The Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) is 1170 miles of adventure from Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smokey Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks. Some portions are strenuous. Some paths meander along rivers and lakes. This year, the concept of the trail will be 40 years old this September. More than 700 miles is completed and the state recognized the MST as an official state trail in 2000. The...

Hampstead, NC - Team Inspire, a group of local women bound together by the desire to help families dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues, will run from Roanoke Rapids to Surf City, North Carolina this spring. The 170+more than 170-mile trek will begin on May 4. The group plans to cover more than 50 miles per day, arriving in Surf City May 7. A finish party is set for May 7, from 2 - 5 p.m. at Soundside...

Two favorite restaurants, loved by locals and vacationers alike, are relocating and expanding. Surf City BBQ is leaving their North New River Road location and moving to 13500 NC Hwy 50/210 in the Gateway Plaza. Surf City BBQ, owned by Guy and Rebecca Royal, opened nearly four years ago. Home Port Restaurant & Pub, located at 718 S. Anderson Blvd. in Topsail Beach, is moving to Hampstead Town...

Generally, the week after Christmas through mid-January is a quiet time in the tourism office. It’s the time we clean files, organize, and complete the last edits of the visitor guide. Not this year. And we’re not complaining. Pender County is one of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina and we can attest to that with the addition of several new businesses and expansion of others. This...