Welcome to Pleasure Island, home to the unique coastal towns of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach! As a first-time visitor, you're about to discover why these distinct beach destinations captivate travelers year after year. Carolina Beach offers a lively throwback vacation experience with its iconic boardwalk dating back to 1887, while Kure Beach provides a peaceful escape with its small-town charm and pristine shorelines.
Just three miles apart, these neighboring towns each boast their own personality while sharing the natural beauty of North Carolina's coastline. You'll find miles of beautiful beaches, award-winning seafood restaurants, and outdoor adventures waiting for you. From exploring a Civil War fort to visiting one of the country's top-rated aquariums, your coastal getaway promises unforgettable experiences that keep families returning generation after generation. Get ready to unplug, reconnect, and create lasting memories on your visit to these coastal gems.
Carolina Beach Highlights
1. Carolina Beach Boardwalk
You're in for a treat at the iconic Carolina Beach Boardwalk, one of the last remaining vintage North Carolina boardwalks dating back to 1887. As you stroll along this historic landmark, you'll discover an exciting hub of activities, shopping, and dining that makes it one of the most popular attractions in the area.
During summer evenings, the Boardwalk comes alive with the weekly Boardwalk Blast every Thursday, featuring live music at the pavilion starting at 6:30pm and culminating with the spectacular Fireworks by the Sea at 9pm. This tradition continues throughout the summer season until the grand finale on the Friday before Labor Day.
The Carolina Beach Boardwalk Amusement Rides offer fun for the whole family with numerous attractions. While currently closed for the fall-winter season, they'll reopen in Spring 2025 with exciting new additions. You'll be able to enjoy thrilling rides like The GoGo, The Tornado, and The Music Express, alongside family-friendly options such as Jumping Jumbos and The Wiggle Worm. Don't miss the chance to ride the permanent 10-story Giant Gondola Wheel that stands over 100 feet high, offering breathtaking ocean views.
Between rides, you can indulge in famous donuts, ice cream, and fudge while exploring the various shops along the boardwalk. The Carolina Beach Arcade provides classic gaming fun where you can win tickets and trade them for prizes.
2. Carolina Beach State Park
Just a short distance away, Carolina Beach State Park awaits with its 761 acres of natural beauty. The park offers seven miles of hiking trails spread across nine distinct paths, each providing unique experiences through various ecosystems. As you explore these trails, you'll have the opportunity to witness one of nature's most fascinating plants—the Venus flytrap. This carnivorous plant grows naturally only within about 100 miles of Wilmington in the coastal plains of North and South Carolina.
For fishing enthusiasts, the park provides excellent spots along the Cape Fear River and a wheelchair-friendly fishing deck. Remember to obtain your North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License before casting your line for flounder, speckled trout, and other local species.
Boating is another popular activity at the park, with several waterways offering distinct experiences along Cape Fear River, Snow's Cut, Masonboro Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean. The marina provides public facilities including fuel, food, fishing supplies, restrooms, and showers. During certain times of the year, you can rent kayaks and paddleboards or join guided tours to explore the waterways.
As you wander through the park, keep your eyes open for local wildlife including birds, amphibians, reptiles, otters, foxes, and deer. The unique plant life, particularly the carnivorous plants like Venus flytraps and pitcher plants, makes this park a must-visit destination for nature lovers.
3. Pleasure Island Activities
At Carolina Beach, you'll never run out of exciting water activities to enjoy. The area offers excellent opportunities for surfing, with local shops providing lessons for beginners and equipment rentals for experienced wave riders. If you prefer a more relaxed water experience, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding allow you to explore the scenic waterways at your own pace. Paddle NC at Carolina Beach State Park offers rentals and guided tours through waters once sailed by pirates.
For fishing enthusiasts, Carolina Beach boasts a vibrant charter boat basin with numerous offshore fishing excursions. These charters take you to prime fishing spots where you can test your skills against the local marine life.
When you're ready to relax, the pristine beaches offer miles of clean sand perfect for sunbathing, building sandcastles, or simply enjoying the warm ocean waters. The laid-back atmosphere creates an authentic North Carolina beach experience that keeps families returning year after year.
Throughout the year, you can participate in one-of-a-kind festivals and events that showcase the community's vibrant spirit and coastal heritage. These gatherings provide a wonderful opportunity to mingle with locals and experience the unique culture of Carolina Beach.
Local Dining and Shopping
Carolina Beach delights food lovers with its collection of locally-owned restaurants serving fresh seafood and coastal cuisine.
4. The Seawitch Café & Tiki Bar
This restaurant stands out as a popular lunch spot where you can savor firecracker shrimp, mahi tacos, or a delicious fish sandwich.
5. Celtic Creamery
For dessert lovers, Celtic Creamery offers velvety ice cream made from a secret Irish recipe, including the legendary Tummy Trembler—six scoops of ice cream over a banana surrounded by hot doughnuts and various toppings.
