Carolina Beach to Host Major Surfing Event: Competition Slated for Nov. 6-7 Moves from Wrightsville Beach

Surf Carolina Magazine has chosen Carolina Beach and the Marriott Hotel for its 22nd Annual Hot Wax Challenge and Carolina Surf Awards, scheduled for Nov. 6-7.

The surfing event will be held 8am to 6pm at the Hamlet Avenue beach access and features $50,000 in prizes and giveaways.

Saturday night entertainment includes bluesman extraordinaire Mojo Collins.

While the Hot Wax Challenge has been previously held in Wrightsville Beach and in Fort Fisher, Hot Wax founder Michael Paul says he chose Carolina Beach and the Marriott for their close proximity to the newly renovated CB Boardwalk.

For more information, please visit the Hot Wax Surf Shop website.

Carolina Beach and Kure Beach Sea Turtles Ready to Hatch

Several sea turtle "boils" will take place over the next few days and weeks. A boil is when turtle egg hatchlings emerge from their shells and appear phoenix-like out of the ground. Dozens of volunteers are at the ready to guide the little creatures into the water, a first step in an arduous journey to adulthood.

One of the boils includes the offspring of a rare leatherback sea turtle, a beast that can weigh nearly 2000 pounds. Her nest could hatch over 100 babies.

Stay tuned.

Beach Overload: Alternate Fun for the Dog Days of Summer

With so much going on these days at Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, it's easy to overlook some nearby attractions.

Located in the heart of Wilmington, Jungle Rapids is just 20 minutes from Carolina Beach, and is a terrific place for fun of all sorts. The park features a water slide, go-karts, laser tag, a rock climbing wall, and miniature golf plus free parking.

For more information please visit www.junglerapids.com.

Reason No. 342 to Visit Carolina Beach

Have you been to Britt's Donuts at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk?

No?

Oh my ... you have no idea what you're missing.

Britt's sickly sweet, slightly salty glazed donuts always melt in the mouth and have been an area institution since Franklin D. Roosevelt lived in the White House.

Remember Saturday Night Live's skit at the lunch counter? "Cheeseboiger, cheeseboiger, cheeseboiger ..."

"No Coke. Pepsi."

Britt's is similarly minimalist, with not much to choose from except glazed donuts and some drinks.

It's an experience.

Pleasure Island included in summer travel feature

Carolina Beach and Kure Beach were recently mentioned in The New York Times' Sunday Travel Section. The story, titled "One Summer, 14 Weekends," boasted that the area has "pleasurable beaches for catching a tan," and mentions hiking at Carolina Beach State Park, the wonders of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, and the 712-foot-long Kure Beach Pier, where hopeful fisherman can snag mackeral and flounder.

The brief story also cites the Cape Fear River, which "rambles past [the] historic and picturesque city of Wilmington, N.C., widening and creating slivery barrier islands with [the] river on one side and the Atlantic on the other."

Sounds so beautiful and fun, I wished I lived there. Good thing I already do.

They Swim With Their Homes On Their Backs/Update 7/10/09

If you're like me your knowledge of sea turtles comes from those exciting scenes in "Finding Nemo," where the surfer dude turtle cruising the EAC (East Australian Current) marvels at his rambunctious young son, Squirt.

But sea turtles have an even more fascinating life than even Hollywood could imagine.

Consider these facts:

> Female loggerhead sea turtles lay an average of 120 eggs in each nest and may nest up to 7 times in one season.

> When resting, sea turtles can hold their breath for several hours.

> Sea Turtles reach sexual maturity around 25 years.

> Sea turtles swim speeds that can reach up to 35 mph.

> Female sea turtles return to the same beaches where they were born to lay their nests.

For information about sea turtles in the Carolina Beach and Kure Beach area, please visit www.seaturtleproject.org

To see a sea turtle "boil" (hatchlings), please visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO1zV4cYFbo

JULY 10, 2009, SEA TURTLE UPDATE -- On Wednesday, July 8, a rare leatherback sea turtle plodded onto the sands of Carolina Beach to lay her eggs. The endangered leatherback, whose shell is not hard like a loggerhead's, is about half the size of a Volkswagon Beetle, according to Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Busovne. "Since our project began in the 80s, we've never seen evidence of a leatherback. This is truly remarkable."

4th of July Weekend: Blivet! Will Rock Tangerine Caribbean Grill

The site: Tangerine Caribbean Grill in Carolina Beach (covered outdoor deck)
The Date: Sunday, July 5
The Time: 3pm-7pm
The Band: Blivet!

