The Ingram Planetarium at nearby Sunset Beach NC  is where budding astronomers of all ages can discover the wonders of the solar system. The planetarium is part of the Ocean Isle Museum Foundation, which also oversees the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach. The foundation was started in 1989 by Stuart Ingram, a Charlotte resident who frequently vacationed in Ocean Isle Beach. Ingram  was an outdoorsman with a love of learning, who had the vision for a natural history museum on the coast.

The planetarium, an offshoot of Ingram’s passion. for exploring nature, opened in 2002. Ingram went to Sea Trail Corporation, developers of Sea Trail Resort and Conference Center, who donated the land on which the Planetarium was built. The facility includes a 2,000-square-foot exhibit hall, an 85-sear theater and a gift shop.

Scott Kucera, executive director of the Ocean Isle Museum Foundation, said even many locals don’t realize a facility of this caliber exists in their own backyard. “This is an under-appreciated resource in Brunswick County. I’m amazed at the number of  people who have never set foot in here  The closest other planetarium in Robison County, approximately 80 miles away.   The centerpiece of the facility is Sky Theater, which uses a star ball projector in a 40-foot dome to simulate a dark starry night. The theater is handicap accessible and has headphones available fir those who are hearing impaired.

Throughout the year, patrons can see a variety of shows aimed at different age groups. There is even a Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood  show geared toward preschoolers. During the winter holiday season, visitors can enjoy holiday light shows themed to appropriate music.

Mark Jankowski, senior planetarium technician, is in charge of each show. ]ankowski uses an analog system, programming in the different components, including video and slides, for each show. Despite relying on technology to run the programs, each one includes a live portion designed to engage the audience and encourage participation. For every one minute of show time, Jankowski estimates there are two hours of preparation. “It’s kind of an artistic thing. These programs are not turnkey You have to choose slides and add in the script and video.”

In addition to helping visitors visualize movement in the sky, Jankowski said the theater serves many purposes. “It’s not    just astronomy; it’s a life lesson.” Students  returning to their classrooms may use their reading and writing skills to complete a report on the visit. Math and problem solving can also come into play.

The planetarium also offers live sky events, such as how to buy and use a telescope and telescope viewing of different planets and galaxies.

The Paul Dennis Science Hall includes hands-on learning activities for all ages. Guests can take advantage of the ViewSpace Exhibit to catch up on the latest updates available from NASA, learn about the movement of the earth and sun, try out hands-on activities that use math and physics skills and check out the planetarium’s collection of telescopes, both modern and antique.

Approximately 12,000 guests visit the planetarium each year, with about sixty percent coming during the summer months. Twenty percent of the visitors are made up of school groups.

Much of the planetarium’s programming is aimed at children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The content is carefully designed to reflect what students are learning in the classroom. “Our school programs are correlated to science standards in North and South Carohna,” Kucera explained. The staff is in the process of putting together a program for Scouts to earn a badge correlating to astronomy.

To check out the Ingram Planetarium online click here.

If you haven’t been there yet you need to check out the Silver Coast Winery. It is located just 15 to 20 minutes inland from the beach and is Coastal North Carolina’s premier producer of premium wines.

Silver Coast Winery is a working winery with an annual production of 10,000 cases. They offer tours of their wine making facility, from the vineyard to the bottle. Visitors learn about wine making step by step during a 20-minute tour that will takes you from the grapevines to the wine cellars.

The vineyard and winery are set on 40 acres, surrounded by lush woods. It’s the perfect place to learn about wines, share a peaceful picnic with friends or enjoy art by local artists.

You can visit the vineyard, tour the winery and taste the wines in their tasting room. They have wines available for purchase by the glass or by the bottle. They even have Wine Tasting Seminars every Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:00pm.

Wines are available for purchase in the wine shop where you’ll also find a collection of enticing gifts.

You can also enjoy art by local artists. Their exhibitions offer visitors a chance to view exciting works by numerous local artists.

Your hosts at Silver Coast Winery are John and Maryann Azzato who combine a passion for fine wine with a deep desire to share good wines with friends and guests. You can contact them by e-mail or call 910-287-2800. The Winery business hours are: Monday – Saturday from 11:00am – 6:00pm and Sunday from noon until 5:00pm.

Click here to visit the Silver Coast Winery website

Each year, over 45,000 people, including locals and visitors, attend the North Carolina Oyster Festival to pay homage to the mighty mollusk.

