Staying Active on the Coast: How Seaside Living Promotes an Active Lifestyle

We can all agree that a nutritious diet and regular exercise are vital to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While it can take discipline and dedication to stick to these habits, other factors may make it easier to accomplish your health goals. Would you rather put in time at a gym lifting weights and running on a treadmill, or would you prefer getting exercise outside on a pretty day by doing a fun activity? If you’re anything like us, the second option sounds much better! Thankfully, our area of Coastal North Carolina provides an ideal location and climate to support your active lifestyle!

Mild Year-Round Weather

While the Cape Fear Coast experiences four seasons, the weather tends to be mild all year. The average temperatures range from 57 degrees in the winter to 84 degrees in the summer. This allows for outdoor activities year-round. Whether you enjoy playing pickleball and tennis, or if you’re an avid runner, these activities can easily be enjoyed on the coast and our area provides so much coastal beauty to explore.

Walking or Running

StrollthroughtheHistoric Downtown of Southport or Wilmington. Take a jog down the sandy beaches of the Brunswick Islands. Bring your furry friend along to hike one of the many trails offered at CarolinaBeachState Park or Brunswick Nature Park. Stretch your legs and explore the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. With so many options for places to go for a walk or run, it’s no wonder our area is always filled with outdoor activity. Brunswick County alone offers nearly50 miles of coastline easily accessible to be explored. Downtown Wilmington offers a Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River that spans almost 2 miles with beautiful views of the marina. Many of the islands are walkable, with plenty of sidewalks and crosswalks. Most master-planned communities in the area also provide trails to be explored right outside of your front door!

Biking

Taking a bike ride is not only an enjoyable activity, but it’s great for your cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility. Beach cruisers are great for both rides along the beach or throughout town. Our area is very biker friendly with bike lanes to pedal, and nature trails to explore. Many cyclists participate in group bike rides as well, one of the most popular being the upcoming Annual River to Sea Bike Ride. This this20-mile ride begins in Downtown Wilmington and reaches all the way to Wrightsville Beach.

Watersports

Of course, one of the largest draws to our area is the water. Surrounded by the ocean, Intracoastal waterway, canals, the river and creeks, Brunswick and New Hanover counties are a water-lovers paradise. The easy access to water provides added opportunity for activity as well. Surfing may be the most popular watersport that comes to mind and with all the beaches in the area, it’s easy to see why. Wrightsville Beach, recognized as the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina by Surfer Today magazine, is known for its strong surf and crystal blue watermarking it a popular spot to paddle out. Another common activity is stand-up Paddle Boarding, where you stand on a large board, and use a paddle to propel yourself through the water. SUP is great for exploring the coastal waterways, and these paddleboards can be used for surfing waves as well! For those who prefer to be seated, kayaking is a great workout that is popular in our area. Whether you want a more intense workout such as windsurfing or kiteboarding, or prefer the slower speed of paddling, our area offers gorgeous waters to explore. Don’t forget about the simplest watersport, swimming!

Golf

There are over 40 golf courses between Brunswick and New Hanover County alone. Some of the most popular include cape Fear National, Eagle Point Golf Club, Bald Head Island Club, and Beau Rivage GolfCourse. Golf is a great exercise, and our area supports it with a warm and sunny climate. With rolling greens, tranquil water features and lush landscaping, its no wonder so many enjoy this sport.

Regardless of the activity, you choose to help maintain your healthy lifestyle, our local area promotes living an active life, and the mild climate encourages you to get outside!