Carolina Beach is one of the few boardwalk beach destinations left on the East Coast. It reminds you what an old-fashioned beach vacation was meant to be, with simple seaside pleasures like arcades, amusement parks, and the perfect ocean view from the top of a Ferris Wheel. Many North Carolinians will argue that when The Drifters were singing about the happy sounds of a carousel and the tastes and sites of the boardwalk down by the sea, they were singing about Carolina Beach, NC!
One of the area’s most iconic landmarks and popular tourist spots is the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. The boardwalk is one of the few remaining true beach boardwalks on the east coast. From restaurants and ice cream shops, to rides and arcades, this quarter-mile stretch along the Carolina Beach oceanfront is about as traditional of a beach boardwalk as they come. There’s tons to do along the boardwalk, making it somewhere you’ll likely want to revisit a few times during your stay.
For the lovers of the great outdoors, Carolina Beach State Park is must-visit territory while you’re here. There’s miles of hiking trails, plenty of fishing spots, picnic areas, exhibits, and it’s even home to unique wildlife, such as the Venus Flytrap. You can also rent kayaks and pontoons from the park to take a cruise down the Cape Fear River if you’re wanting to get out on the water.
