Spring is in the air, so are opportunities to discover fun new places

from SENC Magazine - Spring 2023

Play Dates

It is time to ditch the heavy winter layers, pack your weekend bags and let’s enjoy everything this spring has to o er. From sunsets at a remote river to sunrises in a shing charter, adventure and excitement are just around the corner!

In this edition of SENC Magazine, we are highlighting a handful of fun and unique places to visit, along with some cool people that make the magic happen! Our rst stop is the breathtaking ancient Bald Cypress Forest of the Black River. Back in February, I was contacted by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation as they were getting the word out about their fundraiser For the love of the Black River, needles to say I was beyond excited when I learned about this gorgeous hidden spot, nestled in the sleepy waters of the Three Sisters Swamp between Bladen and Pender counties, and only accessible by water.

Our next stop is Retroscape Video Lounge in Wilmington. This unique shop can be described as a gamers’ paradise as you can nd almost “every video game imaginable since they were pretty much invented” as Annesophia Richards said to me when she pitched the story idea. Retroscape welcoming vibe, features old-school décor, and vintage games from the early 1970s Atari Pong all the way through today’s favorite Virtual Reality games.

Another cool place to visit is The Warehouse in Mount Olive. At The Warehouse you can take your date for an exciting game of paintball. Friends and families can play pool, ping pong, and checkers or relax and hang out as you enjoy a scoop of your favorite dairy-free ice cream.

If you like a quiet pace, head to the Onslow County Museum this May through June as they will be hosting Crossroads: Change in Rural America, a Smithsonian traveling exhibit highlighting rural America.

For those who are looking for ways to pay it forward or fun for a good cause, check out Reelin’ for Research and help this non-pro t land a cure for childhood cancer by participating in this year’s shing tournament in Morehead City, N.C. Next on our lineup is the Wings Over Wayne Air Show, a biennial event that brings thousands of people to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro to watch the famous U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels drills, and aerobatic performances. Our next feature is Sampson County’s Barn Quilt Trail. Famous not only for their symbolism and unique designs, the wooden barn quilts can be seen peppered throughout Sampson County and beyond.

As you explore the outdoors, keep an eye out for ecoEXPLORE signs. Developed by The North Carolina Arboretum the ecoEXPLORE program promotes science exploration among children, encouraging them to explore the outdoors as they learn about di erent animal species and their environments. Learn about generational farming with the Stricklands, a father and son duo, who are part of a 7th generation, diversi ed crop and livestock family farm operation with roots in Wayne, Sampson, and Duplin counties dating back to 1861.

For more adventures to enjoy this spring, check out Play Dates on page 44. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of SENC as much as we enjoyed creating it for YOU.

Enjoy some of our favorite Instagram ﬁnds for southeastern North Carolina! Our picks for top Instagramers’ photos: