[piano intro] - Next on "North Carolina Weekend," join us from the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores as we highlight coastal treasures.

We'll visit the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach, explore Historic Corolla, and learn the history of Hammocks Beach.

Coming up next.

- [Announcer] Funding for "North Carolina Weekend" is provided in part by Visit NC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history, and diverse cultural attractions.

From the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains across the Piedmont to 300 miles of barrier island beaches, you're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

- [Announcer] And by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

[upbeat music] ♪ - Welcome to "North Carolina Weekend," everyone.

I'm Deborah Holt Noel.

And this week, we are exploring coastal treasures from the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

This is just one of three public aquariums in the North Carolina Aquarium system.

Here, you can watch river otters play, touch a stingray, and even look a shark in the eye.

The aquarium features thousands of aquatic animals from habitats all the way from the mountains to the coast.

Perhaps one of the coolest things featured here is a living shipwreck with hundreds of fishes and other animals.

We'll show you around more throughout the show.

But first, come with me to another coastal treasure, The Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach has been a destination for beach lovers for over half a century and they keep it fresh.

[upbeat music] With access to one of North Carolina's prime destinations for surfers on one side and the calm waters of the sound on the other, the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach is a rare gem that offers vacationers all the comforts of resort living.

For me, it was a great choice for a family weekend getaway, starting with the blockades chartered sailboat ride with Captain Mattie.

He was really great at making all of us feel really comfortable and shared tidbits about the environment and geography, even let us steer for a while.

- Well, what we'd like to do is spend as much time as we can at the calm protective waters, make sure everybody's comfortable.

We've gone over how the boat works and how to get the boat sailing.

And then we have this great ability to have this progression where we sail along the Bank Channel here at the protective waters.

And we only have to go about a mile or so and get to experience the wind, the waves, the ocean, and everything that the Atlantic has to offer.

[upbeat music] - [Deborah] Sailing along Banks Channel was a relaxing adventure and a unique amenity you can enjoy at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort.

Also unique and quite exceptional is dining at the East Oceanfront Dining room whose kitchen is commandeered by the award-winning executive chef, Jessica Cabo, a finalist in the first season of Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" who has since won awards for her creative and delicious cuisine, accented by flavor profiles from California to the Mediterranean.

There's someone else at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort whose genuine, warm hospitality makes this a one of a kind destination.

- I'm Mary Baggett, and I've been at the Blockade Runner since 1984.

And my family has owned it since 1971.

As a family, I feel that my three brothers and I have worked hard to give that feeling of welcome.

Once you come and stay with us, you're part of the family too.

I especially love meeting the guest.

We do advertise ourselves the classic beach hotel, and we are a boutique hotel because we have every floor in the property with a different theme.

And therefore, that creates an atmosphere inside the room that's different.

And then you come downstairs and it's a very tropical resort feel.

When you walk in the doors, it's an entirely different feel.

We built in this early 60s and consequently, we have a real mid-modern architecture.

This is considered one of the most iconic beach towns in America right now.

[bells chiming] - [Deborah] With the sound of crashing waves from the ocean, seagulls calling and tingling wind chimes in the breeze, a stretch of lush green lawn, surrounded by floral gardens becomes a perfect playground for children and adults to relax or participate in the Blockade's onsite activities.

- Yoga is actually just about breathing.

So when you're by the ocean and the wind, it just elevates your whole experience.

So that's my favorite way to teach.

- [Deborah] In addition to the beach front, outdoor lawn and gardens, and the sound side at the Blockade Runner's sailing and kayak program, guests will enjoy a shimmering pool with private cabanas you can reserve.

It's another way to cool off at the resort with fun cocktails and Chef Cabo's tropically-inspired poolside menu, featuring fresh ceviche, lobster nachos, classic American burgers, and plenty more.

Whether or not you're an overnight guest at the resort, consider Sunday brunch on the East Oceanfront Dining patio, destination dining.

- We have a jazz trio that play, sometimes it's a quartet.

And every two months, we change the menu for the brunch.

