Welcome to Carolina Beach, Kure Beach & Wrightsville Beach, NC
Three beaches, three rather different personalities: Carolina Beach has the boardwalk, arcade games, bars, and a fondness for old-school seaside fun, Kure Beach slows the tempo with Civil War history, protected coastline, and a century-old fishing pier, and Wrightsville Beach heads for the water with surfing, paddleboarding, boating, and a polished dining scene.
The good news? They're close enough to explore together. Here's where to swim, eat, hike, paddle, drink, and spend your time along this stretch of the North Carolina coast.
Happy beach hopping!
A Quick Word From Us
At Carolina Beach Realty, we specialize in vacation rentals in the heart of Pleasure Island. Family-owned and locally operated since 1963, we've spent over 50 years helping guests discover the best of North Carolina's coast.
Beach Matchmaker
Carolina Beach
Pick this one for the liveliest beach-town experience. The boardwalk goes full retro, with summer rides, arcade games, casual restaurants, bars, and plenty happening after sunset.
Kure Beach
Smaller and more relaxed, Kure Beach swaps boardwalk buzz for fishing, history, nature, and long stretches of undeveloped coast. Fort Fisher is the big draw here, and Carolina Beach sits just up the road when you want more action.
Wrightsville Beach
Surfboards and paddleboards are almost part of the uniform here. Clear Atlantic water, marinas, waterfront restaurants, and an active local crowd give Wrightsville a sportier, slightly more polished character.
Top Attractions & Landmarks
Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Take a lap around the historic boardwalk for stunning ocean views, arcade games, seasonal rides, live entertainment, pizza, sweets, and a generous dose of old-school beach-town fun. This is one of the most family-friendly spots in town.
Britt's Donuts has been frying its famous glazed donuts here since 1939, but it's seasonal, so late-September visitors should check opening dates to avoid disappointment. After dark, head toward Hurricane Alley, Silver Dollar, or the famously eccentric Fat Pelican.
Carolina Beach State Park
Put your hiking shoes on and head to this 760-plus-acre park along the Cape Fear River. More than eight miles of trails cross maritime forest, wetlands, and sandy terrain.
The short Flytrap Trail is the most popular attraction here. Venus flytraps grow in this small corner of the Carolinas, alongside pitcher plants and sundews. The park also has a marina, kayak and paddleboard access, fishing, ranger programs, and campsites beneath longleaf pines.
Freeman Park
Got a 4WD and a taste for adventure? Freeman Park, a wide-open stretch of shoreline framed by dunes, open Atlantic, and little beachfront development, lets you take the wheels straight onto the sand at Carolina Beach's northern end. You'll need a vehicle permit (you cab get it an the park's entrance), and airing down your tires is a smart move for the soft sand.
Beach conditions and vehicle access change throughout the year, especially after storms, high tides, and erosion, so check the latest park updates when planning your visit.
Carolina Beach Lake Park
Just two blocks from the ocean, this 11-acre freshwater lake offers a gentler change of scenery. A paved path loops around the water, with picnic shelters, gazebos, restrooms, and a playground nearby.
Centennial Photo Landmarks
Photo enthusiasts, keep an eye out for Carolina Beach's playful public art, including the Crescent Moon and "I Heart CB" sculpture. The Carolina Beach Mural Project offers another route through town, with large-scale works riffing on local history and beach culture.
Kure Beach
Kure Beach Fishing Pier
Dating to 1923, this 711-foot wooden pier has been part of Kure Beach life for more than a century. Walk out for an Atlantic sunrise or rent a rod and try your luck with the local anglers.
The pier's blanket fishing license means you don't need an individual state license to fish from it. Bait, tackle, rod rentals, ice cream, and arcade games are also available at the pier house.
