Leave The Passport At Home And Head To Nearby Wrightsville Beach, N.C. This Summer

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC, May 11, 2012

Those with a zest for travel know the burdens of vacationing all too well: transportation costs, passport hassles, hard-to-reach locales and more. Fortunately for beachgoers in North Carolina and throughout the East Coast, none of those things apply when visiting one popular beach town this summer.

Wrightsville Beach (http://www.visitwrightsvillebeachnc.com) offers plenty of options for beachgoers looking for a fun and easy summer vacation. Spend your days enjoying miles of beautiful beach, running The Loop, fishing on Johnnie Mercer's Pier or boating on the Intracoastal Waterway. From surf camps and competitions to fishing tournaments, delicious waterfront dining, concerts under the stars and more, it is easy to kick-off the island life this summer at Wrightsville Beach. For summer highlights, visit http://bit.ly/JcbAiE.

23rd Annual River to Sea Bike Ride
Lace up your sneakers and get your bikes in gear! Saturday, May 5 marks the 23rd Annual River to Sea Bike Ride from downtown Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach. The 11-mile, on- and off-road bicycle route follows the beautiful Historic Beach Car Line, which begins with a breathtaking view of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA along the Cape Fear River. Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m. and the ride starts at 8:30 a.m. Refreshments, and snacks will be served and a drawing will be held at 10 a.m. at Wrightsville Beach. Bring the entire family, and your helmets, to come along for the ride. For more information about the event, visit http://bit.ly/HMfTTc.

Reef/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest
Bring your friends and family to watch some of the world's best professional and amateur surfers ride the waves and battle it out for the annual Reef/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest. The three-day event celebrates the lifestyles of beachgoers and riders alike as it serves as one of the largest surf contests along the East Coast. The festival begins on Friday, July 13 and runs until Sunday, July 15. Whether an amateur surfer, avid beachgoer, or local resident, you do not want to miss the opportunity to see what some of the world's best surfers have to offer. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/Hg1JLw.

East Coast Wahine Surfing Championship
Attention water sport enthusiasts: the 16th annual East Coast Wahine Surfing Championship will be held from Friday, August 17 through Sunday, August 19 in downtown Wrightsville Beach. The event began in 1997 as the first all-female amateur surfing contest on the East Coast. Over the last 15 years, the event has grown to receive national coverage and top-of-the-line industry sponsors. Water events are open to all women and divisions including short board, long board, and body board. For additional information and registration forms, visit http://bit.ly/HUXy6N.

For more information Wrightsville Beach activities, visit http://www.visitwrightsvillebeachnc.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Airlie Gardens Concert Series
First and third Fridays, May 4 through September 21

Audubon Presents Free Friday Field Trips at Mason Inlet
Fridays through Friday, September 7

Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market
Monday, May 7 through Monday, September 3

WECT Sounds of Summer Concert Series at Wrightsville Beach Park
Thursday evenings, June through August

Reef/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest
Friday, July 13-Sunday, July 15

16th Annual East Coast Wahine Surfing Championship
Friday, August 17-Sunday, August 19

Lumina Daze
Sunday, August 26

For all event information, visit http://bit.ly/AuC6s9.

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:
Wrightsville Beach on Facebook:
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Wrightsville Beach on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/WrightsvilleNC

ABOUT WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C.:
North Carolina's most accessible beach from I-40 is Wrightsville Beach. It's easy to get there and even easier to stay. Everything visitors need is right on the island, with plenty of family-friendly activities, great food, full-service hotels and rental options and a casual atmosphere year-round. For more information, go to http://www.visitwrightsvillebeachnc.com or call the Wrightsville Beach Visitors Center at (800) 650-9106.

Jake Potter
MMI Public Relations
(919) 233-6600
jake@mmipublicrelations.com
http://www.twitter.com/mmipr
http://www.mmipublicrelations.com