13 Essential Things to Do in Carolina Beach + Places To Eat

Carolina Beach is one of the best family-friendly beaches in North Carolina and offers a plethora of activities and things to do. Being just over a two-hour drive from Raleigh, it’s the perfect spot for a weekend away or week-long break soaking up some laid-back coastal living and much needed R&R.

If this is your first time visiting the coastal region of North Carolina, then you might be wondering what to do in Carolina Beach and what attractions to add to your to-do list. Carolina Beach is famous for its wooden beach-side boardwalk, seafood restaurants, roadside attractions and amusement parks, craft coffees, tiki bars and summer concerts. Although a small town, it pops with color and has a fun-loving and free-spirited vibe.

With miles of shoreline and the intracoastal waterway, plus fresh seafood, cool bars, gorgeous sunrises and fun around every corner, you can be sure there’s plenty to keep you entertained. Whether you’re looking for something adventurous and thrilling or relaxing and laid-back, don’t miss out on these activities. Needless to say, you’ll never run out of things to do in Carolina Beach. Here are some of the top attractions and activities to make sure you check out!

Things to Do in Carolina Beach

1. Walk Along Carolina Beach Boardwalk

The famous and vintage Carolina Beach Boardwalk has been the place of family fun for nearly 100 years and was named one of the most awesome boardwalks in America by CNN Travel. The historic (but now modern) boardwalk encapsulates the Carolina Beach spirit. The wooden boardwalk is only 1/4 of a mile long, and separates the beach from the colorful town, but it’s packed with fantastic attractions and amenities like showers you won’t be afraid to stand under, pagodas, and swinging chairs to admire the views from.

During the summer season, there are free concerts and festivals held on the boardwalk, as well as amusement rides – including a Ferris Wheel – and weekly fireworks! Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast and the annual Carolina Beach Music Festival are two of the most famous festivals held on the beach. Carolina Beach Music Festival is the only music festival held right on the beach in NC. The Boardwalk festivities continue into the winter too, with Santa by the Sea and the Island of Lights Festival taking place in the holiday season.

Check out the events calendar to see what’s happening when you visit. It’s also the place to be for nightlife in Carolina Beach, though be warned, it’s not a crazy town for partying!

2. Shop along Carolina Beach Arcade

Behind the wooden boardwalk and beach is the rainbow-colored Carolina Beach Arcade, a fun spot to go shopping in Carolina Beach. The arcade is lined with local stores, restaurants, ice cream, and arcade parlors. Don’t miss Fuzz Love, a laid-back boho vibe gift store with a cool selection of clothes, tapestries, carved wooden animals, and other fun stuff from Asia and Africa. All the items were sourced by a surfer who loves to travel the world. Shopping here also helps support the artisans and makers of the community, and we love supporting locals businesses and indie retailers! 

3. Enjoy the beach

With miles of shoreline and gentle waves, Carolina Beach is one of the best beaches near Raleigh for families, especially if you have small kids and are worried about rip currents. The shoreline slopes gradually, so it’s safe for little ones to paddle on the edge. As well as swimming and lazing on the beach, you’ll also find plenty of water based activities that include surfing, shelling, and fishing (especially off the Carolina Beach Fishing Pier). If you don’t feel like getting wet, lay out your towel or beach chair, read a book or listen to music and just unplug from the city life you left behind.

The north end of the beach tends to be more local and has less sand to relax on and a rock wall protecting the homes from washing away, but it’s a great place to escape the crowds when the tide is lower. If you’re interested in doing some surfing lessons, the Tony Silvagni Surf School is the place to get your lessons from. You can be taught by an Olympic Gold Medalist – how many people can say that?

4. Admire the Colorful Carolina Beach Mural Project

You may notice how colorful Carolina Beach is, and this is not just in the architecture but in the many murals decorating the town’s walls. These murals were the brainchild of the Carolina Beach Mural Project, a non-profit organization that celebrates the history and culture of the region through art. There are around 20 murals in Carolina Beach, each by a different artist and with their own story to tell. Check out this map of the murals in Carolina Beach to find out where each mural is and who created it.

