinations, shops, restaurants, family attractions and a line-up of annual festivals that bring folks here to live as well as to visit.
Topsail Island, a barrier island shared by Onslow and Pender counties, is the area’s major tourist magnet and is home to the vacation communities of Surf City, Topsail and North Topsail Beach.
Another popular destination, Hammocks Beach State Park offers primitive camping on the pristine, windswept beaches of undeveloped Bear Island. “It’s a beautiful island that I want everybody to see,” says Theresa Carter, manager of Onslow County Tourism. “It’s three miles of white, white sand and seashells.”
Loggerhead turtles, maritime forests, salt marshes and sand dunes also can be seen on Bear Island, which is accessible only by ferry.
Freshwater fans go in for paddling on the New and White Oak rivers and the Intracoastal Waterway, where kayak and canoe aficionados can find miles of mapped trails. Brand-new signage adds an educational component to this favorite Onslow County pastime.
“These signs point out points of interest pertaining to marine life, history and ecology,” Carter says. “We have placed 10 ‘New River Notes’ and have three more phases to complete. We will then move on to the White Oak River.”
Speaking of signs, Onslow County boasts two markers that are part of a Civil War Trail stretching from Maryland to North Carolina. One is at Hammocks Beach State Park, and the other is in Jacksonville.
“We have added a second Civil War marker at Riverworks at Sturgeon City that shows where the city of Jacksonville was captured during the war by The Ellis,” Carter says.
Riverworks at Sturgeon City is the site of a former wastewater plant the city converted into an environmental education facility that features hands-on activities. The site is the focus of a successful river cleanup effort involving millions of oysters placed into the water there. The grounds feature an amphitheater, boardwalk and playground, with boat rentals soon to come, Carter says.
Other family-friendly attractions in and around Jacksonville include agritourism destination and restaurant Mike’s Farm; 30 Acres and a Mule, where visitors mine for gems; Lynnwood Zoo; Coastal Plains Raceway Park; six golf courses; and Equine Country USA, which offers horseback riding, rodeos and more.
In addition, Sunday is family day at Jacksonville’s only waterfront restaurant, Capt. Bob Beck’s Marina Café and River Cruise.
“We also have a full-service marina, and we offer a sunset cruise every Friday night Memorial Day through Labor Day,” says owner Capt. Bob Beck. “The cruise upriver is a beautiful four-and-a-half mile nature ride. The river narrows and winds, and we see osprey, bald eagles, alligators and other wildlife.”
The area’s cultural and historic offerings are another big draw, including the Onslow County Museum in Richlands; the Beirut Memorial, 9/11 Memorial and the Montford Point Marine Museum, which preserves the history of African-American marines who served during segregation – all located at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune; the Greatest Story Ever Retold, a museum of religious artifacts and artwork; the Court House; and Snead’s Ferry Community Theatre.
Local festivals also showcase Onslow County’s coastal heritage and quaint, historic towns.
“Swansboro is a seaside village,” Carter says. “It hosts the Mullet Festival and Arts by the Sea. Jacksonville has Freedom Festival and Octoberfest. Richlands has a Farmers Day festival and Sneads Ferry has the Shrimp Festival.
“This is a very diverse community with very diversified activities and events,” Carter continues. “With all our attractions comes a dollop of natural beauty. Enjoy!”
Story by Carol Cowan
