Disoove 



Resources 



AT COASTAL STATE PARKS 



By Ann Green 



Along North Carolina's coastal 

 plain, state parks showcase unique 

 natural resources and treasures — from 

 loggerhead turtles nesting on the beach 

 at Fort Fisher to chiseled cliffs along 

 the west bank of the Neuse River. 



Travelers can view many of the 

 unique resources in the state's 15 

 coastal parks. 



"All the coastal plain's state parks 

 in North Carolina are different," says 

 Tom Howard, naturalist for the N.C. 

 Division of Parks and Recreation. 

 "Each one is representative of the 

 natural community around it." 



At the parks, residents also can 

 get a close-up of wild lands that would 

 be inaccessible if owned by private 

 citizens, says Jack Thigpen, North 

 Carolina Sea Grant coastal recreation 

 and tourism specialist. In addition, 

 they can learn much from the park's 

 interpretive programs. 



A few of the coastal parks are 

 highlighted below. For a listing of all 

 coastal parks and park hours, visit the 

 Web at http://ils.unc.edu/parkpwject/ 

 ncparks.html. 



• Carolina Beach State Park 



Spot the rare Venus flytrap and 

 other species of insect-eating plants 

 along five miles of trails. Stop and rest 

 at the new 5,000-square foot visitors 

 center. The center's exhibit hall, 

 which focuses on the biodiversity 

 of the park's plant and animal life, 

 will open this fall. 



Birds throng the shore of Roanoke Sound 

 at lockey's Ridge State Park. 



The park is 10 miles south of 

 Wilmington offHwy. 421 in New Hanover 

 County. For more infotmation, call 910/ 

 458-8206. 



• Fort Fisher State Recreation Area 



Spend the day away from crowds on 

 a four-mile stretch of undeveloped beach 

 where shell-seekers can find treasures. 

 Catch a glimpse of a loggerhead sea turtle 

 nesting, or pelicans and other birds 

 swirling and turning in the wind. 



The recreation area is five miles 

 south of Carolina Beach, off US. 421 in 

 New Hanover County. From Brunswick 

 County take the Southport-Fort Fisher 

 ferry. For more infoimation, call 9101 

 458-5798. 



• Fort Macon State Park 



Tour the restored fort that stood guard 

 over Beaufort Harbor during the Civil War 



or hike the Elliot Coues Natural 

 Trail, which circles through a shrub 

 thicket and back to the parking area 



To reach Fort Macon, take 

 U.S. 70 to Morehead City, cross the 

 bridge to Atlantic Beach and turn 

 left onto Hwy. 58. The park has a 

 bathhouse that is open all year. 

 For more infonnation, call 2521 

 726-3775. 



• Hammocks Beach State Park 



Venture to Bear Island and 

 view one of the most beautiful and 

 unspoiled beaches on the Atlantic. 

 Discover where loggerhead sea 

 turtles come ashore under cover of 

 darkness to nest above the tide line. 



The park's mainland is in 

 Onslow County. From Swansboro, 

 take Hammocks Beach Road to the 

 park entrance adjacent to Queens 

 Creek. A passenger ferry departs for 

 Bear Island. The park is accessible 

 only by boat or passenger ferry. For 

 more information and ferry times, 

 call 910/3264881. 



• Jockey's Ridge State Park 



Fly a kite or hang glide on the 

 highest sand dune on the East Coast. 

 Tour fascinating exhibits about sand, 

 winds and weather at the visitors' 

 center. 



The park is at Milepost 12 on 

 U.S. 158 bypass in Nags Head. Turn 

 on Carolista Drive. For more 

 information, call 252/441-7132. m 



COASTWATCH 19 