If you’re not a fan of the oyster don’t let that stop you. There are all kinds of food vendors with everything from Greek gyros to cheesesteaks to homemade ice cream (not to mention funnel cakes, cotton candy and burgers and hot dogs).

The Winds tends to book up way ahead for this nationally recognized festival so make plans and reservations as soon as possible! Here are some of the details:

Entertainment:
The music will be great on both days with everything from Carolinas Beach Music to blues and current and classic rock. Come enjoy good food and then take a seat in the stands for some great live music and dancing (if you’re not too full!)

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2009 Entertainment Schedule:

Enjoy great entertainment both days!
Saturday, October 17:
9:00     -     10:00          Opening Ceremonies including  local dignitaries
10:00     -     1:00          Key West Band
1:00     -     4:00           Band of Oz
4:00     -     6:00           Cousin Homer

Sunday, October 18:
9:00     -      11:00        New Beginnings Church Choir
11:00     -         2:00     Embers
2:00     -        5:00       Imitations

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Oyster Festival Annual Road Race: Saturday, October 17, 2008 at Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. The race will feature a 1 mile fun run, 5K and 10K run on flat asphalt with some areas of hard sand.
Times:

Fun Run – 7:30 a.m.
5K and 10K – 8:00 a.m.
Late registration and packet pick-up begins at 6:30 a.m.
Refreshments and awards following the race.

For more information and to download an application click here

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North Carolina Oyster Shucking Championship: Saturday, October 17 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Each year, amateur and professional shuckers gather to the Oyster Festival to compete for the title of North Carolina Oyster Shucking Champion and a trip to the National Oyster Shucking Championship in Maryland.  Past winners have  have gone on to compete in the World Oyster Shucking Championships in Galway, Ireland.

For more information and to download an application  Click Here

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Oyster Stew Cook-off: You can be the judge of who has the best oyster stew in Brunswick County! Come join the fun on Sunday, October 18at noon, purchase one of the limited tickets and have your taste of oyster stew from several local cooks and chefs. Tickets will go on sale at 10:00 a.m.; only 300 tickets will be sold.

For more information and to download an application click here

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The 29th Annual North Carolina Oyster Festival will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, festival food, a road race, kid’s area, North Carolina Oyster Shucking Championships and an Oyster Stew Cook-off.

Come join us and find out for yourself why the oyster is so treasured by Brunswick County natives.  Contact the Chamber of Commerce for Oyster Festival merchandise while it is still available!

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Surf Contest: Saturday, October 18.  Surf contest is FREE for any and all surfers. Contest starts at 9:00 a.m.  Sign-up on the beach to the right of the pier at 8:00 a.m.  Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.  Free Surf Contest T-shirt with registration.  Prizes will be awarded to top finishers.

Annual Sandcastle Build Week is coming up!

Sixteen years ago a unique friendship between two families began at The Winds. For eleven years the Delgado and Morrison families coordinated their families’ summer vacations so that they could always be at The Winds simultaneously.

It all started when Bill Delgado, a printing and graphics teacher from Twinsburg OH, and his family began building a large sand sculpture on the beach.

Bill (as always) encouraged other children on the beach to join in.

In the midst of the project, the children of the Morrison family, from Detroit MI, introduced their parents, Lisa and Gordon, to the Delgados. They all became fast friends and the rest is history. The sand sculpture that year was to be the first of somewhere around sixty sand castles to be built by the Delgados and the Morrisons.

A couple of years ago the Morrisons decided that Ocean Isle was where they wanted to be year round so they bought a house on one of the canals and moved from Detroit to their own little slice of heaven.

This June the Delgados return to The Winds for another go at it with the Morrison family and any others that join in. 

In the past they have created such fantastic sand creations as a Mermaid and Anchor,  a “Charlie The Tuna” sculpture complete with a cigar, a giant sea turtle, a huge, an extremely hip Alligator with shades, a headset and backwards baseball cap as well as a beautiful rendition of The Winds Logo. 

The end of anyone’s vacation at The Winds is always hard to face but the Delgados and the Morrisons have always made it fun with an end of the week party. This tradition begins with the construction of a fairy tale sandcastle in the afternoon, followed by a cookout. The grand finale that night is the sandcastle festooned with dozens of sparklers lighting the evening beach.

This June’s extravaganza will be no exception as they create many more fantastic sandsculpture and castles. We don’t know how they can top their past creations but we know they will!

Kids of all ages (from 2 to 92) can join in the fun. Be sure to bring your pail and shovel!