One of the greatest things about living in Coastal NC is the abundance of unique weekend events. Whether you have visitors from out of town and want to show them a good time, or you are looking to explore your hometown you have lots of options for this weekend. Here are 10 of the activities going on this weekend that are worth a look! Explore! #lovewhereyoulive

1. Nurishment Class: Homemade Condiments

Learn to make all of the condiments that you need for a summer cook-out. When you are done, grab a bite and shop for your party supplies!

http://bit.ly/1I6sqzt

Tidal Creek

2. Beach Reads Book Sale at the Northeast Regional Library

Pick-up some good beach reads for the second half of summer! Books are only $0.50!!

http://bit.ly/1JkDBkm

NHC Public Library, Northeast

3. Carolina Beach and Riverwalk Farmers Markets

Spend the morning strolling around in the beautiful sunshine! Show your home some summer lovin’ by bringing home fresh flowers!

http://bit.ly/1oOntA2

http://bit.ly/1f83vQA

Carolina Beach / Downtown Wilmington

4. Historical Southport Bike Tour

Get outside, get active, and gain some knowledge about historical Southport. Southport offers up tons of unique shopping and dining experiences when you are done! See why they are America’s Happiest Seaside Town!

http://bit.ly/1CJHAdj

Southport

5. Cornhole Tournament Benefiting Brandon Bailey

Do you have what it takes to sink the bean bagjQuery15206205183092970401_1437072070443? Then you might want to head out to Sneads Ferry to show-off your skills, win a prize, and support Brandon’s fight against Lymphoma. Triple win!

http://bit.ly/1fMJ8cD

Sneads Ferry

6. Pro-Am Surf Fest

Watch some of the greatest surfers in the world compete at one of the largest surfing competitions on the East Coast! Sun, salt, and surfing sounds like the perfect beach weekend!

http://bit.ly/1K9tNN6

Wrightsville Beach

7. Yoga Fest 2015 : Summer of Hope Fundraiser

Get your mind and body relaxed and ready to face the work week! The best part? Proceeds will benefit Homes of Hope Orphanages in India! Feel good, do good, be good!

http://bit.ly/1CG8x1L

Wilmington Yoga Center

8. Family Park Days “ Bubble Bash”

Who doesn’t love blowing bubbles in the warm sunshinejQuery1520807116371113807_1437072282760 Meet your neighbors while chasing bubbles. Paint with bubbles and make your own bubble wand! And, did I mention it is freejQuery152021012896252796054_1437073018743?

http://bit.ly/1I69Ads

Phillips Park (Jacksonville)

9. US Coast Guard One-Day Safety Course

Living near the water necessitates that you know how to be safe on or when operating a boat. This one day course is designed to get you boating ready. One day inside, is worth a whole summer of safety!

http://www.southport-oakisland.com/index.php/event/3270/uscoastguardonedaysafetycourse

Oak Island / Southport

10. Summer Pop-up Starry Nights (other themes throughout the month)

Spend time with your family cooling off at the Cape Fear museum participating in various interactive experiences! This is the perfect way to learn about the people, places, and things that create our unique region. This week learn about the constellations in the summer sky!

http://bit.ly/1gDYUXf

Cape Fear Museum / Wilmington

***Bonus Activity! Coast in and Win!!***

Visit some the beautiful homes listed by Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage and enter to win $500! Winning could fund a lot of weekend adventures! For a list of our open houses visit

http://bit.ly/JVRxuj

Spring is one of my favorite times of year in eastern NC. At the coast, we have a brief period of time before the tourists arrive in droves to enjoy our pretty towns and beaches. We get surprise beach days, where the parking is ample and the weather is warm. We rejoin the community that we had to watch from cold glass windows in the winter and we get outside!

Every year my family eagerly awaits the opening of our many local farmers’ markets. We countdown the days until we can visit places such as Lewis Farms and pick strawberries until we collapse at picnic tables with a cone of fresh ice cream. Mmmmmm.....ice cream. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite farmers’ markets and agrarian adventures. To be honest, I will be putting this list on my refrigerator so that I don’t miss visiting any this season. Enjoy!

Poplar Grove Farmers’ Market

Opens April 1st

This farmers’ market is one of my very favorites. It is the perfect place for families. We usually take a long walk on the trails then buy all of our yummy treats. There is a family day scheduled in June. You can find more information about Poplar Grove and their farmers’ market by visiting

http://www.poplargrove.org/farmers-market/

Carolina Beach Farmers’ Market

Opens May 16th

The Carolina Beach Farmers’ Market definitely conveys a bit of an island flare. We love to visit this market if there is time in our schedule to take a quick ocean dip or to boogie to the music that is performed at the market. This market also has a large array of crafts made by local artisans. To see the vendor lists, schedules, etc. visit

http://carolinabeachfarmersmarket.com/

Riverfront Farmers’ Market (downtown Wilmington, NC)

Opens April 4th

This market is the one that my family visits most frequently due to its proximity to our house. Although it has typically been a bit smaller in offerings than the others in previous years, each year it gets bigger. I hope that this market continues to expand. I love picking up gifts for friends and family at the Riverfront market. From pickled peppers, fresh flowers, to local honey I can always find something that makes for a unique gift. Pickled collard greens anyone?

http://www.wilmingtondowntown.com/events/farmers-market

Eagle Island Fruit and Seafood

Open Year Round

Though Eagle Island is not a farmers’ market it is an amazing place to buy fish, fresh produce, and plants. Eagle Island has a rotating inventory and the best is when they have fresh cakes made by locals in stock. They also serve up a HUGE cup of ice cream for not very huge prices. This place is a true general store. It is the kind of place that I grew up hanging out in with my Pawpaw, and I take my kids here to experience the slower pace of a lot of regulars talking farm out front.  Oh, and if oysters is what you want then you might want to bring the pick-up.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eagle-Island-Fruit-Seafood/146282825406866

Lewis Farms

Opened March 27th

There are a few different Lewis Farms locations. The one that I visit (and love) is the Gordon Road location. I have more Lewis Farms buckets (you get one to fill when you enter) than I do drinking glasses! This place is kid heaven, and it isn’t too bad for parents either. We go to pick strawberries, though they do sell plants and pre-picked veggies. The berries are very reasonably priced, and picking them yourself makes them taste better, I’m pretty sure. Because the berries are planted in long rows on knee high mounds little kids can only go so far. They have a long row to run, and you are usually the only group in your row. This place became a favorite when I had toddlers. After picking berries heading to the picnic tables to enjoy fresh berry ice cream is the best. Sometimes we drive out to Lewis Farms just for the ice cream, it's that good.

http://www.lewisfarms.com/lewis-farm-markets

Greenlands Farmstore

Open year round

Greenlands Farmstore often becomes one of our family stops to or from Oak Island. The farm is located on Midway Road and it opened in 2001. This place has a little bit of everything and you never quite know what you are going to get. There is the farm store which offers  everything from jellies to goat’s milk soap. There is the cafe serving up super yummy sandwiches. There are pony rides and a petting farm. My favorite offering (even though I have not had the chance to explore it) is the Homestead and Jr. Homestead Dinners. These are farm fresh dinners that are scheduled two times a month. There are too many awesome things to list (like hayrides for the kids and s'mores). I will definitely be making room in my summer schedule to experience the farm to fork dinner.

http://www.greenlandsfarmstore.info/homesteaddinners/

There are so many great places in our area for buying (and eating) amazing locally grown farm fresh foods. I will be adding to this list as the season progresses and I have the opportunity to explore more of them. Where should I go? Guide me by commenting on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/seacoastrealty