5. Visit Carolina Beach State Park

No trip to Carolina beach would be complete without exploring the 761-acre Carolina Beach State Park and its nine miles of hiking trails. Located on the Cape Fear River side of the island, it incorporates the marina which gives you access to some of the best local fishing spots. Campers will love the secluded campsites available beneath towering trees (reserve well in advance).

For hiking, the 3-mile loop Sugarloaf Trail encompasses an evergreen forest, coastal fringe sandhill forest, tidal cypress-gum swamp, and longleaf pine savanna. The route takes you to the Sugarloaf Dune with views of the Cape Fear River – this 50-foot sand dune was where over 5,000 troops camped during the Civil War. 

Alternatively, the Venus Flytrap Trail is a 0.5-mile loop through pocosin wetlands and longleaf pine and wiregrass savanna communities, where you can find carnivorous plants among other native plants and fauna. 

6. Visit Freeman Park Recreation Area 

On the northern side of the Carolina Beach pier is Freeman Park Recreation Area, a place for outdoor adventures and where you can drive onto the beach with your four-wheel-drive (with a permit). And it’s also popular for swimming, surf fishing, crabbing and beach camping – permits and reservations are required!

7. Wander Around Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

Fort Fisher Recreation Area takes in the southern end of Pleasure Island and hugs the Atlantic Ocean from Kure Beach over to the Cape Fear River. Here you will find six miles of pristine shoreline offering sun and surf-seekers plenty of fun. This is a place where Loggerhead turtles love laying their eggs, and where you can drive your 4WD along the beaches – permit required.

Two of North Carolina’s most visited attractions also reside here – the North Carolina Aquarium and the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.

8. Visit Fort Fisher State Historic Site

Fort Fisher State Historic Site protected the trading routes of Wilmington during the American Civil War until its capture by the Union in 1865. Only 10% of the original fortress remains today which you can tour on a beautiful scenic trail lined with gnarly live oak trees and winds past the earthworks to fort remains.

Pop into the Visitor’s Center to see exhibits, artifacts and videos to learn more about the history of Fort Fisher. There are more trails through the marshes to explore other Civil War monuments and a WWII bunker that was built to be the primary firing range for nearby Camp David during the Second World War. If you like live oaks, you will love the Airle Oak – check it out in our one-night stay in Wilmington guide.

9. Be Amazed At North Carolina Aquarium

The North Carolina Aquarium is a place to go in Carolina Beach with kids because of the educational value it offers. The aquarium showcases the marine life of the region’s aquatic life such as stingrays, eels, sharks and baby sea turtles, and it also has interactive exhibits and live programs that make learning fun.

10. Kayak or paddle board at Snow’s Cut

One of our favorite summer activities is stand up paddle boarding and the intra-coastal waterway on the Carolina coast offers adventurous paddle boarding opportunities. Our friends who live in Carolina Beach took us to Snow’s Cut, a man-made canalconnecting Myrtle Grove Sound to the Cape Fear River – it’s what separates Pleasure Island from the mainland. Launch spot near the Marina.

Here you can paddle in three different directions: under the bridge towards the Cape Fear River, up the Intra-coastal Waterway to and to the ocean (south of Masonboro Island), or down the much calmer inlet towards a small marsh island and the town. For more paddling or kayaking options consider Carolina Beach Lake Park (11 acre freshwater lake / on-site rentals), Carolina Beach State Park Boat Ramp (on-site seasonal kayak rentals / easy launching site / miles of Cape Fear River terrain), Carolina Beach Boat Basin (no wake zone) or, the super steady paddlers can head to the beach and take on the ocean swell.

11. Relax at Kure Beach

If you want an alternative beach vibe, then neighboring Kure Beach (pronounced (cur-ee) is just an 8-minute drive away and a local’s favorite. Kure Beach has a vibrant and bold personality of the softer, pastel kind and tourists come here for a more relaxed, quieter beach vibe where the natural features are the center of attention – accommodation may be a little cheaper too!

Play on miles of white sand, embrace the chilled tropical vibe, and for the pier lovers, Kure Beach Fishing Pier is one of the oldest on the Atlantic Coast.

