Follow the Cape Fear River toward the Atlantic and you’ll find a cluster of North Carolina gems waiting to be explored. From the careless, worry-free paradise of Bald Head Island to the expansive beach dunes of family-favorite Oak Island, the area at the river’s mouth is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway or a longer vacation. In the center of it all is the historic village of Southport, a welcoming small town that was once a pirate hangout. Southport was actually named one of America’s happiest seaside towns by Coastal Living Magazine.