Activities for Spring 2016 on Bald Head Island

 With the weather turning warm and tourist season still at least a month away, a spring weekend on Bald Head Island is one of the full­time residents’ best kept secrets. Aside from basking in the sun on one of Bald Head Island’s pristine sandy beaches, we’ve listed five more ideas for taking advantage of the outdoors on your next Bald Head Island vacation. 

1. Fishing 

Bald Head Island offers great fishing all year round. This Spring, offshore fishers can expect to find a bounty of tuna in March, while the billfish and marlin start biting in early May. Surf fishers can find red drum, pompano, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, flounder and speckled trout along the shores starting now. A variety of outfitters and guides provide boats and gear and can pick you up in the harbor. Both the Bald Head Island Conservancy and the Sail Shop offer instruction, so if you’re new to fishing or just want to know where to go, they can help get you started.  

Plan your Bald Head Island vacations with a day of fishing, here.  


        2. Kayak & Canoe Tours 

Imagine gliding through beautiful winding creeks, as silent as the grass around you, coming within feet of egrets and herons, or hearing the call of an osprey circling overhead on your next Bald Head Island vacation.

The Bald Head Island Conservancy offers guided kayak and canoe tours for individuals and small groups all year round. These tours are perfect for any age or skill level and the Conservancy’s expert naturalists can help identify all of the flora and fauna you see (and trust us, you’ll see a lot).  

Additionally, the Sail Shop’s fleet of kayaks and canoes fill the marsh on any given day ­ especially during sunset or under a rising full moon! Their guides know their way through the creeks and can help beginner kayakers get started. Self­guided tours are also available. 

Find out how you can kayak through Bald Head Island with a guide, here.  


        3. Golfing

Experience what it’s like to play a round of golf on the Island’s award­ winning greens at the Bald Head Island Club. Links magazine recently rated the course the second­best renovation in the country, just behind the legendary Pinehurst No. 2. Tim Cate redesigned the Bald Head Island course to wind its way over dunes, around lagoons, along the ocean, and through a maritime forest. 

Enjoyable for both beginners and veterans, it’s not unusual for golfers to see gators basking in the sun, ospreys flying overhead, or deer running across the fairway.

Additionally, the Bald Head Island Club’s professional golf staff offers private lessons, clinics, and activities year round.

Guests are welcome; find out more information about the Bald Head Island Golf Course or book your next round here.  



        4. Lighthouse Climb 

A Bald Head Island vacation favorite, you can enjoy exercise and a view with a visit to the Bald Head Island Lighthouse, affectionately nicknamed Old Baldy. The landing is home to a sweet, charming shop where you can learn more information about the history of the lighthouse and the history of the Island, dating back 400 years.  

For $6 per adult; $3 for kids, you can climb the 108 steps up a ship’s ladder for the best 360 view of the island, where you'll see lush, green marsh, winding rivers, and expansive beach and ocean. Once back down, be sure to ask where you can view Civil War remains of sand curtains, Battery no. 4 and a magazine bunker used to help defend the Cape Fear from the Union Navy.  

For a full list of Bald Head Island's historic sites, please visit us here.  


        5. Nature Trails 

Perfect for the springtime bloom, Bald Head Island vacationers can take full advantage of the season by booking one of the Island’s renowned nature tour walks via the Bald Head Island Conservancy. Hailed as one of the last remaining North Carolina islands where one can walk uninterrupted through salt marsh, maritime forest, dunes, and beach habitats ­ Bald Head Island nature tours offer a unique experience for the whole family. 

Knowledgeable guides will point out the various wildlife, flora, and fauna along the way as well as teach you the importance of the Maritime Forest and its preservation. Prices range from $20 per non­member and $18 per person for Bald Head Island Conservancy Members and tours begin in the morning at the Barrier Island Study Center.  

Reservations required; To reserve your nature trail spot today, please visit us here.  


Don’t miss the beautiful spring season here on Bald Head Island... the off season prices and mild temperate weather won’t last long! Plan your next Bald Head Island Vacation by browsing rental homes by location or view last minute specials, here.  

Published on Saturday, April 23, 2016