Visitors to the greater Wilmington area have three distinct beaches to choose from Carolina, Kure, and Wrightsville.
The Wilmington area attracts visitors each year to its vibrant downtown city area, as well as its idyllic beaches. From the unspoiled beaches of Kure Beach and Fort Fisher to the tourist Mecca of Wrightsville Beach, there’s a beach in the area perfect for everyone. Families will enjoy the recently revitalized Carolina Beach boardwalk.
Wrightsville Beach
Wrightsville Beach is geographically closest to the port city of Wilmington. It’s also closest in spirit to the city. Wrightsville Beach boasts several restaurants and bars open late to accommodate the locals and college crowd from UNC-Wilmington. Fish off of Johnny Mercer Pier; learn to surf from one of several surf schools in the area, or jog around the popular loop in the town square. The area boasts several hotels with views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. While hotels are the most common lodging, the area also includes motels and rental properties.
Carolina Beach
Located just south of Wilmington, Carolina Beach welcomes visitors as the first community on Pleasure Island. The area is residential, with several hotels, and even more rental condos available for visitors. Families will enjoy the revitalized Boardwalk, where scooters, bicycles, and beach chairs can be rented. The Boardwalk area has an arcade and several specialty shops. Visitors can spend the afternoon hiking in the Carolina Beach State Park, and then enjoy an evening of fresh seafood at one of the many local restaurants.
Kure Beach
Traveling south on Carolina Beach Road takes visitors into the largely residential community of Kure Beach. What Kure Beach lacks in nightlife, it more than makes up for in solitude and quiet. While there a few hotels to choose from, the area has many cottages, houses, and beach motels to support the yearly influx of visitors. Area officials are determined to keep the community from becoming too commercialized so that visitors can continue to enjoy the quaint charm of the community year after year. The main tourist attraction is the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Because of Kure Beach’s small size, finding a quiet stretch of beach to relax or throw a line in the water is certainly possible.
From the commercialized shores of Wrightsville Beach to the quiet tranquility of Kure Beach, the Wilmington Beaches offer something for everyone. Travelers to the North Carolina coastal town will find plenty of attractions, entertainment options, and much more within a 30-mile radius.