About Carolina Beach
Head south of Wilmington on 421, cross Snow’s Cut Bridge, and you’ll find the island communities of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher. These quaint, family friendly beach towns are fun places to explore year round, and are known for their many events and festivals. Check out the weekly fireworks, live music, and outdoor movies in the summer months, and the popular Chowder Cook-Off, Carolina Beach Music Festival, and Seafood Blues & Jazz Fest that take place each year.
Carolina Beach (aka CB) is a vibrant, family friendly beach community filled with great hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and of course beautiful beaches. At the North End of Carolina Beach is Freeman Park which is one of the only places along the North Carolina coast that allows people to drive out onto the beach, camp, and have open fires.
If you’re not into driving onto the beach, don’t worry. There are miles and miles of coastline where cars are not permitted. If you’re up for doing a little exploration, be sure to check out Carolina Beach State Park which is located just a mile from the foot of the Snows Cut Bridge. There you’ll find miles of hiking trails, camp and picnic sites, kayak rentals along the Cape Fear River, and a boat launch. Be sure to stop in the welcome center for a map and recommendations from the staff.
Visit the Boardwalk
You’ll also want to check out the Carolina Beach Boardwalk in the heart of downtown Carolina Beach. In recent years, property owners and members of the community have banded together to bring the boardwalk back to life. And what a job they’ve done! Food and Wine Magazine even listed it as one of the top 10 boardwalks in the country. If you have kids, and it’s in-season, the boardwalk is a must see. There are a variety of interesting restaurants, an old-school arcade, t-shirt shops and boutiques, and the world famous Britt’s Donuts (which the last time we checked was rocking a 5 star Yelp rating). Once the sun goes down, the boardwalk becomes a go-to place for nightlife. From local hangouts, to live music and dancing establishments, there’s a little something for everyone.
Getting Out On the Water
There is no lack of ways to get on the water in CB. There are couple of public boat launches, places to rent small boats, jet skis, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), in-shore and offshore charter fishing boats, recreational party cruises, and of course, the beach. The Intracoastal Waterway and the Carolina Beach canal are great ways to enjoy being on the water without having to worry about big surf.
The photo of Carolina Beach at the top of the page is courtesy of Joshua McClure of CanvasGicleeprinting.com