Beyond the restaurants, you'll find charming shops selling everything from sunglasses to surfboards to area souvenirs. The small businesses along the boardwalk and throughout town offer unique items you won't find in chain stores, making them perfect spots to pick up mementos of your beach vacation.
For a taste of local flavors and history combined, consider joining a Tasting History Tour that guides you through Carolina Beach and neighboring Kure Beach, pointing out historic spots while sampling local dishes at various restaurants.
Kure Beach Highlights
6. North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Just minutes away in Kure Beach, you'll discover the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, ranked among the top 20 aquariums in the United States. As you step inside this impressive facility, you'll be greeted by a 235,000-gallon saltwater tank teeming with sharks, eels, rays, and numerous other marine species that call the North Carolina coast home.
The aquarium offers hands-on experiences that bring you closer to marine life than ever before. You can touch stingrays as they glide through shallow pools, dig for fossils in dedicated areas, and even meet an albino alligator named Luna. The interactive exhibits provide educational opportunities for visitors of all ages, making complex marine science accessible and engaging.
Throughout the year, the aquarium hosts special programs including behind-the-scenes tours and feeding demonstrations. With over 2,500 animals representing more than 300 species, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for North Carolina's diverse aquatic ecosystems when you visit.
7. Fort Fisher State Historic Site
History buffs will appreciate Fort Fisher State Historic Site, once the largest earthen fort in the South and a crucial Confederate stronghold during the Civil War. As you walk the grounds where the largest land-sea battle of the war took place in January 1865, you'll follow interpretive exhibit panels that bring this significant historical event to life.
The site features a quarter-mile trail with stunning views of both the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. Inside the visitor center, you'll find a museum displaying authentic Civil War artifacts, including medals, weapons, and personal items belonging to soldiers who fought here. The 16-foot scale model of the fort shows its impressive size and strategic design before its fall to Union forces.
Throughout the year, the site hosts living history demonstrations where reenactors in period uniforms demonstrate artillery firing and camp life. These events offer you a glimpse into the past and a deeper understanding of this pivotal moment in American history.
8. Kure Beach Fishing Pier
No visit to Kure Beach is complete without a stroll along the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic Coast. Stretching 711 feet into the ocean, the wooden planks of Kure Beach Fishing Pier have supported generations of anglers since its original construction in 1923.
You don't need to be an experienced fisher to enjoy the pier—it welcomes everyone with rod rentals and bait available on-site. The pier's staff can provide tips on what's biting and the best techniques for catching local species. Even if fishing isn't your passion, the pier offers spectacular views of the coastline and serves as an excellent spot for dolphin watching.
Inside the pier house, you'll find an arcade with classic games and a concession stand serving snacks and refreshments. The family-friendly atmosphere makes it a perfect spot to spend a few hours enjoying the ocean breeze and watching the waves crash below.
9. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Nature lovers will find paradise at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, which protects nearly six miles of undeveloped beach and diverse coastal ecosystems. As you explore this natural sanctuary, you'll encounter unique habitats including maritime forest, salt marsh, and beach environments.
The recreation area serves as home to 16 threatened and endangered species, including loggerhead sea turtles that nest on these protected shores. The Basin Trail guides you through salt marsh terrain where you might spot herons, egrets, and other coastal birds feeding in the shallow waters.
Park rangers conduct educational programs throughout the year, including guided hikes and talks about the area's ecology. During sea turtle nesting season, you might learn about conservation efforts that help protect these ancient mariners as they continue their life cycle on these beaches.
10. Ocean Front Park
At the heart of downtown Kure Beach, Ocean Front Park offers a family-friendly space to relax and play. The seaside boardwalk provides stunning ocean views while the playground keeps younger visitors entertained with nautical-themed equipment.
Throughout the summer months, the park hosts the popular Boogie in the Park Concert Series on the first and third Sundays, featuring free live music performances. The annual Kure Beach Street Festival transforms the area into a celebration of local culture with vendors, food, and entertainment.
The park's rain gardens and native plant landscaping showcase sustainable practices while creating a beautiful environment for visitors.
Conclusion
Your journey through Carolina Beach and Kure Beach reveals two distinct coastal communities that offer the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure. These neighboring beach towns deliver authentic North Carolina coastal experiences with their pristine beaches, historic sites, and family-friendly attractions. As you've seen, each location maintains its own unique character while sharing the natural beauty of Pleasure Island.
When planning your visit, consider visiting Carolina Beach Realty to find the best vacation rental for your stay. Our local expertise and extensive property listings can help you secure the perfect beach house, condo, or vacation rental to serve as your home base while exploring all that these coastal gems have to offer. With decades of experience serving visitors to the area, we provide personalized service to ensure your first visit to Carolina and Kure Beach exceeds expectations and creates memories that will last a lifetime.