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Fort Fisher guarded Wilmington's crucial Confederate supply route until a huge land-and-sea battle brought it down in January 1865. Today, you can explore the remaining earthworks, palisade fencing, cannon replica, museum, and interpretive trail for a closer look at the fort's Civil War past.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area & Basin Trail
Nearly 300 acres protect a wilder stretch of Pleasure Island, with marshes, maritime forest, and undeveloped shoreline. The 2.2-mile Basin Trail passes the old bunker once inhabited by Robert Harrill, the "Fort Fisher Hermit," and finishes near views across Zeke's Island Reserve.
A vehicle pass gets your 4WD onto the sand, with 24-hour access from September 15 through 30.
Coquina Rock Outcrop (Kure Beach)
Time this one with low tide. The roughly 12,000-year-old coquina formation is the only natural rock outcrop along the North Carolina coast and disappears beneath the water at high tide. Look closely at exposed pools for crabs, small fish, and other marine life.
Ocean Front Park & Pavilion (Kure Beach)
Right beside the pier, this compact oceanfront park has bench swings, a playground, lawn, pavilion, and lovely Atlantic views.Catch free live music at Boogie in the Park on the first and third Sundays through October, aside from select holiday weekends.
Wrightsville Beach
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier
This 1,200-foot concrete pier features gorgeous Atlantic vistas. You'll see local anglers targeting black drum, sheepshead, trout, and king mackerel, as well as residents strolling the pier on weekends for prime views of surfers, dolphins, and the sunrise.
The Loop
Join the locals on this 2.5-mile paved circuit around Wrightsville Beach. Walkers, runners, cyclists, dogs, and strollers share the route, which passes marinas, Banks Channel, Wrightsville Beach Park, and several coffee stops.
Wrightsville Beach Mailbox
Near Beach Access #2, look for a mailbox by the dunes stocked with notebooks and pens. You can leave poems, drawings, thoughts, and messages for strangers to discover. Consider it Wrightsville's analog social network.
Masonboro Island Reserve
No roads, hotels, shops, or beach houses here. Masonboro is an eight-mile undeveloped barrier island reached only by boat, kayak, paddleboard, or water taxi.
Bring water, food, sun protection, and everything else you need. Guided trips are a good option for paddling, crabbing, shelling, and learning about the reserve's loggerhead turtles and shorebirds.
Coastal Dining & Local Eats
Carolina Beach
- Island Burgers & Bites: You'll find this local spot inside a gas station, and that's part of the fun. Indulge in one of its famous hand-pattied smashburgers, especially the bacon double with candied bacon. Do yourself a favor and add crinkle fries, onion rings, or a milkshake to your order.
- The Southerly Biscuit & Pie: Start the morning with scratch-made buttermilk biscuits stuffed with brisket and slaw, BLT fillings, or fried bologna and cheese. Make sure to finish your meal with their incredible Key lime or chocolate chess pie.
- Cape Fear Boil Company: A popular option among travelers staying in vacation rentals. Pick up a steamer pot layered with shrimp, corn, potatoes, sausage, and optional crab, clams, or lobster, follow the cooking instructions, and enjoy your seafood boil at home. Catering is also available for larger groups.
- Salt Fish Restaurant & Tiki Bar: Caribbean and Polynesian flavors take over here, with curry scallops, tuna poke nachos, coconut shrimp, smoked fish dip, and tropical cocktails. The intimate dining room books up, so reserve ahead.
Kure Beach
- Freddie's Italian Restaurant: The star at this intimate Italian restaurant is not pasta but the enormous pork chop, especially with apple-walnut sauce. Reservations are strongly recommended and often necessary in summer.
- Jack Mackerel's Island Grill: Near the pier, Jack Mackerel's serves grouper wraps, flounder, crab cakes, and other coastal favorites with a Caribbean twist. Head upstairs to the Grumpy Grouper Bar for drinks, ocean air, and live music.
- Ocean View Restaurant: Start your morning near the pier with blackberry beignets, chicken and waffles, pork belly and grits, or a biscuit sandwich. Ocean View is a must-try breakfast-and-lunch spot in Kure Beach.