If you like the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, the Beastie Boys, Creedence, the Doobies, Stones, Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead, Sheryl Crow, the Doors, Keb Mo, Styxx, Norah Jones, the Police, Skynyrd ...

The list goes on and on. Put simply, Blivet! is a fun band that plays something familiar for everyone. Visit the song list at the band's website -- www.blivetband.com

Grab a brew, dance barefoot, and rock with Blivet!

One of the country's oldest beach music festivals comes to Carolina Beach June 6

Carolina Beach is the cradle of beach music, and on Saturday, June 6, the town comes alive with its distinct tunes and rollicking dances with the 24th annual Carolina Beach Beach Music Festival. The all-day event features five of the best beach music bands in the south, including Jim Quick and Coastline Band, Sammy O'Banion with Mardi Gras, Holiday Band, Craig Woolard Band, and Mark Roberts & Breeze.

Tickets are $10 in advance (visit here to buy stubs) and $15 at the door. Beer and soft drinks will be available for purchase. No coolers and no pets, please.

13th Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-off

When: Saturday, April 18, 11:30am
Where: Carolina Beach Lake
How much? $5 (ages 6 & under Free)
Logistics: Free parking at Federal Point Shopping Center (3rd traffic light after bridge; free trolley to and from venue)

Hard to believe it's been over a dozen years since the first Chowder Cook-off, but the annual event has just gotten better and better. Speak truth to chef as area cooks show off their best in rich, creamy chowders -- clam, oyster and seafood! For just $5 you can sample all you like, and then vote for your favorite.

The party includes live music, games, face painting, balloon art, and the obligatory inflatable slide. Join Mad Science of Coastal Carolina in interactive science experiments that could include that working volcano last seen on The Brady Bunch.

Don't care for chowder? Fret not. The day also features hot dogs, fudge, funnel cakes, soda, beer and wine. Sorry, no coolers and please leave Fido at home.

Sandy Paws: Dogs at the Beach

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. -- Roger Caras


Ah, dogs. Any human who's ever had the pleasure of having one own them will happily tell you the fascinating con game their four-legged friend embodies. What? It's 4 o'clock and I usally eat at 5? Time to walk meaningfully around my friend until he succumbs to my charms, and more importantly, to feed me. Huh? Watching TV without scratching my ears? May as well walk back and forth, making faint whiny noises until I get pleasured. What's that noise? A car passing the house? Time to bark like a burglary is imminent.



The truth is more and more people can't live without their pet dogs. And that means more and more are taking vacations with four-legged friends in tow. The problem is many places either don't accept pets (although this is changing with demand), or impose restrictions on pets in public places.


The following is a short publication about leash laws in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, courtesy of a friend:

THE POOCH POST

As fellow pet-lovers, we at United Beach Vacations would like to welcome you and your dog to Pleasure Island! We have lots of tips and great advice to ensure that you and your pet have a great time. First, let’s get the not-so-fun stuff out of the way. There are places dogs can’t go at certain times of the year. But don’t worry, because we’ll follow that up with some great places that dogs CAN enjoy!

CAROLINA BEACH-Dogs are allowed on the beach from November 1 until February 28. During these times, your dog MUST be on a leash, and you must have in your possession a container to pick up dog waste.

KURE BEACH-Dogs are allowed on the beach only from October 1 until March 30. During these times, your dog MUST be on a leash, and you must have in your possession a container to pick up dog waste.

OK-now that we have that out of the way, see below for some great places that you and your pooch can enjoy together:

FREEMAN PARK: This area is located at the north end of Pleasure Island. With a $10.00 day pass, you can bring your 4-wheel drive vehicle (and your dog!) onto this beach. Dogs are required to be on a leash from April 1 to Sept 30. From October 1 to March 31, dogs are allowed off leash as long as they remain under voice command and the owner is within a reasonable distance from the pet. For more please visit http://www.carolinabeach.org/site_new/pages/FreemanParkRegistrationForm.htm

FORT FISHER STATE PARK: This is a state-owned park located at the southern tip of Pleasure Island. A $10.00 day pass and a 4-wheel drive vehicle gives you access to beach fun for you and your pet. Dogs are allowed at all times but must be on a six-foot leash.
For park hours and more info: http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/fofi/home.html

