Carolina Beach, NC has every vacation pleasure you could want. Located at the north end of Pleasure Island, NC (Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher) this town of 5600 comes with a feeling of old-time charm yet it has all the modern conveniences. The white sands of the beach invite you to enjoy all that “fun in the sun” offers. Whether it's surfing, kayaking, fishing from the pier or surf, chartering a boat, swimming in the ocean or just soaking up the sun, the beach and all that it offers is sure to please. There are many restaurants to please your palate, some offering live music in the evenings. Carolina Beach is home to seafood, blues and jazz festivals. There are even free movies under the stars by the lake. Rent a bike to get to it all.
The Boardwalk
No trip to Carolina Beach, NC is complete without visiting the Boardwalk. First constructed in the 1880's, it has been an attraction with shops and restaurants ever since. Nationally renowned Britt’s Donuts serves up some of the country’s best glazed delights. Enjoy food, live music, fireworks and the carnival rides. Visit the gift shops. A stroll along the small strip will take you back in time. There is always something to do at Carolina Beach.Drive on the Beach
At the most northern tip of Carolina Beach is Freeman Park where you can drive your 4 wheel drive on the beach. People go there to camp and fish and to just enjoy a day at the beach. Fort Fisher has a 4 wheel drive access beach as well. This drive on the beach is much more subdued and has much less traffic than Freeman Park. Access to these beaches is by a daily or a seasonal pass. Passes can be purchased at the entrances to the beaches.Accommodations
There are a wide variety of accommodations from which to choose. Refurbished 1950’s era motel rooms, oceanfront Inns and hotels, cottages and luxury homes with ocean views are some of the ways to rest your head while visiting Carolina Beach. You are sure to fit your budget with so many lodging options.Origins
Pleasure Island is a manmade island. It was formed when the Army Corp of Engineers connected the Intracoastal Waterway to the Cape Fear River. This connection is called Snow's Cut. Before that, in the 1880's, access to the beach was possible via the Cape Fear River. You could dock riverside and catch a railway car to the ocean front. From then on it has been a popular beach to visit.Carolina Beach State Park
A unique part of the Island is the Carolina Beach State Park . There you can reserve space for primitive camping, RV access, and cabins in the woods. It also has a lot of hiking trails. One of them is called Trap Trail named after the native venus fly traps seen along the way. Also, the state park has a boat launch, kayak rentals and a marina store. You can also rent space at the marina for your boat.Kure Beach and Fort Fisher
Pleasure Island also includes Kure Beach and Fort Fisher. Kure Beach offers more rental homes and famous Freddies Italian-American restaurant known for its marina sauce and pork chops. At the southern tip below Kure Beach is Fort Fisher. Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, NC, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865. A museum dedicated to the fort and its history. A little further south is the North Carolina Aquarium. In 2016 it was recognized as one of the best in the US. Continue south another 1/2 mile and there is a ferry for people, bikes, cars, and RVs that will take you across the Cape Fear River to the port city of Southport in Brunswick County. Just south of the ferry is a public boat launch. This gives access to the flats that stretch down to Bald Head Island.A trip to Carolina Beach, NC is sure to please everyone. There are many activities during the day and restaurants to visit at night. Be sure to catch the weekly fireworks display! There is a rich history at Carolina Beach and the boardwalk has been the center of activity for 100 years. Come catch a wave!