Calabash, North Carolina

Calabash is another southern coastal North Carolina vacation spot, known to many as the "Seafood Capitol of the World". This one-time fishing village is synonymous with corn meal battered, fried seafood goodness. And if that isn't good enough try adding hush puppies, to everything. Calabash is actually an Indian word for a type of gourd, but it boasts one seafood restaurant per 10 residents. The Becks and the Colemans argue over who started the first "fish camp", growing into oyster roasts in the 30's and full-fledged indoor restaurants by 1940. Nowadays, the town is inundated with "modern" haute cuisine eateries serving up all kinds of fancy-schmancy seafood dishes, but the Becks and Colemans are still serving up the battered-up fish they started with. What Calabash is probably most famous for is Lucy Coleman's (yes Coleman) nickname. Entertainer Jimmy Durante used to frequent her restaurant, and refer to her as "Mrs. Calabash". He then began closing his shows with the phrase "Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are". You won't have trouble finding Calabash, North Carolina you may have trouble pushing away from the dinner table.