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Southport Tours
Southport Tours Starts Rolling
February 2013 With Safe Haven Tour
February 19, 2013 - Southport, NC -
As the streets of Southport start filling up with more
and more people, one thing being added that was greatly
missed is a daytime tour company to take residents and
visitors through the history and beauty of the City of
Southport. There will even be a special tour to
highlight key location sites for the movie Safe Haven.
Southport Tours will offer 30 minute tours aboard an
electric street-ready tour cart that seats six. The
company's chief tour guide is owner Rick Pukenas. As a
former school administrator, educator and long-time
history buff, he is perfect for the job. In addition, he
has been doing it for over a year at the
Robert Ruark Inn.
One of the first things Rick and his wife Linda did when
purchasing the Robert Ruark Inn at 119 N. Lord Street
was add a complimentary tour to its list of amenities
and guest services. The couple soon found out that this
added value was a huge hit. Subsequently, feedback from
other business owners, visitor centers and city
employees motivated Rick to start a separate company in
which he could provide value to day trippers and
residents just wanting to learn more about Southport and
its historic and coastal value.
Rick is offering a range of tours with varying detail.
There is a detailed movie tour, detailed historic tour
and general Southport tour. Rick pointed out the value
by saying, "We had a really nice couple stay at the Inn
who had been to Southport three times. After the tour,
we hardly saw them. They were so busy exploring all the
places they had never seen or known about until going on
the tour. They had no idea how many great historic and
well-known spots we have around town. It's easy to give
someone a map or tell them about it but it helps a lot
when you take them past it and give them a little
history. They can then go back and explore further if
they would like."
Rick has been studying history since he was a little
boy. He later earned an undergraduate degree in the
subject and followed-up his education with two graduate
degrees in education. Linda adds, "He has read so many
of the wonderful local books that are filled with good
meaningful history. Every time we go out on the cart, I
learn something new. Between local history books, our
decade-long connection to Southport and our love for the
City, coast and people of North Carolina we felt
Southport Tours was a natural. The City has been very
welcoming. We look forward to introducing everyone to
the treasures of Southport’s history and coast."
Southport Tours will originate from the Visitor's Center
on Davis Street between Moore and Bay Streets. For more
information, call 910-750-1951.
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