Wrightsville Beach
- Oceanic Restaurant: Few tables get closer to the Atlantic than those at Oceanic on Crystal Pier. Beyond the views, come for the fresh fish, crab cakes, or prime steaks. Grab a pier table when the weather allows.
- Tower 7 Baja Mexican Grill: A post-surf hangout where you'll find Baja-style fish taco, street corn, burritos, cold margaritas, and the wonderfully named Tacos in a Beach Towel.
- Bluewater Waterfront Grill: Head to the Intracoastal side for oysters, crab cakes, daily catches, and North Carolina-style fried seafood. The large waterside deck is a lovely spot for boat watching and summer live music.
- Poe's Tavern: Edgar Allan Poe inspires the décor and burger names at this casual pub near the beach. Beyond the burgers, try their delicious fish tacos, hand-cut fries, and craft-beers.
Nightlife & Drinks
Carolina Beach
- The Fat Pelican: This is dive-bar eccentricity at its finest. Walk into the refrigerated beer cooler, choose your bottle, and find a seat among vintage signs, scribbled walls, oddball memorabilia, and repurposed nautical furniture.
- Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar: Head to this tiki bar over the Atlantic for a frozen drink, cold beer, live music, and views of the waves below the old Center Pier structure.
- SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar: SeaWitch's tropical courtyard hosts bands, DJs, and karaoke throughout the season. Check the entertainment calendar to see who's playing.
Kure Beach & Wrightsville Beach
- Bud & Joe's Sandbar: A casual spot for an evening out in Kure Beach, with a pool table, jukebox, inexpensive cold beer, and backyard picnic tables.
- Jimmy's: This long-running beach bar is woven into Wrightsville's social scene, with great craft beer, live music, community events, and a strong late-night following. Ask for the lemonade slushie.
- The Palm Room: Another Wrightsville favorite for live music, this soundside bar hosts local and regional acts ranging from rock to reggae.
Family-friendly Spots
Carolina Beach
- Carolina Beach Arcade: Located directly on the boardwalk, this old-school arcade is packed with classic skee-ball, claw games, and ticket-winning machines. It's a perfect indoor option for rainy days.
- Mike Chappell Park & Skate Park: A great community park for kids and teens featuring an 8,000-square-foot skate park, tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, a large playground, and access to the Island Greenway.
- The Veggie Wagon: A charming indoor/outdoor gourmet market featuring a hot chocolate bar, made-to-order ice cream sandwiches, local baked goods, and cozy seating.
- Federal Point History Center: A quiet indoor history center featuring exhibits on local maritime heritage, military history, and the development of Pleasure Island.
Kure Beach
- North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (Currently closed for major renovation): Touch tanks with stingrays and bamboo sharks, a 235,000-gallon ocean tank, Luna the albino alligator, Asian small-clawed otters, and the outdoor Adventure Reef play area are reason enough to put the aquarium on the family itinerary.
Wrightsville Beach
- Wrightsville Beach Museum of History: Housed inside a restored 1909 beach cottage, this indoor museum features vintage bathing suits, hurricane history, surfing memorabilia, historic photo exhibits, and the interactive Wrightsville Beach Mailbox exhibit.
Seasonal Status Updates
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Carolina Beach Pier: Roughly half of the pier is currently closed for repairs, and fishing is unavailable. The pier's bar and restaurant operations continue, weather permitting.
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Kure Beach: The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher closed on May 26, 2026 for a renovation and expansion expected to last more than two years.
Consider Yourself Coast Ready
Now you're covered with, no bragging, some of the best local tips for your vacation in three of North Carolina's most beloved coastal destinations.
At Carolina Beach Realty, we offer a curated selection of vacation rentals across North Carolina's coast: from classic beach cottages to spacious oceanfront homes. With over 50 years of local experience, we take pride in delivering personal service, exceptional comfort, and that unmistakable Carolina hospitality.