12. Visit Masonboro Island

Masonboro Island is a remote and cool spot to visit. It can only be reached by water taxi from Carolina Beach and also from nearby Wrightsville Beach. Masonboro Island is 5,600 acres of natural paradise with stunning beaches, sand dunes, marshes and tidal flats. It’s a pristine and untouched barrier island that is only accessible by boat and is remote and secluded. In fact, there are no facilities on the island, so bring food and drinks with you. This only adds to its secluded and peaceful atmosphere. It’s a great place to see the diverse wildlife of the area such as nesting sea turtles and migratory birds.

13. Take the ferry to Southport

Take the vehicle ferry from Fort Fisher to the quiet town of Southport, a small and historic seaside town known for its laid-back and gentle atmosphere. There’s not much to do in this sleepy town other than to soak in the quietness and admire the historic landmarks, such as the Fort Johnston and Southport Museum & Visitors Center and the tiny Maritime Museum. Or just simply admire the historic architecture! Don’t miss the 1904 Old Brunswick County Jail and Franklin Square Gallery.

Head over to the Silver Coast Winery Tasting Room for wine and craft beer tasting experiences or walk along the quaint pier and watch the sailing boats. See more about Southport in this post on a romantic getaway to Brunswick Islands. You can catch the ferry there and back on the same day, and it’s easily a day trip from Carolina Beach. Check out ferry times here.

Where To Eat and Drink in Carolina Beach

We always find that finding a place to eat decent food is the hardest part of any trip, especially if you have kids! To help you out, here are some of our favorite places to eat and drink in Carolina Beach that we’ve visited and enjoyed.

Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar

We love tiki bars (who doesn’t?), and the Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar is a mini version of our favorite beach bar, Fish Heads Bar & Grill on the Outer Banks.  The Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar is the hidden local gem and the type of bar you always hope to find when on vacation!

Built on the ruins of Center Pier, destroyed by Hurricane Fran in 1996, whilst it does serve a limited menu it’s all about the amazingviews and atmosphere that you come here for. You’ll find live music here at sunset during the season, what’s not to love! 

• Address: 1211 South Lake Park Blvd
• Website: www.oceangrilltiki.com

Southerly Biscuit and Pie

We stop in at The Southerly on our way in from Raleigh after leaving early and it’s a great spot to grab a quick breakfast of biscuits and grits. You won’t find a better budget breakfast in Carolina Beach than their buttermilk biscuits, with creative offerings such as the brisket and slaw (my favorite), sausage and cheddar, or fried chicken (even more options available). Gluten-free options available, check out the filling sausage & bacon over cheddar grits, which was delicious! They also have a variety of whole pies, oatmeal cream pies, and seasonal cookie selections.

• Address: 1206 N Lake Park Blvd
• Website: www.thesoutherlync.com

Coffee at Malama Cafe

Our favorite coffee shop in Carolina Beach is Malama Cafe. Each of our mornings were spent taking a short 5-minute stroll along the boardwalk to get our coffee fix (we are fans of their bulletproof coffee which we make at home too!). Also on the menu are healthy bites like smashed avo toast, smoothie bowls, and breakfast burritos. And we love the happy beach decor of Malama.

• Address: 108 Cape Fear Blvd
• Website: www.malamacafe.com

Britt’s Donuts

One of the most famous things to do at Carolina Beach is to eat one of the famous, warm, and fresh glazed donuts from Britts Donuts on the Carolina Boardwalk. Started by the Britts and Wrights in 1939, this donut shop has long been the cornerstone of the Carolina Beach Boardwalk area and continues to draw crowds from near and far.

They only make glazed or unglazed donuts, but if that’s your style judging by the lines that queue up and around the boardwalk each morning they’re guaranteed to melt in your mouth. Note: they do so much business during the summer months they are able to close for the winter months – keep that in mind if you visit Carolina Beach in the off-season!

• Address: 13 Carolina Beach
• Website: www.brittsdonutshop.com

Soul Flavor Kitchen & Bar

We haven’t dined in at Soul Flavor, but we ordered take out to enjoy in the coziness of our friends’ beach house. The food hit the spot nicely, and we will be dining in next time! A diverse menu of fresh catches to ribs, seafood, pho, and more is on the menu including gluten free and vegan options.The Nana Maria Paella is their signature dish! If you do dine in, they’re known for their neighborhood-gathering bar for a favored sangria and cocktails with friends.