We have a theme that every two months, it's a different jazz festival that's worldwide.

It's a wonderful place to come and have culinary experience.

Plus, you get to have this incredible resort environment with a lot of wonderful young people to make you comfortable hopefully.

- The staff and servers throughout the hotel are extremely polite and friendly, perhaps emulating the same genuine care that Mary extends.

And whether you're trying your hand at Tai Chi, dining with friends, or sailing out to a barrier island in the Atlantic, it's how you're treated in these beautiful surroundings that makes your guest experience at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort most memorable.

The Blockade Runner Beach Resort is at 275 Waynick Boulevard in Wrightsville Beach.

To plan your visit, give them a call at 866-884-5781 or go online to blockade-runner.com.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was built along the Bogue Sound.

Here, you can take a stroll along the marsh boardwalk, which has several outlooks and leads you to the Alice Hoffman Nature Trail.

Now, let's jump from the crystal coast to the Outer Banks.

The town of Corolla has long been a destination for visitors and vacationers alike.

But back in the 1800s, it was just a small fishing village.

Let's join Rob Holliday as he shows us how the town has not forgotten its fascinating history.

- [Mark] Sometimes vacations, you get the hustle and bustle, but man, you come up here and just relax.

- [Jill] We're at the Northern Outer Banks where, where the road ends, basically.

- [Meghan] Our ocean and our beaches are beautiful.

You can spend an entire day really enjoying yourself here even if you left the beach out of it.

- [Jill] We've just got a lot of special things here.

- [Rob] That combined to form a place that's unique in all kinds of ways, starting with its pronunciation.

- [Meghan] Our town is pronounced Corolla.

- Corolla.

- Corolla.

- Corolla, not Corolla.

[laughs] This is not a Toyota.

- [Rob] But to its core, Corolla and its people are welcoming and plenty accustomed to a mispronunciation here and there.

- We're used to it.

Even my mother says Corolla and I've worked here forever.

- [Rob] In addition to their beaches, Corolla and Currituck County are perhaps best known for wild horse tours.

But the area has many other attractions.

Four of them were located within steps of each other at Historic Corolla Park.

- We are a destination location, and a lot of people don't realize what made us who we are here.

So this park, this whole park as a whole, with all the entities really tells our story.

- [Rob] A story told through four special places, each with its own significance.

Let's start with the most prominent, which also happens to be the tallest and the oldest.

- The Currituck Beach Lighthouse was first illuminated in 1875.

It illuminated the last dark space on the Atlantic Ocean.

It's 162 feet to the top of the building and it has 220 steps to the top.

- [Mark] Even if you're completely out of shape, you can still come up here 'cause there's plenty places to stop.

You can stop at each landing, learn a little bit about the lighthouse, catch your breath.

Then when you get up here, it's a million dollar view.

- We don't rush people out of the lighthouse.

So you get to the top, you can spend a while just thinking and enjoying life.

- You get up here that you don't have a care in the world.

Even if you come up twice a day, you're gonna see a different view.

You're gonna see the colors change in the ocean.

- [Rob] Between 80 and 100,000 people visit the Currituck Beach Lighthouse each year.

When they're finished, many of those folks stroll over to another historic attraction just a few hundred feet away.

- The Whalehead Club is a 1920s era house museum.

It's a lot larger than it looks from the outside.

It's a five-story building, 21,000 square feet.

People do compare us to Biltmore and they say Biltmore of the Outer Banks.

- [Rob] And like the Biltmore Estate, the Whalehead Club was the creation of a wealthy family from the northeast.

Edward Knight Jr and his wife, Marie Louise, envisioned the Whalehead Club as a coastal retreat and hunting lodge.

Construction was completed in 1925 with a full restoration coming about 20 years ago.

- It's just in a beautiful setting.

I mean, all around us with the sound.

What we're known for is our Art Nouveau style.

There's very bright colors in the rooms.

The kitchen is candy pink.

It's just a happy place.

We do a self-guided audio tour on iPods with different stops and people can go at their own pace.

