Wilmington, North Carolina, has many great beaches within a short drive. A day, weekend, or week at the beach can be a relaxing vacation. North Carolina beaches offer opportunities for fitness activities like swimming, kayaking or beach volleyball. Restaurants throughout local beaches offer nutritious, fresh seafood, or you can catch your own seafood and grill or steam it for dinner.
Beach Information
North Carolina beaches enjoy mild spring and fall temperatures and hot summers. When planning your beach trip, consider staying a few days or a week to fully enjoy all that the beach has to offer. By renting a condo or beach house, it will be easier to cook healthy, inexpensive meals, as opposed to eating out at restaurants. Leashed dogs are welcome on most North Carolina beaches. Check with local beaches for rules regarding the time of day and year in which dogs are allowed.
Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach, located 14 miles from Wilmington, has many affordable or free activities for couples or families. The Boardwalk Carolina Beach is a fun way to spend the afternoon or evening browsing shops. Throughout the summer on Thursday evenings on the boardwalk, Carolina Beach has free live music followed by a fireworks show. Also on the boardwalk are free first-run movies during the summer. For families, the Carolina Beach Amusement Park offers 25 rides, including a Ferris wheel and a Tilt-a-Whirl. The Carolina Beach Fishing Pier is another way to spend the afternoon and offers a grill and bait and tackle.
Masonboro Island
For a less tourist-crowded beach, check out Masonboro Island, about eight miles from Wilmington. Located between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach, Masonboro Island is about eight miles long. This secluded island can only be reached by boat. Drive to Wrightsville or Carolina Beach, where there are public and private boat ramps. If you do not own a boat, private fee ferry services are available to the island. According to the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, Masonboro Island is the largest undisturbed barrier island on the southern North Carolina coast. The island makes for a great day of exploring the undisturbed beach and later camping.
Kure Beach
Kure Beach is a community located 25 minutes south of Wilmington. With a boardwalk, fishing pier and numerous family activities, Kure Beach makes a great day or weekend trip. At the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, visitors can view and learn about stingrays, alligators and sea turtles. History buffs will enjoy Fort Fisher, a Civil War National Historic Landmark. Exhibits include Shepherd's Battery and tour trails. At Fort Fisher State Recreation Park, visitors can bird watch or get in a workout by biking the trails or hiking.
Wrightsville Beach
Located 10 miles from Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach is a great family destination that offers many outdoor fitness activities. Besides relaxing on the beach, visitors can take surf lessons at one of Wrightsville Beach's surf schools. Visitors can also exercise with a day of fishing, tennis, golf and boating.
Wrightsville Beach has many dining options to suit even the pickiest eaters. Restaurants serving fresh seafood, American, Italian, vegetarian and Japanese food can be found throughout the area. For shopping, visitors will find numerous surf shops, beachwear shops, grocery stores and gift and antique stores.
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