What’s there to do and where is there to go for New Years? 2020 made the world take a seat and reflect. What better way to end the year exploring a new place that inspires thought? I said I wanted to go to the beach but I was looking for a place that had a remote kind of vibe… a place that wasn’t super touristy and my objective was to check out Kure Beach. Instead, I spent the evening on Wrightsville Beach listening to music, contemplating and reflecting. There was nothing and no one out there but the beach, my friend and a blanket to snuggle in. Going to the beach at the end of the year is a win since it’s off-season and “crowdless”. I wanted to stay out on the beach up until New Year’s but there was a curfew that required everyone to be home 10 PM. That night, I had a small drink, watched a movie and went to sleep because first thing in the morning, we’d be headed to the island.
Baldhead Island, North Carolina
So, before hitting the road, we decided to go to our favorite beach drive-thru called Port City Java. I’ve mentioned this place a few times before. I always have to pull up whenever I’m in town! After grabbing some sustenance we checked out the distance from where we were. It was about an hour and 30 minute drive from Wilmington to Southport. From Southport we went to the marina, purchased our tickets and got on the ferry to Baldhead Island. The ferry almost reminded me of one of those fishing boats that you see in movies. Nevertheless, I recommend it for those who have never used water transportation before. Once we got to the island we took a 4 minute tram ride to the lighthouse called “Old Baldy“. . We later learned that most people navigate the island using a bike or golf cart because it’s so small. We spent some time around the lighthouse reading the different history plaques. The trees in the area had so much character. There’s something about the trees on the coast in the south that have this integrity and otherworldly feel to them. We began walking along the road and we kept getting passed by people on golf carts. We were aiming to go to the beach but figured it would be better to rent a bike so we turned back around and headed towards the marina where the bike rental shops were.
We got there in the nick of time, as they were about to close. So… we got a discount on ours ;). The attendant at the shop gave us a map and shared which routes we should take and some decent spots to check out. There weren’t many, as we went during off-season and most popular shops were closed. We made our way down to East Beach and South Beach followed. The view spelled out serenity. I mean, this was the exact vibe and aesthetic I was looking for to spend my last day of the year. But I suppose the first day of the year will do just fine. I wish I had brought blankets, tea and a book out there because I would’ve stayed so much longer. The tide was quite low and there was plenty of damp sand around. Half the sky was covered in dark clouds and the other was only hazy. The sky almost represented the darkness of 2020 and the newness that 2021 would bring us. After taking in the view and peacefulness around us we considered going to south beach but our thoughts were interrupted by a few heavy drops of rain that sent us running for our bikes. Thank goodness those drops of rain we’re only a scare and nothing came of it! We did make a mad dash back to the marina so that we can catch the boat on time but I looked at the wrong side of the schedule. We sat there for 30 minutes in the cold until the ferry came. Once in the car, we blasted the heat and headed back to Wilmington. But. I had to make a stop at the one and only Checkers. The reason I romanticize this place is because my Mom has told me about it and she’s from New Jersey. There have been a few times when she shared her childhood stories and would mention Checkers so, whenever I get the opportunity, I seize it. This time around I got a small regular fry, a small funnel fry, and a chicken sandwich. I also got a slushy and ice cream kind of drink but I forget the name of it. I am usually well behaved when I eat out but I had to make this one exception. In the morning, we checked out around noon and then we hit Port City Java one last time before heading back to the Piedmont.
Zaira Viteria 