This ‘scenic’ NC marine town should be your next getaway, Southern Living says
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
It isn’t too late to go swimming, yet. Southern Living recommends Jacksonville for a riverfront getaway near the ocean.
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Jacksonville is the home of 80,000 people and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, inland from North Topsail Beach.
“With its scenic location on the New River, there are a plethora of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Jacksonville. Pair that with an excellent international dining scene and you’ve got the recipe for a memorable weekend escape,” Southern Living wrote.
Southern Living recommends visitors visit both the river and the beach, stroll through downtown and check out local marine history.
The New River is dotted with self-serve kayak and paddleboard rentals.
If you’re more interested in staying on land, a stroll along the river at Riverwalk Crossing Park, or LP Willingham Park should do the trick.
Children and adults will enjoy nonprofit Sturgeon City Environmental Education Center, where both kayakers and leisurely walkers can learn more about Jacksonville’s environment, flora and fauna.
Jacksonville is full of restaurants, some of which are a part of the town’s official International Food Trail.
The trail spans a variety of cuisines, from Cuban to Vietnamese.
Southern Living recommends Chicano Street Kitchen for Mexican-American dishes and Filipino Cuisine for, well, Filipino cuisine.
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Visit Jacksonville brags that the food diversity the city boasts is a result of the presence of Camp Lejeune, which brings in people from all over the country, and the world.
Carolina Museum of the Marine opened this summer, and it received rave reviews from Southern Living, which called it “the perfect place to start your visit.”
The museum spotlights the stories of more than 40 marines, including the first woman and the first Black man to serve.
If you are interested in more military history, you can also visit the Lejeune Memorial Gardens. The gardens offer walking and paddle trails, as well as a variety of memorials.
Check out the rest of Southern Living’s recommendations at southernliving.com.
Southern Living has featured plenty of other places in North Carolina, CharlotteFive has previously reported, including:
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