North Carolina and I are helping each other out in this summer of tight finances. In the interests of saving money and supporting education and responsible stewardship, I'm keeping my summer travel local to NC.
First recommendation: NC has greatly expanded its state parks system over the past decade or so. For the most part, the campground amenities aren't exactly luxurious, but then again, it's camping after all. I've recently spent a weekend at Carolina Beach State Park, which is unique in my experience for being secluded and quiet despite having all the action of Pleasure Island a mere mile and a half away. The proximity of entertainment and dining was fortunate, as it was simply too hot and muggy to justify building a campfire (it's not exactly a responsible use of natural resources to build an unnecessary fire, is it?) and I had had quite enough of my cheap healthy salmon-packet based meals halfway through lunch on the beach the second day.
Second recommendation: I made it to the Fort Fisher Aquarium for the first time since I was a child, and the first time since its semi-recent renovation. They have some remarkable exhibits, including a pearlescent albino alligator named Luna and mesmerizing jelly fish. The Cape Fear Shoals exhibit is especially stunning (the Moray eel was probably my favorite denizen there). The membership I purchased meant I didn't have to pay when I returned the next day to catch the dive show. The most important thing for me, as an educator, was that the staff and volunteers were knowledgable and engaging, and greeted every guest and question with enthusiasm. It was apparent that the folks there really believed in the aquarium's mission of education and outreach.
Folks concerned about issues of bullying, BOLO for this guy:
Bonus: the membership works at the NC Zoo, too, and reciprocity information for 150 vivaria around the country will soon be arriving by USPS.
Trivia question: Easiest way to spot which woman at the bar came to the beach by herself?
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