Wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River, Carolina Beach is a picturesque seaside town. It’s a popular destination for fishing, hiking and relaxing on the beach and is home to one of the most impressive aquariums in the United States.

Things to do

Stroll amidst the shops and restaurants that line Carolina Beach Boardwalk, one of the last remaining beach boardwalks on the East Coast. Experience the rides at the seaside amusement park, try your luck on the arcade games and soak up the ocean views from the top of the Ferris wheel.

Spend a day exploring the Carolina Beach State Park, which fronts the Cape Fear River and man-made waterway of Snow’s Cut. Stop in at the visitor’s centre to learn about the local ecology, cast a fishing line and follow the Flytrap Trail, named for the carnivorous plants lining its route.

Travel south to visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, which highlights the marine and freshwater species inhabiting the Cape Fear region. Get up close to American alligators, box turtles and horseshoe crabs, as well as sharks, stingrays and moray eels in the massive Cape Fear Shoals aquarium.

Delve into the region’s Civil War history at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site where one of the war’s most decisive battles took place in 1865. Explore the on-site museum where Union and Confederate soldiers’ uniforms and weaponry are on display, then tour the reconstructed fort that includes an impressive seacoast cannon.

Getting around

Carolina Beach is around 30 minutes’ drive south of Wilmington International Airport and just under four hours’ drive from Charlotte. Bicycles and pedal-powered vehicles are available for rent and the town is easy to explore on foot.