Welcome to the summer season! The Wilmington area boasts 11 beaches that offer a wide array of activities to enjoy while basking in the sun and the refreshing ocean breeze. Whether you prefer paddling through the waves or relaxing in the sun with a good book, there's nothing better than a day at the beach. Here's a list of 35 fun things to do at beaches in Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties. First up is the Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, the state's first concrete fishing pier, located at 23 E. Salisbury St. If you're up for an adventure, check out one of the local sailing schools. For a more secluded beach experience, rent a kayak and paddle over to Masonboro Island. In Carolina Beach, be sure to visit the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, which offers thrill rides, a carousel, a pirate ship, and a 10-story gondola wheel with ocean views, located at 1 Cape Fear Blvd. The Carolina Beach Pier is dog-friendly and great for grabbing a bite or a cocktail, located at 1800 Carolina Beach Ave. N. Lastly, explore the Carolina Beach State Park, home to local flora and fauna, including the Venus flytrap, as well as Sugarloaf Dune—a 50-foot-tall sand dune—and a marina, located at 1010 State Park Road. In Kure Beach, visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher to see sea otters, sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, and other sea life, located at 900 Loggerhead Road. The Kure Beach Fishing Pier is family-friendly and great for anglers and those who just want to stroll and enjoy the ocean breezes. Lastly, explore the Fort Fisher State Historic Site to see a Civil War-era fort and new state-of-the-art museum and visitors’ center, located at 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. S. Bald Head Island is another must-visit destination. Climb the state’s oldest lighthouse and learn about the lightkeepers who lived on the island at the Old Baldy Lighthouse and the Smith Island Museum, located at 101 Lighthouse Wynd. Visit the Village Chapel of Bald Head Island, an ecumenical community house of worship with stained glass windows and views of the island, located at 105 Lighthouse Wynd. Lastly, support the Bald Head Island Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the island’s habitat and wildlife, located at 700 Federal Road. Lastly, in Caswell Beach, take a tour of the Oak Island Lighthouse on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from May 1 through Sept. 30, located at 300 Caswell Beach Road. Play a round or two at the Oak Island Golf Club, a public golf course near the ocean, located at 928 Caswell Beach Road. Lastly, explore Fort Caswell inside the gates of the North Carolina Baptist Assembly; call to confirm availability between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., located at 100 Caswell Beach Road.