- [Rob] The waterfowl and other wildlife in the area were a huge draw to the Whalehead and other hunt clubs in the early part of the 20th century.

That heritage is still on full display just across from the Whalehead at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education.

- Most people that come in look around and go, "What is this place?"

And they come to find out that we have an outstanding gallery.

It'll take you through all the parts of the county, people, places, and of course, one of the most outstanding Mid-Atlantic decoy collections around.

- [Rob] The community's focus on its coastal heritage and culture is front and center at the newest attraction at Historic Corolla Park, the Currituck Maritime Museum which opened in the summer of 2021.

- We're gonna be showcasing in the museum right around a dozen historical boats that were all built here in Currituck, different styles that were used here.

We have a series of AV screens around the museum that tell different stories about boat building, about hunting, fishing, decoy carving.

Those stories have really been captured through some historical perspective, but then also through continuing traditions that we're still doing.

- [Rob] Giving modern day visitors and perhaps even some full-time residents, a more complete history of Corolla and a greater appreciation for how the coastal community has evolved over the decades.

- There wasn't a road to Corolla from Dare County until 1984.

So the only way to access Corolla was by boat or four-wheel drive vehicle.

It's a totally different world here now than it was back then.

So getting to tell the story of how we got where we are is a really unique experience.

- Historic Corolla Park is at 1160 Village Lane in Corolla, and it's open daily.

For more information, give the park a call at 252-453-0221, or go online to visitcurrituck.com.

I'm here with Emily Foy, activities coordinator for the aquarium here at Pine Knoll Shores.

Emily, tell me about some of the activities that the visitors can enjoy here.

- Absolutely.

So outside of just being able to tour the aquarium and enjoy our trails, we also offer daily behind the scenes tours for our guests to enjoy that they can get a closer look at the aquarium and meet some animals up close and personal.

We also have weekly outdoor recreation activities that our guests can participate in like kayak tours, standup paddleboard rentals.

We have fishing programs, beachcombing, as well as sea turtle walks.

So lots of different activities that our guests can do on top of just touring the aquarium.

- And I notice, it's not just a salt water aquarium, they're actually habitats from all over the state, right?

- Absolutely.

So we try to highlight all of the regions of North Carolina, as well as species you'd find all over the state.

So when you come to the aquarium, you start in the Mountains gallery, highlighting animals you would find in the mountains of North Carolina.

And then you go into our Piedmont gallery, which highlights the American river otter as well as some screech owls.

Then you will venture into our Coastal Plains gallery, which highlights different reptiles that you'd find around the state, different species of snakes, different types of turtles, as well as juvenile alligators.

And then you'll come into our Tidal Waters gallery, where we have our two touch pools that highlight stingrays as well as marine invertebrates.

In our Oceans gallery, we have the living shipwreck which is the largest habitat here in the aquarium.

In there, you'll find several species of shark as well as lots of large fish that you find here on the coast.

So we have lots of different animals that really highlight everything you could find here in North Carolina.

- And there's certainly lots of pretty fish to look at, but there's real science happening too, right?

- Absolutely.

So a big part of the North Carolina Aquarium's mission is conservation work.

So we have several different projects that we take part in.

The first one is with sand tiger sharks.

There are sand tiger sharks found all up and down our coast.

So divers actually get a chance to find them along our wrecks.

take pictures of them, upload them to spotasharkusa.com where the citizen science project allows scientists to actually study sharks based on the pictures that these divers upload to that website.

Another project we have is with our sea turtles.

There are sea turtles that migrate up and down the coast of North Carolina all year long.

And sometimes they do wash up when they're sick or injured.

And so here at the North Carolina Aquarium, we do rehabilitate cold-stunned sea turtles, get them healthy, and return them to the wild.

- The environments here are really fragile.

What role does the aquarium play in sustainability?

- So a big part of what we do here at North Carolina Aquarium is be a leader or a role model for the local community in protecting and conserving the natural environment.

So we're trying to lessen our impact that we have on the environment.

We do that in lots of different ways.

We do reuse greywater in our toilets.

