Carolina Beach, NC

Carolina Beach: Fun For the Whole Family

Carolina Beach is on Pleasure Island between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. It was established in 1857, when the island's only access was by water. In 1866, a steamship began carrying vacationers down the Cape Fear River to Snow's Cut and a small railroad took them the rest of the way into Carolina Beach. In later years, a high-rise bridge was built over Snow's Cut, connecting the island with the mainland.

Carolina Beach is a quiet community whose population jumps three to five times above normal at the peak of the vacation season. Today, Carolina Beach represents coastal Americana with its marinas, Boardwalk, pier, Ferris wheel, gazebo, arcade, and specialty shops. It also features an active charter boat basin with nightly party cruises and offshore fishing excursions. Carolina Beach's business area has a wide variety of retailers and services.

In the 90s, Carolina Beach shifted its focus and reputation from that of a wild party spot, to that of a heavily residential community dedicated to creating a wholesome family environment.

The downtown area is centered around an active yacht basin containing a large number of charter fishing boats and large excursion boats. The Boardwalk area has been revitalized and now includes a new oceanfront Courtyard by Marriott Resort Hotel that opened in 2003.

Near the center of Carolina Beach is Jubilee Park, where featured activities include water slides, miniature golf courses and other activities that appeal to kids and families alike.

There's also a movie complex, grocery stores, drugstores, beach shops and boutiques, numerous restaurants, retail stores, and bait shops.

The bait shops are of particular importance to anglers who can fish off piers, as well as experience deep-sea fishing on charter boats. There are also several annual fishing tournaments with cash prizes, where anglers can put their skills to the test.

Carolina Beach also offers one of the few state parks in the region. The park invites hikers, picnickers, and campers to explore the area's vast array of coastal vegetation, including the rare, indigenous Venus Flytrap.

Carolina Beach State Park offers access to the Cape Fear River, Masonboro Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a marina with two launching ramps and more than 40 boat slips.

The park's family campground is located in a wooded area near Snow's Cut. Pine and oak trees provide shade for 83 campsites, each with a picnic table and grill. Drinking water and restrooms with hot showers are located nearby. Two camping areas for organized groups are located along Swamp Trail--one site accommodates up to 20 people, the other accommodates up to 35 people. These areas include picnic tables, fire circles and pit toilets, but water and shower facilities are not available. Rangers hold regularly scheduled educational and interpretive programs about Carolina Beach State Park.

More than six miles of trails can be walked in Carolina Beach State Park. Flytrap Trail is a half-mile loop through pocosin, longleaf pine and turkey oak, and savanna communities. Venus flytraps can be seen along the edges of the pocosins, and native orchids bloom along the trail. Parts of the trail travel along wooden boardwalks. Sugarloaf Trail is three miles long and is an excellent place for watching water birds and exploring the tidal marsh, as well as spotting fiddler crab traveling over mudflats. Campground Trail is one mile long. Snow's Cut Trail is less than a half-mile long. Swamp Trail is .75-mile long and provides access to the group camping areas. Oak Toe Trail is a quarter-mile long and connects Swamp Trail and Sugarloaf Trail.

The Carolina Beach State Park picnic area is located near the bank of Snow's Cut, between the campground and marina. There are tables and grills, and water, restrooms and parking are located nearby.

The park visitor's center features environmental education exhibits including an in-depth look at carnivorous plants from Venus flytraps to pitcher plants, and from butterworts to bladderworts.

At Carolina Beach, waterslides, miniature golf, and a large amusement park delight children of all ages. Annual area festivals include the Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla (lighted boat parade) and the Beach Blast Music Festival.

Visit Monkey Junction, or "Myrtle Grove" as some call it, a rapidly growing area named after a gas station in the 20s that featured live monkeys as an attraction to draw customers.

Carolina Beach's Wheel Fun Rentals has Deuce Coupes, Surreys and Choppers for rent. The Deuce Coupe is a covered bicycle built for two, allowing couples to pedal side by side. Equipped with lights, the four-wheeled covered Surrey can seat up to six adults and two children. And the Chopper is great for solo rides. Wheel Fun Rentals also rents out surfboards and boogie boards, beach umbrellas, chairs, and sand toys.

To get to Carolina Beach from the north, take Interstate Highway 40 (I-40), which ends on the north side of Wilmington and becomes N.C. Highway 132, which is College Road, the main north-south route through the city. College Road continues south until it ends at U.S. Highway 421 (Carolina Beach Road), which continues south through Monkey Junction to Pleasure Island, where Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are located. U.S. 421 ends at the southern tip of Pleasure Island, the location of the state ferry to Southport.

There are four area airports. Major airline service is offered through two-Wilmington Internati

There are four area airports. Major airline service is offered through two-Wilmington International Airport and Myrtle Beach International Airport. Brunswick County is midway between both airports and about 45 minutes away from each. There are also two small airports-Ocean Isle Beach and Oak Island.