Attractions on your Beach vacation, Cape fear based United Beach Vacations in Pleasure Island with Carolina Beach NC offering a beach rental in Topsail Island, Kure Beach, and more beach rentals along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Area Attactions

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (ncaquariums.com)
This 93,000 sq-ft structure was recently expanded, and now showcases life of the Cape Fear River, swamps, estuaries, nearby beaches and the ocean beyond. New in 2006: “Exotic Aquatics,” with lionfish, sea snakes, cuttlefish and a Pacific coral reef. Also, seahorses, sea turtles, indoor salt marsh, touch pool, freshwater conservatory, and a huge ocean tank with sharks, moray eels, stingrays and more. Dive shows and feedings daily. Gift shop, food, gardens, films, live-animal presentations and special programs.

Carolina Beach State Park
Wind your way through habitats along nature trails with more than 30 species of trees, shrubs and plants, including the rare Venus-flytrap. The State Park has approximately 700 acres with a visitor center, fishing pier, picnic and camping (Area 2 campsites are wheelchair accessible), marina, trails, and water activities. Educational programs are offered. Call 910-458-8206.

Carolina Beach Lake Park
Carolina Beach Lake was once noted in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the freshwater lake closest to salt water. It is a great place for a picnic and the site of Pleasure Island’s “Light Up The Lake” celebration during the holiday season. This 11-acre lake offers 4 gazebos, restrooms, sheltered picnic area and playground equipment.

Island of Lights
The entire Island is illuminated with Christmas displays from mid-November through New Year’s Eve. Local residents and businesses along with the town municipalities join together to create a magical holiday wonderland for everyone to enjoy. The Island of Lights Committee sponsors this event.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Visitors Center
This growing collection is exhibited in the visitor center classroom and includes loggerhead and other turtle shells, seashells, taxidermy mounts of native ducks and other birds, and a variety of other natural history and science specimens. The area also features 4 miles and 288 acres of pristine, undeveloped beach for swimming and includes a concession stand, restrooms, and showers from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles and nesting water birds, and hiking trails. Licensed four-wheel-drive vehicles may travel on the beach in designated areas for access to excellent surf fishing.

Fort Fisher State Historic Site (fortfisher.nchistoricsites.org)
At the dawn of the Civil War, the Confederacy took control of a neck of land in Southern North Carolina near the mouth of the Cape Fear River and constructed what was to become the largest and one of the most important earthwork fortifications in the south. Approximately 10% of Fort Fisher remains, along with a restored palisade fence. The visitor center contains interpretive exhibits and an audiovisual presentation. Among the displays are items recovered from sunken blockade-runners. State headquarters for underwater archaeology is also located here. Free. This excellent resource preserves, educates and interprets for public benefit the history and structure of Fort Fisher and its significance to the outcome of the Civil War. The visitor center features exhibits on the Civil War, local figures, and a fiber optics map illustrating the Battle of Fort Fisher. It also interprets Fort Fisher's history during World War II, as well as educates the public about coastline erosion and environmental issues. The earthworks can be accessed from the visitor center and are interpreted year round, including the reenactment of the Battle of Fort Fisher. ''Hidden Beneath the Waves” is a pavilion exhibit featuring recovered and preserved artifacts from local shipwrecks (including Civil War era).

Kure Beach Pier (kurebeachfishingpier.com)
This public fishing pier has been located in Kure Beach since 1923 and is open 24/7 from April 1 through Nov. 30. The basic rate is $5 per day for 1 rod and reel and there are fishing tackle, bait, rod and reel combos for purchase on site. The pier also features a concession stand, arcade and large souvenir area.

NC Underwater Archaeology Center
The Underwater Archeology Branch excavates and surveys shipwrecks and other underwater archaeological sites throughout the state. The branch also coordinates ongoing recovery and restoration projects, such as the Queen Anne's Revenge. The Underwater Archaeology section of the NC Division of Archives and History operates this small museum with exhibits on maritime history featuring artifacts uncovered in underwater explorations dating from prehistoric (Native American) to the Civil War and the present.

Fort Fisher/Southport Ferry (ncferry.org)
Take a scenic ferry ride across the Cape Fear River from Fort Fisher, Kure Beach to the quaint seaside town of Southport.