• Address: 716 N Lake Park Blvd
• Website: soulflavorcbnc

Wake n Bake Donuts

Britts is not the only donut shop in town, and for an alternative donut treat (without the boardwalk location) check out Wake n Bake Donuts who make more Voodoo Doughnut style with gourmet fillings and unusual flavors. They also bake a gluten-free donut for those who are intolerant, which wasn’t too bad.

• Address: 1401 N Lake Park Blvd
• Website: wakenbakedonuts

More Restaurants in Carolina Beach

Below are more places to eat in Carolina Beach (and drink at) that we haven’t tried personally, yet, but come highly recommended by our local friends and we’ll be eating and drinking there soon enough:

• Nauti Dog – colorful beach shack with a patio, offering a selection of creative gourmet hot dogs and nacho.
• The Fat Pelican – voted best dive bar in NC and top 25 in the nation. A self-professed dive bar with a beach trailer park chi with the belief that “beer is love.”
• SeaWitch Café & Tiki Bar – an outside deck built around lush palm trees. It’s a famous Carolina Beach bar.
• Michael’s Seafood – regarded as one of the best restaurants in Carolina Beach and known for their award winning chowder, this popular casual seafood spot also serves steaks plus seafood pasta, beer and cocktails.
• Good Hops Brewing – small batch rotating seasonal beers and the only brewery in Carolina Beach. 
• Squigley’s Ice Cream & Treats – long-running, cash-only dessert spot offering an extensive range of housemade soft-serve ice cream.
• Island Burgers & Bites – love burgers? This old-school, local fast-fast joint serves up hefty burgers, hot dogs and other grub in a simple space.
• Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar – this is a great place to get, you guessed it, oysters. They’re a franchise but they are dedicated to sustainability, plus the food is delicious!

Where to Stay in Carolina Beach

There’s no shortage of vacation rentals in Carolina Beach to choose from and there’s no better place to stay on a Carolina Beach vacation than at your own beachfront vacation rental. As a family we always appreciate having our own space, separate bedrooms, kitchen facilities and a deck to sit on for morning coffees and evening drinks.

Plus, having easy access to the beach and your own parking spot saves so much hassle in carrying all your beach gear and fighting for car parking spaces.

Consider this beachfront apartment at the northern end of the beach with uninterrupted ocean views and decks. For even more vacation rentals look here.

And if you’re looking for hotels in Carolina Beach, see our recommended places to stay in Carolian Beach, search here and use the map below to help as well.

How to Get to Carolina Beach

In case you don’t know, Carolina Beach is actually on an island (Pleasure Island), which is one of the many barrier islands that make up the North Carolina coast. It’s located just south of Wilmington and north of the Brunswick Islands region, and is centrally located on the East Coast, midway between New York and Florida. To get to Carolina Beach from Raleigh, you can drive all along the I-40 East to Wilmington, which then connects to the US-117 S/N College Rd.

Driving times to Carolina Beach

• Wilmington to Carolina Beach: 20 minutes (12 miles)
• Myrtle Beach to Carolina Beach: 1 hour, 50 mins (87 miles)
• Raleigh to Carolina Beach: 2 hours, 15 mins  (141 miles)
• Charlotte to Carolina Beach: 3 hours, 40 mins (212 miles)
• Asheville to Carolina Beach: 5 hours, 30 mins (346 miles)

Carolina Beach Parking

Carolina Beach Town offers multiple public parking options to visitors and residents year round. For detailed information and a map with parking locations click here.  Note: paid parking is in effect March 1st-October 31st, 8AM-8PM, and November 1st-February 28th, 9AM-5PM and may be paid for using a credit or debit card. 

In Summary

If you didn’t know what to do in Carolina Beach, then I hope you do now! Carolina Beach is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a classic beach vacation experience, a charming seaside ambiance, pristine white sandy beaches, and an array of activities. It’s also a cute Christmas town during the holidays. Please share with us in the comments below some of your favorite things to do at Carolina Beach or ask any questions you may have!