SURROUNDING AREA INFORMATION

Cape Fear Museum
Exhibits on history and culture of the Lower Cape Fear Region, including dioramas of Civil War Wilmington and the Battle of Fort Fisher. Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the museum is also open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Mondays. 814 Market St. Admission: $5 adult, $4 seniors 65 and older, military and college students. $1 children 3-17, free for children younger than 3. The first Sunday of the month is free to New Hanover County residents. Details: 341-4350 or www.capefearmuseum.com

Cape Fear Serpentarium
Snake and reptile exhibits. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday Sept.-March. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday April-August. 3 p.m. feedings on Saturday and Sunday. Ticket: $8 adult all day admission. Children younger than 2 get in free. 20 Orange St. Details: 762-1669 or www.capefearserpentarium.com

Franklin Square Gallery
Pottery, paintings and weaving by local artists. Hours vary, call for details. Franklin Square Park, 130 E. West St. in Southport. Admission: Free. Details: 457-5450 or www.franklinsquaregallery.org

Ingram Planetarium
Intersection of N.C. 179 and N.C. 904, Sunset Beach. Call for program descriptions. Details: 575-0033 or www.ingramplanetarium.org

Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum
Featured exhibitions and a permanent collection of North Carolina art from the 18th century to the present, color prints by Mary Cassatt. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays. Admission: $7 adult, $15 family, $2 ages 5-18, free for children. 3201 S. 17th St. Details: 395-5999 or www.cameronart
museum.com

Missiles and More Museum
Exhibits on “Operation Bumblebee,” the first U.S. missile tests off Topsail Island after World War II, plus local history and nature, 2-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and other times by appointment April through mid-October. (November through March open by appointment only.) Inside the Assembly Building, 720 Channel Blvd., Topsail Beach. Admission: Free. Details: 329-4446.

Museum of Coastal Carolina
Exhibits on history, wildlife and habitat of the coast. New touch tank with live sea animals. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, with evening hours 5-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, through Labor Day. Autumn hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday through Memorial Day. Adults $5, children under 12 $3. 21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach. Details: 579-1016 or www.museumofcc.org

N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Extensive exhibits on North Carolina freshwater, coastal and ocean life, including “touch pool” for children and 235,000-gallon ocean exhibit. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Admission: $7 adults, $6 senior citizens and active military, $5 children ages 6-17, free for ages 5 and younger. Free days: M.L. King Jr. Day, Valentine’s Day, Veteran’s Day and Christmas Eve Day. Details: 458-8257 or www.ncaquariums.com

N.C. Maritime Museum at Southport
Maritime artifacts of the Lower Cape Fear region, plus a research library. 116 N. Howe St., Southport. Details: 457-0003 or www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/maritime/branches
/southport_default.htm

N.C. Military History Museum
Memorabilia from all U.S. armed forces, Spanish-American War to present. Volunteer-run facility. Off U.S. 421 at Air Force Recreation Area. Details: 251-7324 for hours of operation.

Battleship North Carolina Memorial
Self-guided tours of World War II battleship, plus exhibits on the war and North Carolina veterans. Open seven days a week. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend. Off U.S. 421 across the Cape Fear River from downtown Wilmington. Admission: $9 adults, $8 seniors, active-duty and retired military, $4.50 children ages 6-11, free for 5 and younger. Group rates. Details: 251-5797 or www.battleshipnc.com

Bellamy Mansion Museum
Restored antebellum Southern townhouse, plus rotating exhibits on regional history and architecture. Tours on the hour 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays. 503 Market Street. Admission: $7 adults, $3 children 5-12, free for 4 and younger. Details: 251-3700 or www.bellamymansion.org

Brunswick Nuclear Plant Visitors Center, Progress Energy
Interactive exhibits, graphic displays and videos on energy. Also, scale model of the nuclear plant. Free. Hours vary. Call in advance. N.C. 87 two miles north of Southport. Details: 457-6041

Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
Excavated remains of colonial port, ruins of St. Phillip’s Church and Confederate earthworks. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 8884 St. Phillip’s Road SE, off U.S. 133 between Wilmington and Southport adjacent to Orton Plantation. Admission: Free. Details: 371-6613 or www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/brunswic/brunswic.htm

Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens
Restored circa-1770 Georgian home, occupied by the British during the Revolutionary War. Tours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. The tours begin on the hour with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m. September through December schedule may be altered in the morning due to New Hanover County School program; please call for information. Open Hearth Cooking Demonstrations, call ahead for information. Admission: $7 adults. Details: 762-0570 or www.geocities.com/picketfence/garden/4354/

Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Guided tours and demonstrations at remains of Civil War earthworks. Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday April 1-Sept. 30. Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday from Oct. 1 until March 31. Closed Veteran’s Day; Thanksgiving holidays, (Nov. 24-and 25); and Christmas holidays (Dec. 23 through Dec. 26).Off U.S. 421 south of Kure Beach. Admission: Free. Details: 458-5538 or www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/fisher/fisher.htm

Latimer House
Restored Victorian home with period furnishings and fixtures. Headquarters and archives for the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday. 126 S. Third St. Admission: Adults $7, students $3. “Walk and Talk” tours at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays: $9, need reservations. Combination ticket for Latimer, Bellamy and Burgwin-Wright homes, $18. Details: 762-0492 or www.latimerhouse.org

Moores Creek National Battlefield
Revolutionary War site maintained by the National Park Service. Visitor center with exhibits and video on the Feb. 27, 1776 battle; self-guided tours on the battle and on the Colonial naval stores industry. Group tours available by appointment. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Free. Off N.C. 210 at Currie, 20 miles north of Wilmington; accessible from I-40. 283-5591. www.nps.gov/mocr

Poplar Grove Plantation
Restored antebellum peanut plantation house and grounds. Tours, blacksmithing, basketry and weaving demonstrations available. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Easter Sunday and Thanksgiving Day and closed the week of Christmas, reopens first Monday in February. 10200 U.S. 17 North in Scotts Hill. Admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors and military, $5 students 6-15. Details: 686-9518 or www.poplargrove.com