We're trying to reach net zero emissions to really lower our impact on the environment.

We also have a breeding program, an aquaculture program where we're able to breed fish we have here in the aquarium instead of pulling from animals out in the wild so we can lessen our impact on the wild populations.

- [Deborah] And I'll bet you have some really great programs for kids.

- We actually have a new indoor play area for children called Imagination Bay where kids get a chance to play around in the aquarium.

- [Deborah] Sounds like so much fun.

- It's great.

It's very fun.

- I love it.

Well, thank you, Emily.

I can't wait to explore more of the aquarium.

- You're so welcome.

Thank you for visiting.

- [Deborah] The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is at 1 Roosevelt Boulevard in Pine Knoll Shores, and it's open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Advanced tickets are required.

Give the aquarium a call at 252-247-4003 or go online to ncaquariums.com.

Boy, these river otters sure know how to have fun.

And if you are looking for a day of fun, warm sand, and a cold beverage are the perfect combination when you're down at the beach.

Throw in some disc golf and you have the absolute perfect day.

Let's join Chelsea Goodnight at Good Hops Brewing.

- Carolina Beach is a very special place.

The community, the people, they're just cool.

And I think Good Hops fit really well into us.

We're the first and only brewery here on Carolina Beach.

And that's actually the only disc golf course in New Hanover County.

We could legally drink a beer and play at the same time.

- [Patricia] When we did a brewery, we knew that people were coming for an experience.

- [Fuzz] We get disc golfers from all over the country coming here.

I mean, it's just a fun place to be.

This is what we love and this is what we wanna do, and we're doing it for the people.

[metal clanking] - Disc golf will ensure you're having a great day.

It is a fun sport.

It can be a group sport.

It can be an individual sport.

Anybody can do it.

I don't know.

It's just so special.

[metal clanking] - Well, disc golf is pretty much for any and everybody, from 8 to 80.

Anybody can just pick it up.

Here, it would be like playing putt-putt.

Your first introduction to golf game period, room for the family.

And you can grab a nice brew.

- Community is the biggest thing for us.

Everyone, this is theirs.

It's not mine.

It's not Patricia's.

It's everyone's.

So if they need to use it, they use it.

And that's what we want.

- Hello.

I'm Chelsea Goodnight with "North Carolina Weekend."

And today, our story brings us to Carolina Beach.

We're at Good Hops Brewing, the only brewery in North Carolina with its very owned disc golf course.

Let's check it out.

[upbeat music] ♪ Good morning, Fuzz.

- [Fuzz] Good morning.

- All right, what's going on here today?

- So we're getting ready to do our tipple.

Our water's heated up.

We will be putting the grain in to the mash tun where we're pulling our sugars, and then we'll end up transferring it over to the boil and start doing our hop additions.

- Tipple, smelling it already.

- [Chelsea] While Fuzz puts the finishing touches on the new brew, I'll be getting my downward dog on with his better half, Trish, in the beer garden.

- Every Thursday morning, we get up early and we have a yoga class because right now, yoga studios are not open, but people want the energy that you get from practicing together that art.

One of the things that Good Hops will tell you over and over and over again, "It's not about us.

It's about you."

You don't have to defend who you are when you come here.

You get to come here and be yourself and be your good self.

- With a wide range of weekly events, you won't have a hard time being a good self at Good Hops.

Next, head brewer, John Sawyer takes me on a tour of the taps.

All right, Sawyer.

So we were just delivered these flights.

Where should I start?

- I think we should start with the Donna Golden Ale.

- Right.

Let's go right here.

- [Sawyer] One of our flagship beers.

- Cheers.

- [Sawyer] Nice and easy to drink on a hot day.

- Hmm.

Seems like it could be a good partner with the disc golf course.

- Nice beer.

- [Chelsea] Yay.

- Georgia on My Mind Peach Jalapeno.

Fantastic.

- Thank you.

- [Fuzz] Oh yeah.

- All right.

I mean, right away, you're like, "Oh, this is a sweet beer."

This is really nice and really light.

