You know when you come to Emerald Isle that you are probably here to get away from your daily struggles and looking to relax in a peaceful and beautiful location. If you bring kids, you'll naturally want to find things for them to do so that they aren't, God forbid, 'bored'.

One great solution is to take in a round (or three) of miniature golf. In Emerald Isle, you have two options. One is Emerald Forest Golf, located on Reed Drive, behind the Pacific Store that is across Emerald Drive (HWY 58) from the Emerald Plantation shopping center (where Food Lion is located).

The other option in Emerald Isle is Lighthouse Golf, located between Emerald Drive and Reed Drive off of Islander Drive (about half a mile from the Emerald Isle Bridge).

There are other miniature golf locations outside of Emerald Isle that are also close by, the Golfin Dolphin is in Cape Carteret near Lowe's Foods, and Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf & Raceway is further down the island in Salter Path.

The 17th annual Emerald Isle St. Patrick's Day Festival will be upon us soon. Everyone in town looks forward to the local rite of spring that takes place in Emerald Plantation, this year falling on March 15th from 9am to 5pm. There will be bands, a beer garden, food and craft vendors, rides, and more:

8 am at the Eastern Regional Access (2701 Emerald Dr.) Emerald Isle Parks & Recreation will sponsor an 8k road race. Registration is from 6:45am to 7:30am at the access. Fees for the race are $15 before March 10th and $20 after. The first 100 registrants receive a free t-shirt. There are seven age categories that have awards.

At 11 am on the main stage catch the Little Ms. And Mr. Leprechaun Contest. Boys and girls ages 2-3 and 4-5 will be in leprechaun costumes and judged on originality, creativity, and overall stage presentation. The contest requires pre-registration no later than 12pm Friday March 14th. Registered participants are asked to be under the main stage tent by 10:30am n the day of the contest.

Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation is promoting a Winter Tennis Clinic from January 7 through March 28, 2008, on Mondays and Fridays. These clinics are presented by tennis professional Tony Pereira at the Emerald Isle Community Center Gym. Ages 14+ are welcome, and there is a nominal fee for participants. For more information, read the flier.