Everyone, from the baby to grandma, will enjoy the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. You can spend a couple of hours or enjoy a full day's adventure. Get there from Wilmington via College Road, or cross the Cape Fear River on the ferry from Southport. After you visit the...more about North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Daytrips to Carolina Beach, N.C., are a true getaway. Drive over the Snow's Cut Bridge and prepare to relax. Fill your day with sun, sand, surf, and seafood and end it with a stroll down the charming Carolina Beach boardwalk and a delicious Britt's donut. To rent a surfboard or kayak, check out our Watersports section.
A Family-Friendly Day Trip
Carolina Beach, NC, offers the perfect day trip for families. If the weather is nice, spend the morning at the beach, where the sand and surf will provide endless entertainment. Once you've worked up an appetite for lunch, enjoy one of the many restaurants and cafes along the boardwalk. After lunch you can ride the Ferris wheel and other attractions that are part of the new family amusement park, or browse through the beach shops that line the boardwalk. For an afternoon snack, enjoy an ice cream cone, donut or piece of fudge.
Outdoor Adventure
Those who want to enjoy watersports, fishing or camping in a less-crowded beach environment will appreciate Carolina Beach. Cruise the water on a party barge or charter boat, which can be rented from various area vendors. Catch some saltwater fish from the 700-foot Carolina Beach Fishing Pier or experience deep-sea fishing from a charter boat. Rent a kayak or paddleboat and explore Carolina Beach Lake. Spend the day or an entire weekend visiting Carolina Beach State Park, which offers secluded camp grounds, miles of hiking trails and a fishing marina.
Zipline through the woods, ascend floating spiral stairways to treehouse platforms and cross Carver's Falls on a suspension bridge on what USA Today says is one of 10 Great Ziplines: Zipquest - Waterfall and Treetop Adventure in Fayetteville, N.C. The adventure begins with an orientation of zipline basics, and then it...more about ZipQuest - WaterFall & TreeTop Adventure