CAROLINA BEACH STATE PARK: This is a beautiful 700 acre park with miles of trails through many different natural habitats for you and your dog to explore. There is no cost to hike in the park, and doggie waste bags are provided for you to use. Dogs MUST be on a leash at all times. For park hours and more info go to http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/cabe/home.html

OFF-LEASH FUN: There are two off-leash dog parks in the area where your pooch can make new friends:
In Carolina Beach, check out the fenced in dog park located in Mike Chapell Park on Dow Road. For more info call Carolina Beach Parks and Rec at 910-458-2977. In Kure Beach, check out the Gurney Hood Barking Lot located on the corner of K and 7th Ave. For more info go to http://www.ghbarkinglot.org/aboutus.htm

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Pooch Post, and have a great time here on Pleasure Island with your best buddy! If you have any questions, please call our office.

Continued drought is bad for area, good for visitors to Carolina Beach

From The Wilmington Star-News, a report that most likely means lots of sunny days ahead for visitors to the area:


"The Wilmington area and the rest of the state are now back in drought conditions.

The designation by the U.S. Drought Monitor comes as the region endures La Nina conditions, a weather pattern prompted by a cooling of the waters in the equatorial Pacific that generally means drier conditions in the Southeastern United States.

Through Thursday, the National Weather Service had recorded 2.95 inches of rain at the Wilmington International Airport for 2009. That’s more than 4 inches below normal precipitation levels for the first 50 days of the year."

Carolina Beach ABC store expanding!

For those who live outside of North Carolina, it must seem quaint that liquor is only sold in stores run by the state. But Tar Heel drinkers are used to ABC Stores, those utilitarian booze depots administered by Alcohol Beverage Control.

Good news for vacationers this summer. The ABC Commission is in the process of doubling the size of its store in Carolina Beach. That's right -- twice as much rum, Jack, Absolut and Tanqueray.

The current parking lot is being ripped up as I write this. While the present store remains open in its Lilliputian 2,700 square foot space, the new store will emerge like a giant, taking up 6,100 square feet.

Construction is scheduled to be finished by July. Let's cross our fingers for that, and for the promised improved landscaping around the new building. The old one was about as inviting as a date with Nadya Suleman.

Remember folks: It is illegal to buy booze (beer and wine included) between midnight and noon each Sunday.

Looking back: Carolina Beach in 1897

I’ve come across an intriguing piece of propaganda put out 10 years ago by the Federal Point Historic Preservation Society. Entitled “Carolina Beach: The Mecca of Excursionists and a Delightful Ocean Resort,” it was published in 1897 by The Wilmington Messenger, and features facts and figures and observations about everyday life in our area back then. Written in an overly formal, almost Elizabethan style, some of the data is debatable, but maybe readers can weigh in with their opinions.

In 1896, it says here, the steamer Wilmington, “which conveys passengers to the beach,” sold 32,000 round-trip tickets. But the following year, Captain John W. Harper bested that figure by nearly 20,000. The beach was in vogue. Among beachgoers about half were from Wilmington and half “from other sections of the adjoining states.” Children under 10 were admitted free, so the total number of passengers was significantly higher.

Carolina Beach was “opened” in 1885 and Captain Harper and the town were “associated together in the public mind.” That remains true to this day since Harper Avenue is a main access street to the ocean, and lies at the very heart of today’s central business district. Harper appears to have been a small-town robber baron of sorts — “a man of executive capacity and experience,” – and most likely associated with big NC names like MacRae, Kenan, Cameron, Jones and Trask. He not only owned and commanded the steamer between Wilmington and the beach; he also organized the New Hanover Transit Co., which constructed the railroad, and “located the resort at the lower end of Masonboro Sound immediately on the Atlantic Ocean.” Not surprisingly, he also owned a controlling interest in the beach.

The Wilmington was 135 feet long, double decked and could carry 600 passengers per trip. Beachgoers boarded the steamer in downtown Wilmington, at the foot of Market Street. Soon they were swiftly gliding down the river, a “broad and beautiful stream, passing on either side scenes of historic interest and natural attractiveness.” Invigorating sea breezes swept up the river while “passing ships, steamers, tugs, both domestic and foreign, engaged in local, domestic, and foreign commerce.” The trip was 15 miles and ended at the pier of the New Hanover Transit Co. Passengers road by railroad car for three miles “through woodland scenery” until landing at Carolina Beach, “in jumping distance of the great Atlantic ocean.” The excursion from Wilmington took one hour and 15 minutes, roughly twice the amount of time it takes today.

