This Small Fishing Village In North Carolina Is The 'Seafood Capital Of The World'

The Brunswick Islands offer as classic a North Carolina beach vacation as you can get. Days revolve around family time on the sand, paddling on the water, and gobbling scrumptious seafood. Just inland from Sunset Beach, the small fishing village of Calabash has its own claim to fame. Situated on the Calabash River near the South Carolina border, this village has become so synonymous with lightly breaded and flash-fried seafood that we call it "Calabash-style." And the town is packed with so many seafood restaurants, Calabash has declared itself the "Seafood Capital of the World."

Whether you want to head from your beach house over to Calabash for the food or spend a weekend in this quaint waterfront village, these are the best things to do in Calabash, North Carolina.

What To Do In Calabash

Get Out On The Water

Book a half day or full day of fishing with Calabash Fishing Fleet or Hurricane Fleet. Both offer public fishing excursions and private charters, cruising near the shore or heading out to the open ocean for deep-sea fishing. For a shorter trip, book a dolphin cruise or sunset cruise and learn about the area's wildlife.

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www.calabashfishingfleet.com; 9945 Nance St., Calabash, NC 28467

hurricanefleet.com; 9975 Nance St., Calabash, NC 28467

Spend Your Day On The Golf Course

Book a tee time at one of four immaculate championship courses in Calabash: Brunswick Golf Club, Crow Creek, Meadowlands Golf Club, and The Pearl Golf Links. Each is surrounded by natural beauty and offers unique challenges. You can also rent a villa on the grounds of Brunswick Plantation.

www.brunswickplantation.com/golf; 380 Brunswick Drive, Calabash, NC 28467

crowcreekgolf.com; 490 S. Crow Creek Drive, Calabash, NC 28467

meadowlandsgolf.com; 1000 Meadowlands Trail, Calabash, NC 28467

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thepearlgolf.com; 1300 Pearl Blvd., Calabash, NC 28467

Or Play A Round Of Mini Golf

Bring the kids (or your date) with you and spend a nostalgic couple of hours at Tropical Adventure Mini Golf. The course is dotted with palm trees, papyrus, a lighthouse, a koi pond, and some seriously big pink flamingoes. Hours vary by season, so check online or give them a call.

facebook.com; 10124 Beach Dr SW, Calabash, NC 28467

Browse The Clothing Boutiques

Find your next beach dress, beaded accessories, and coordinating bag at COCO & Company. Victoria's Ragpatch carries fine women's clothing and jewelry from brands like Lilly Pulitzer, Jack Rogers, Nic & Zoe, Escapada, and Joules.

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www.shopcocoandcompany.com; 9118 Beach Drive, Calabash, NC 28467

victoriasragpatch.com; 10164 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467

Pick Up Coastal Decor And Gifts

Find home decor and gifts with a coastal flavor at Calabash Trading and Consignment. Callahan's of Calabash is the place for nautical gifts, tees, homemade fudge, and Christmas ornaments. You can also admire work by local artists at the Sunset River Gallery and Calabash Art and Curios.

www.facebook.com/coastalshopping; 10102 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467

callahansgifts.com; 9973 Beach Drive, Calabash, NC 28467

calabashartandcurios.com; 9970 Unit 1 Beach Drive, Calabash, NC 28467

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sunsetrivergallery.com; 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467

Plan A Beach Day

Just a short drive away, you'll find half a dozen beaches on the Brunswick Islands. The nearest, Sunset Beach, is about 6 miles from Calabash and offers a fishing pier and great shelling.

www.sunsetbeachpier.com; 101 W Main St., Sunset Beach, NC 28468

Where To Eat

Courtesy of VisitNC.com

Start The Day Off Right

Greek-owned Milk & Honey serves up a mix of Southern and Mediterranean specialties for breakfast and lunch. The Milk & Honey Signature Pancakes are topped with honey whipped ricotta and lemon curd. For fresh, New York-style bagels, head to Bagel Dock Cafe. They serve a long list of breakfast and lunch sandwiches as well as handcrafted bagel spreads by the pound.

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www.thebageldock.com; 1162 River Road, Calabash, NC 28467

www.milkandhoneyincalabash.com; 9941 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467

Eat Original Calabash-Style Seafood

Calabash-style seafood started in the fish camps of the 1930s. Today, it's hard to find a restaurant in this town that doesn't serve it, but descendants of the first families to open Calabash-style restaurants still run Beck's Restaurant and the Calabash Seafood Hut. Many visitors also make a point of ordering from the Waterfront Seafood Shack and eating at a picnic table by the water.

www.becksrestaurant.com; 1014 River Road, Calabash, NC 28467

www.facebook.com/calabashseafoodhut; 1125 River Road, Calabash, NC 28467

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waterfrontseafoodshack.com; Waterfront Seafood Shack, 9945 Nance St., Calabash, NC 28467

Splurge On A Fine Seafood Restaurant

Western-themed Angus Steakhouse and Seafood offers hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood in more than 40 surf-and-turf combinations. The Boundary House is another popular spot that serves fresh surf and turf dishes along with pastas and sandwiches. For an expansive view of the waterfront and an incredible raw bar, dine at The Oyster Rock.

boundaryhouserestaurant.com; 1045 River Road, Calabash, NC 28467

www.myangussteak.com; 9887 Oak St., Calabash, NC 28467

theoysterrock.com; 9931 Nance St., Calabash, NC 28467

Dig Into Southern Comfort Food

When you've had your fill of seafood, stop at Gravy Southern Eatery on a weekday. You can still order fried flounder and shrimp, along with meatloaf, fried chicken, and peach cobbler. For burgers, hot dogs, and pulled pork, stop in at Bennett's Grill and Cafe.

www.bennettsgrillandcafe.com; 10009 Beach Drive, Calabash, NC 28467

gravysoutherneatery.com; 1165 Carlyle St. SW, Calabash, NC 28467

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