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When you think of Wrightsville Beach, the first thing that comes to mind (besides the college nearby in Wilmington – go Seahawks!) is that gorgeous beach. Our beach has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, just to name a couple, and is the location of quite a few vacation homes for the rich and famous – rumored celebrities include Robert Downey, Jr. and Quentin Tarantino. Needless to say, we’re pretty lucky to call Wrightsville our home.

But when you come to visit, how do you best maximize your time and hang out like a local?

The answer is simple: Do anything and everything outdoors. Wrightsville’s locals are an active healthy group. From surfing to biking to playing on the beach, we never take it for granted that we have a virtual playground right in our backyard. SurfBerry has everything you need to live like a local. In addition to beach equipment like umbrellas and chairs, we also rent paddleboards, surfboards, kayaks, boogie boards…you name it, we’ve got it in stock.

As for that traffic, beat the wait by renting one of the bicycles. Wrightsville, like its sister city Wilmington, is incredibly bike-friendly. Not only is it eco-friendly, it’s much easier to navigate the road to and from where you’re staying to any of the amazing restaurants and bars.

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, be sure to take one of our kayak or paddleboard tours of the surrounding waterways; my personal favorite is the trek to Masonboro, a favorite local hangout just off Wrightsville’s shores. Take advantage of the ocean by signing up for a fishing charter.

So when you come to visit, you can find me going for an early morning run around the loop and then grabbing a smoothie at SurfBerry before heading out to the beach where I’ll be paddleboarding. Come join us and live like a local!

As the days will be getting colder, I know I’ll soon be trading in my sandals for closed toe shoes and saying goodbye to my shorts to bring out my favorite pairs of jeans. All I’ll want to do is curl up with Netflix, hot tea, and a cup of soup under my favorite blanket.

 

As sunlight hours start to dwindle and we end up spending more and more time indoors, cold and flu viruses have more opportunities to spend time with us, too. Besides taking basic steps to stay healthy, such as drinking plenty of water, washing your hands like it’s your job (like, all the time), getting plenty of sleep and quarantining your friends who fall ill (just kidding), something we often forget to do is continue to incorporate plenty of fresh fruit in our diet. Because the summer sun and heat have gone, we don’t have a readily available supply of local produce to choose from – plus, that cup of soup with grilled cheese is just so, so inviting after a day walking around in the cold.

 

But the natural antioxidants found in fruit will not only add diversity to your diet but also boost your immune system, helping it fight off illnesses common with cold weather. Oranges are a common staple for sickness due to their high amounts of vitamin C, but don’t forget to add in berries, especially blueberries, to your diet. And, the fresher the fruit, the better.

 

WebMD lists 20 common foods with the highest amount of antioxidants:

 

1. Small, dried red beans
2. Wild blueberries
3. Dried red kidney beans
4. Pinto beans
5. Cultivate blueberries
6. Cranberries
7. Artichokes (cooked)
8. Blackberries
9. Prunes
10. Raspberries
11.  Stawberries
12. Red Delicious apples
13. Granny Smith apples
14. Pecans
15. Sweet cherries
16. Black plums
17. Russet potatoes (cooked)
18. Dried black beans
19. Plums
20. Gala apples

 

Of course, eating fruit alone is not going to keep you healthy this winter. However, fruit can give your immune system a running start on winter illnesses!