And then at the end, you feel the spice.

That's great.

- Yeah.

You get that heat.

Yeah.

Got a little stash hidden.

- [Chelsea] Thank you.

- Fantastic.

- This special reserve.

- [Sawyer And Fuzz] Cheers.

- [Chelsea] There are only a few essential elements to disc golf, discs, baskets, and beer.

Now, it's time to rattle some chains.

On paper, Good Hops might just be a brewery, but the truth is it's so much more than that.

It's a place to connect, unwind, find new friends, and discover why the locals call this area pleasure island.

But don't take my word for it, I've been drinking all day.

Come see for yourself.

- Grab a beer or play some disc golf at Good Hops Brewing, located at 811 Harper Avenue in Carolina Beach.

They're open every day at one o'clock.

And for more information, you can call them at 706-713-1594 or check them out online at goodhopsbrewing.com.

Today, our state beaches are open to everyone, but that was not always the case.

During segregation, there were beaches for whites and beaches for blacks.

Hammocks Beach in Swansboro was a place where black vacationers could go relax and enjoy the water.

And the story of its creation is what makes it a true coastal treasure.

Hammocks Beach State Park was North Carolina's only beach open to African Americans during the era of racial segregation.

Located on North Carolina Central Coast, Hammocks Beach State Park encompasses over 1500 acres of maritime forest, fertile estuaries, and four undeveloped barrier islands, the largest known as Bear Island lies two and a half miles offshore and remains pristine and undeveloped, accessible only by water.

[waves crashing] - I love the diversity of the park.

I love that every season is different, especially on Bear Island.

You go over there in the summer, it's completely different than when you go over in the winter.

And there there's definite seasons here.

It's not the same thing every day.

- [Deborah] The property including Bear Island was owned for a period by the African American North Carolina Teachers Association.

In addition to recreation, the North Carolina Teachers Association made use of the park as a meeting place and educational center during the civil rights era.

With the coming of desegregation, the park property became part of the North Carolina State Parks System.

Today, the park provides visitors a variety of options to experience an undeveloped location on North Carolina's coastline.

Day trips and overnight primitive camping are available on Bear Island via the park's ferry system.

- The park has come a long ways.

You have to educate your public to what you're doing, and that's what we had to do at Hammocks.

The turtle program in Hammocks, I started that, and I asked for help on counting and they got us interns who came down.

At the first year, there was two girls and I called them the turtle girls, and they would walk the beach at night looking for turtles, tagging, counting, seeing how many eggs they laid, that type thing.

And that program is still going on now today.

- Another way to experience Bear Island is to paddle across the sound to designated paddle in campsites.

Paddling out to Bear Island for an overnight or day trip begins at the park's launch site.

Canoe trail markers guide paddlers across 2.5 miles to Bear Island.

Coastal paddling involves tides, wind, and coastal weather patterns, offering visitors a different paddling experience than North Carolina's inland waters.

Three primitive paddle camp sites are located at the islands' north end.

Overnight visits to Bear Island during summer months are challenging due to extreme coastal heat and weather.

Spring and fall bring more favorable conditions for an overnight stay.

With a seemingly endless shoreline and salt marsh is still unspoiled, it's no wonder, Hammocks Beach remains a crown jewel of the North Carolina coast.

Hammocks Beach State Park Visitor Center is at 1572 Hammocks Beach Road in Swansboro, and they're open daily.

For camping and ferry information, go online to ncparks.gov.

We've had a really great time here at the aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

And one of the great exhibits is this touch pool, where you can actually reach down and touch one of the live stingrays.

Hey, fella.

They're so slick.

[laughs] And if you've missed anything in today's show, just remember, you can always watch this again online at pbsnc.org.

For "North Carolina Weekend," I'm Deborah Holt Noel.

Have a great night, everyone.

[bright music] ♪ - [Announcer] Funding for "North Carolina Weekend" is provided in part by Visit NC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history, and diverse cultural attractions.

From the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains across the Piedmont to 300 miles of barrier island beaches, you're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

[piano outro]