There’s something timeless about a good day trip with family—the kind where the breeze is salty, the shops are quirky, and the laughter is loud enough to echo off the waterfront. Our recent jaunt to Southport, North Carolina checked every box and then some. We kicked off the day with a little retail therapy at “Duck, Duck, Goose,” a gift shop so charming it could double as a Hallmark movie set. With beachy décor, friendly staff, and shelves packed tighter than a church bake sale, it was hard not to get pulled in. The ladies went full throttle—browsing, comparing, and approving each other’s finds like Olympic judges.
Meanwhile, I loitered near the back, trying not to knock over anything breakable. Of course, no small-town shopping experience is complete without a stroll through the local antique stores. We meandered into The Painted Mermaid and a few others that looked like Grandma’s attic had exploded in technicolor. Denise and Chris were on the hunt for hidden gems, and at one point, we all gathered around a table display that included a particularly bizarre prize: a preserved alligator head. Naturally, I took the opportunity to fake a chomp attack and let out a yelp. It earned me eye rolls and a few chuckles, but I stand by my performance—it added some spice to the scavenger hunt.
Eventually, the smell of fresh seafood lured us to the Fishy Fishy Café, nestled right on the water. With a view of the harbor, salty air in our faces, and a round of cold drinks in hand, the conversation flowed as easily as the tide. We talked about old memories, swapped family stories, and watched shrimp boats bob in the distance like something out of a Jimmy Buffett song. After lunch, we ventured back out for one final round of antiquing. You know you’re in good company when you can browse the same stack of dusty postcards for twenty minutes and still have fun. Mark and I shared a few laughs over a questionable lampshade, while the women gravitated toward delicate china and eclectic knick-knacks with names like “Victorian whimsy” and “nautical chic.”
With shopping bags in hand and bellies full, we headed to Holden Beach for the late afternoon. A quick setup of the canopy and chairs, and we were planted in the sand sharing munchies. The waves were calm, the sun was warm, and the clouds danced just enough to give us a little shade. Denise and Chris sat side-by-side in almost matching swimsuits. I teased that they must have found the same swimsuit sale. Mark sipped a cold drink while I snapped a few more photos—just in case I forgot how good days like this feel. It wasn’t a fancy itinerary. No big ticket excursions. But that’s the charm. Just four folks, a few hats, a couple of shops, and one taxidermied gator later, we’d made another memory. And in today’s fast-forward world, that’s about as rich as it gets.