Carolina Beach was well selected, “a stretch of 20 miles of wide, hard, smooth beach sloping gently to the ocean, extending northward to Masonboro inlet, which divides the beach at Wrightsville, and southward as far as the celebrated Fort Fisher.” The temperature of the ocean water is discussed in great detail and compared favorably to those to the south (“too warm and insipid”) and further north (“chilled, one can remain in it but a few moments”). Carolina Beach, on the other hand, is the Goldilocks of resorts, with water that is “neither too warm nor too cold.” In fact, “it is nothing for surf-bathers to remain in the surf for an hour, with impunity, and as in this time one is undergoing continuous active exercise, accompanied by the pleasure of bathing, the benefit is greater than where his bathing is made necessarily short by the discomfort of the water.” With impunity!

And the weather? It’s just perfect! People flocked to the beach to breathe the “pure air of the ocean” and for the sea breezes that “make it always cool and refreshing … [Visitors] to Carolina Beach need never expect a temperature that would exceed 78 degrees.” True, possibly, before the days of motor cars and aeroplanes and other man-made things that have contributed to our era’s Planet Microwave. But temperatures today regularly exceed 78 degrees (sometimes, to the delight of locals, even in the winter months), and July and August highs are typically in the 90s. Those cool and refreshing sea breezes can sometimes feel more like a blow dryer on a hot and humid summer day. Shoot, even summer nights can be in the low 80s. That's why we have air conditioning.

The fish “usually landed by sportsmen” were sheep-head, pigfish, drum and sea-trout, and all might be on the menu at the august Oceanic Hotel restaurant, along with soft shell crabs, “shrimps,” and oysters. The proprietor, however, “does not undertake to serve Delmonico meals” (a swipe at the highfalutin north?) and would gladly accommodate a “limited number of transient boarders.”

In 1897 there were 40 cottages at Carolina Beach, most owned by residents from Wilmington, Charlotte, Fayetteville and Siler City. “The housewife has comparatively little trouble in keeping house.” It doesn’t sound like there was much to do, which would positively paralyze today’s visitors. “Time passes not in the nervous and enervating excitements of fashionable life, but in the quiet, peaceful life and occupation suggested by the fresh air and the natural environments of the place.” The management is praised for preserving order, “although there are few temptations to invite on the part of anyone the least disorderly conduct.”

And, it must be said, this is not the boondocks! “One is not here out of the world; for the papers are delivered by 7 o’clock in the morning and there are two mails a day each way to Wilmington.”

What did the future hold for Carolina Beach? More visitors and more development, naturally. “Captain Harper realizes that in another year he will be under the necessity of running two instead of one boat to the beach.” Ka-ching. “Carolina Beach is no longer an experiment … Enlarged hotel facilities will come … The prospect of this pioneer of seaside resorts along the Cape Fear shores is bright, and is destined to become one of the famous resorts of the Atlantic seaboard.”

Carolina Beach Film and Fireworks Series

The real fun is about to begin here on sunny Pleasure Island. Starting this Thursday (May 22) and continuing every week throughout the summer, there will be FREE fireworks staged at the Carolina Beach boardwalk, with FREE live music preceding each display of world-class pyrotechnics. In addition, FREE movies will be shown at Carolina Beach Lake Park each Sunday evening, and the first cinematic tour de force (May 25) is the buzzing theatrics of Jerry Seinfeld's "Bee Movie." Great fun for the whole family!

Tepid water, fun bars, pet-friendly areas

The ocean temperature is up to 62 degrees, and before you know it people will be complaining that the water is too warm. At a peak of between 80 and 85 degrees, I love an Atlantic bath tub. Meanwhile, fishing is good, it’s a great time of year to visit Carolina Beach State Park, and farmer’s markets have started up with fresh local strawberries, tasty lettuce and sweet potatoes, plus spinach, spring onions and radishes.

A friend writes that his favorite things about Carolina Beach are The Fat Pelican and The Last Resort, two bars that are so small you have to go outside to change your mind (to quote Bugs Bunny). While the Fat Pelican is long established and boasts a list of beers long enough to satisfy any trenchant lover of the golden beverage, The Last Resort is a newer watering hole that bills itself as the “smallest bar in North Carolina” and makes a helpful suggestion: “Don’t bring your friends; we don’t have room.” We like a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Truth be told, it’s a great spot for a cold one and some nice conversation and even has a little deck if it gets too crowded inside. At about 260 square feet, that can happen if a Beetle and a Camry unload a car full of peeps.

