63rd Annual NC Azalea Festival

The 63rd Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival will be held April 7-11, 2010 in nearby Wilmington, NC (just 40 minutes from The Winds). The Festival is a celebration of Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes: a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern.

Since its inception in 1948, the Festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people.

For more than 50 years, the folks of Southeastern North Carolina have been throwing the best party in the South and you’re invited! There’s something for everyone among the area’s rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture.

This year’s concert headliners are the Goo Goo Dolls with Collective Soul on Thursday, April 8th, at Trask Coliseum, UNCW 8:00 PM

Since forming in 1986 the Goo Goo Dolls have evolved from a punk-inspired trio to the platinum-selling, chart-topping act behind such radio staples as “Name,” “Slide,” and “Here is Gone.”

Their song, “Iris” from the City of Angels soundtrack propelled the group to stardom as the hit stayed on top of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay charts for a record-breaking 18 weeks, and was nominated for three Grammy’s that year.

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Collective Soul gained a special place in the hearts of music lovers.

They burst onto the scene in 1993 with the rock anthem “Shine” and have been making music for nearly 2 decades since then.

“Tremble for My Beloved” found them on the soundtrack to one of the hottest movies of 2008, Twilight.

A multi-platinum band with a catalog of #1 hit singles, Collective Soul will open the Thursday night concert.
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On Friday April 9th, country megastars Montgomery Gentry will also headline at Trask Coliseum, UNCW at 8:00 PM

Montgomery Gentry’s journey into the front ranks of American music has been one of the most gratifying sagas of the past decade.

Their road to gold and platinum albums, CMA and ACM awards, a Grammy nomination and highly successful tours has been paved with musical integrity and with an abiding respect for the people and the genre they represent.

Island Escape Package!

Come enjoy our island at the best time of year.

The beach is quiet, the air and water temperatures continue to be mild and best of all the rates have dropped!

What a great time to get away!

The Winds Resort Beach Club’s Island Escape starts as low as $234.00 for two people for a 3 Day/ 2 Night Getaway!

So what’s stopping you? Start planning your escape – the dates for these rates are :

$234.00* – 3 Days/ 2 Nights – 3/5/10 – 3/25/10 (Sunday – Thursday nights)
$246.00* – 3 Days/ 2 Nights – 3/5/10 – 3/25/10 (Friday – Saturday nights)

Download free discount coupons good for an additional 15% off the already low off season room weekday rates! Click here to download these valuable coupons that you can print right off of your computer.

Package includes:

• Accommodations in an Island View Camellia Guest Room with a wet bar, microwave and refrigerator, sitting area and an islandview deck.

• Hot Southern breakfast buffet

• Champagne for a private toast

• Use of complimentary bikes to explore the island

• Add *Dinner For Two at nearby Sharky’s Waterfront Restaurant (overlooking the intra-coastal waterway) for $65.00. Dinner Includes: Two Entrees (any menu item), Bottle of House Wine, Salad, Dessert, Non-alcoholic Beverages.

*Please note that some restaurants have seasonal hours and may not be open seven days a week. Please check for restaurant availability when booking.

The air and water temps remain mild throughout this time of year. So come enjoy yourself in the sunshine on our breathtaking island beach, around our oceanfront pool, in our indoor heated pool or in one of our many whirlpool spas.

*Special Rates are for reservations booked on or after 11/1/09. Not available with any other discount or special rates. Special rates and discounts not applicable during holidays and high occupancy periods.

The Winds is a proud recipient of The Gold Star of Excellence Award from the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association for “Spotless Reputation in Cleanliness”!

15% Off Lodging Coupons!

Download free discount coupons good for 15% off the already low off season room rates! Click here to download these valuable coupons that you can print right off of your computer.

Local Pirate Captured!

The pirate Stede Bonnet was captured at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, right by the nearby town of Southport, NC. He was taken to Charleston, SC and hung along with his crew! Read more

Video Of Live Sea Turtle

This past Wednesday area Turtle Watch and Turtle Patrol groups held “Big Turtle Day” at the Community Center on nearby Ocean Isle Beach. The day’s event was an opportunity to raise awareness and to raise money for these non-profit orginizations dedicated to preserving these endangered sea creatures. Read more

White Ibis Island Sanctuary

Battery Island, located just off of nearby Southport, NC in the Cape Fear River, is home to the largest White Ibis nesting population in southeastern North Carolina. For many years, this 100-acre Audubon Sanctuary has been the site of North Carolina’s largest gathering of breeding wading birds. Herons, egrets, and ibises flock to the island by the thousands each spring. Since 1982, the island has been guarded and protected by the National Audubon Society.

Each year, between 9,000 and 15,000 breeding pairs of white ibises, nearly all that nest in the state, as well as hundreds of breeding pairs of herons and egrets, descend on the Sanctuary to nest and raise their young. The island has always been vital to North Carolina’s wading bird population and, recently, was designated as “globally important” for the great numbers of white ibises that nest on the island every year. (Approximately 12% of the global white ibis population nests at Battery Island.)

In 1996 the Cape Fear Garden Club of Wilmington, NC stepped forward to officially adopt the sanctuary and assist with the protection and management of the island. Since that time, the Cape Fear Garden Club has donated more than $20,000 in support of this Audubon Sanctuary.

Battery Island is posted and patrolled throughout the year, and is off-limits to visitors. Protecting the island, the nesting birds and their habitats is essential to conserving wading birds in North Carolina. The Cape Fear Garden Club offers a guided boat tour of the sanctuary every spring, check their website for more details.

Orton Gardens In Bloom!

Take a day trip to Orton Plantation! The gardens are in all their glory right now. Read more

Online Beach Lovers Club

TheWindsBeachClub.com is an online Beach Lovers Club. It is a great way to keep up with what’s going on at Ocean Isle Beach!

Sign up to participate in online fun – as a Beach Club member you’ll receive special offers, discounts and be able to participate in special events, special savings and fun online contests to win valuable prizes – from Winds Beach Club T-Shirts to Dinners at local restaurants to Free Vacations at everyone’s favorite beach resort – The Winds. We will never share your information with anyone else! There’s absolutely no cost – to sign up just go online to: http://thewindsbeachclub.com.

When you sign up you will automatically be registered to win a free 3 day/2 night vacation at The Winds for Two!

The Venus Fly Trap – Green Swamp native

Known as a death trap for insects, the Venus Flytrap Read more