Carolina & Kure Beaches

And talk about beaches for swimming, the Carolina Beach/Kure Beach strand has about seven miles of ’em, protected by lifeguards in season and renourished by man if Mother Nature washes the beaches away. Both Carolina Beach and Kure Beach have numerous public beach accesses, many with parking, some with restrooms, and the entire strand is open to the public. Dogs are not permitted on the beaches during the tourist season.

Tired of swimming or lying on the beach? Try pedaling about Carolina Beach in rentable covered surreys - no motors, just one or two human-power “engines.” Along with bicycles, surfboards, sand toys, chairs and who knows what else, the surreys are available on the Boardwalk and nearby. Rather pedal on water? Rent a paddleboat at the Carolina Beach Lake.

Speaking of the lake in Carolina Beach, free movies are shown there at the amphitheatre during tourist season, and there’s a lovely one-mile walk around the lake. The alligator, which formerly resided there, has been relocated, lest he acquire an appetite for dogs, cats and children.