More and more folks are considering bringing their pups to the area. Although dogs are not allowed on the beach from March 1 to Oct. 31 in Carolina Beach and from April 1 to Sept. 30 in Kure Beach, fear not. Here are alternative areas that are pooch friendly:
FREEMAN PARK: Located at the north end of Carolina Beach, this area is accessed by four-wheel drive vehicles ($10 day pass required) and dogs must be leashed.
FORT FISHER STATE PARK: Also accessible by 4-wheel drive and a $10 day pass, this popular park is located at the southern end of Kure Beach. Dogs are permitted at all times but must be leashed.
CAROLINA BEACH STATE PARK: This scenic 700-acre park features miles of trails through various habitats and is free and open to the public. Lest they be swallowed by a Venus Flytrap or a wandering alligator, dogs must be leashed at all times. More likely, your pet will be tempted to run after a few passing deer, so please be alert.
There are also a few dog walking parks in the area so please inquire about those.

Soccer by the shore

Soccer on the beach isn't very practical -- the ball rolls into mini dunes and sometimes stops dead -- but it sure is fun. The Pleasure Island Soccer Association (PISA) has married this fun with a friendly competition with the inaugural Carolina Sand Blast tournament, to be held in Carolina Beach overlooking the sparkling waters of the Atlantic Ocean the weekend of April 5-6.

The tournament is open to boys and girls U9 to U19 (that's under age 9 up to under age 19 in soccer speak) as well as adult divisions, over-30, and co-ed. Each game features 4 against 4.

Registration deadline is March 26. Please contact admin@pleasureislandsoccer.com for registration and details.

Brrrravado highlights Carolina Beach Polar Plunge

The first time Rudy Branson attempted a Polar Plunge he stripped to his bathing suit, ran full speed to the water … and … stopped dead in his tracks. Goosebumps appearing like kudzu on his body, he shivered in the cold air and walked back to the beach to dress.

That was four years ago during the first annual Special Olympics Polar Plunge in Carolina Beach, and Rudy laughs at the memory. On Saturday, Feb. 16, he plunged into the chilly Atlantic for the third year in a row. The water temperature was 56 degrees and the air was not much better.

“I love this event,” said Rudy, a 74-year-old former electrician who has lived in Carolina Beach for 30 years. “It’s fun, raises money for a good cause, and fosters a sense of community.”

Rudy was the oldest of 54 brave souls to plunge into the ocean at the Carolina Beach boardwalk. Caitlin Roth, age 8, was the youngest. “It was really cold at first,” said Caitlin, sipping from a steaming Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate. “But then I kinda got used to it.”

In order to participate in the Polar Plunge, participants must raise a minimum of $50 and can enter as an individual or as a team (teams must have at least 5 plungers, and each plunger must raise a minimum of $50).

One team – amusingly called Fargo -- was the first to plunge and eagerly splashed in the three- to four-foot waves. Each was dressed in red Speedos and made an absurd contrast to the surfers nearby, who were decked out head to toe in black wetsuits and mostly bobbed in the surf, sitting on their boards and shaking their heads at the brave plungers.

This year’s Polar Plunge was dedicated to Karl Davis, WECT-TV general manager, who died in a motorcycle accident on Jan. 12.

Surfing, fishing report, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, United Beach Vacations

There's so much to do in the Cape Fear region that it's sometimes the obvious that gets overlooked. Just yesterday as I was walking my dog on the beach during a spectacularly sunny and unseasonably warm day, I was struck by how many surfers bobbed in the chilly water, taking turns gracefully gliding along the swells.

But surfing isn't the only year-round obession in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Local fisherman swear by the great bounty of marine life available. Beginning today, United Beach Vacations will proudly provide readers with a periodic fishing report, courtesy of Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Fishing Charters. Here's his report for this week:

We've been successful catching a few speckled trout in the 2- to 3-pound range on live shrimp. We've also been catching a few red drum in the 16- to 18-inch range, on shrimp and lures. Additionally, the spiny sharks and black sea bass have been biting real well on the reefs and wrecks close to shore. There are a few fish around, you just need to know where to look.

Interested in booking a fishing trip in our area? Contact Capt. Robert at 910-264-1807 or visit his website at www.carolinaexplorer.com.