What a great park to enjoy the beach away from the hubbub of the boardwalk for a while. We went…read morespecifically to hike the Basin Trail, and it was so much fun. The overlook at the end of the trail offers a great view of some sea birds. We saw pelicans, gulls, and an osprey. On our return back to the trailhead we saw a bald eagle fly overhead. We also saw lots of mollusks and one fiddler crab. There were several bees along the trail, along with some flies. If coming in the warmer months, insect repellent would be a must. Many people were walking on the beach and flying kites. It's a gorgeous well-maintained area.

It's a less crowded touristy area next to the Fisher Aquarium. There's limited free parking,…read morethough there are lots of cars parked along the grass on the shoulder of the road (park at your own risk there). This recreation area is great; there's nearby attractions like (as mentioned above) the NC aquarium, Fort Fisher Historic site, hiking trails, picnic area, the beach and nice scenery. This beach is nicer than Carolina in that it's flat. Where the water meets the sand, it doesn't slope. There's also large rocks along the coast and pretty trees that are good background for picture taking.

Love this place, skatepark, basketball court, tennis courts (pickleball), playground, baseball,…read moresoccer, clean restrooms, big open spaces. We have been to this park for birthday parties, sports leagues, fun days, dog park visits, and school events. I wish a few more mature trees were saved for more shade but other than that... great park.

We had some time before check-in so we took our son to this park. I have a skateboard area which…read morewas very cool. The playground was very nice. There was also access to the greenway and nice bathrooms.

The gift shop at Kure Beach Fishing Pier is hands down the best souvenir shop on the beach! They…read morehave a huge selection of high-quality T-shirts, hats, keychains, and all kinds of souvenirs that are much nicer than what we found at other shops. The prices were fair, and everything felt well-made instead of cheap tourist merchandise. It was also a nice bonus that the pier is free to walk, so we were able to enjoy the views before shopping. If you're looking for beach souvenirs that you'll actually want to keep, this is the place to go!

Great fishing access. Free to walk and watch. Just be careful, fisherman here are packed in pretty…read moreright. Saw lots of small fish caught. Great little shop with food and bait and souvenirs and tackle...pretty much anything you could need at a pier....except the motivation to go fish in the chilly wind:)

We visited Historical Fort Fisher Visitors Center but we didn't walk around outside because it was…read moreso cold only 52 degrees and sunny w high winds. The museum visitors center is lovely and full of Information and free to visit with bathrooms on both floors, a Souvenir shop and hands on touching for the kids along with a scavenger hunt!! The kids and even us adults thoroughly enjoyed!! Definitely recommend!!

Tucked into one of the few true corners of the United States, Fort Fisher sits at the southern tip…read moreof North Carolina where the land reaches into the Atlantic. Built by the Confederacy to protect Wilmington and support blockade runners, the fort fell in January 1865 after a fierce Union assault by land and sea. Known as the 'Gibraltar of the South,' Fort Fisher was the most strategically vital seacoast fortification in the region, guarding the mouth of the Cape Fear River and serving as the last major supply line for the Confederate army. Its massive earthen walls, bombproof shelters, and 47 guns were constructed with the labor of hundreds of African Americans and Native Americans, but despite its strength, it could not withstand the final Union offensive. Today, the Fort Fisher State Historic Site offers a quiet, windswept glimpse into that turbulent past. Only a few of the original mounds remain, softened by time and erosion. The grounds are peaceful, with views of the river and ocean that once made this site so strategically important. The story of sacrifice, resilience, and transformation continues to echo across the dunes. We did not visit the museum today. The monument at Fort Fisher State Historic Site is a solemn granite tribute honoring the Confederate defenders who fought and died during the battles of Fort Fisher in 1864 and 1865. The monument is a tall, rectangular granite shaft set on a stepped base as part of early efforts to commemorate the site, long before it became a formal state historic site. [Review 1359 of 2025 - 4478 in North Carolina - 24911 overall]

Much different than it was in the day. Less glamour. More glitz. Walking access to the front door…read morepresents a genuine obstacle course. Our lunch was exceptional The personnel fantastic. The facility was very clean.

I have now been to the North End a handful of times and it generally is a great time, but you need…read moreto plan to come. I came with a good group of people, beer, and some food for a day of fun. We came super early at 10AM this past Saturday and spent the whole day here. If we had not showed up at 10AM then we would have been in trouble. Today was the first day in the parks history that they closed it because of capacity. Half the beach was closed because a storm the night before washed it away. The price for one day is $40 dollars, but if it is a holiday then it is $60 dollars. You can get a year pass which is really the only way to do it if you plan on coming twice in a year. There are portable potty's, but I dislike how dirty they usually are so I didn't even bother to find out. Use the ocean for number 1 and pray that you don't need to number 2. The water on the north most part of the park is fairly gentle and calm to the beach side so it is perfect for setting up rafts or tubes. You can have drinks as long as there are no bottles present, or just dump them in a plastic cup. I am not sure when that part of the beach will be open again since the storm washed it away. The park is pretty clean and I saw a lot of people throwing stuff away in the blue bins like they are supposed to. The beach is dog friendly and you will see various cute doggies loose and about. There seems to be a lot of security as I saw trucks and quads with that slow po po crawl by pretty often. At least you will be safe. Also worth mentioning is that you can fish here. I saw tons of people throwing in a line or two and even some guys catching crabs not too far from shore.

Skip Carolina Beach $50 parking and drive 3 miles south to Kure parking is $20 per day. Closest…read moreparking directions type in GPS 'Hi-Tech Arcade'. Pro tip: drive another south 3 miles to the NC aquarium there's free parking and access to the beach @ Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

I loved Kure Beach! It was worth the 730am wake up and nearly 3 hour drive to get there. LOL…read more If need be, there's an area to get beverages, use the restroom, change and shower. I didn't see any restaurants or stores anywhere within walking distance, but if you're willing to take a drive, you'll find quite a bit of options for food. It looks your typical quaint beach town. My friends from Durham and Charlotte have their fav restaurants around the beach. It's definitely a wonderful place to visit.

This a gorgeous and peaceful park that is absolutely BRIMMING with birds and turtles. We love…read morebirdwatching and we saw our first tri-colored heron and snowy egret here today! There were also several ducks, a few different gulls, doves, bluebirds, grackles, and sparrows. There is a story walk where you can walk and read a picture book with your kids, a nice playground, and lots of swings and benches. We will definitely be coming back here to look for more interesting birds and enjoy the scenery. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the parking lot is small but there are some street parking areas nearby.

This is a beautiful little lake right in the middle of Carolina Beach. They have a wildlife…read morehabitat, paddle boat rentals, a walking path, restrooms, and so much more. There is even a shelter to rent. They hold special events here like family night movies and vendors of all kinds. It is such a well lit, beautiful place that feels very safe. There are restaurants surrounding it and condos. There is not a lot of parking but you can use the side streets. There is plenty of wildlife and fun things to learn as you read posts around the lake.

Searching for True Love & Forgiveness? Talk to GOD and get a…read moreDOG! #ReflectDogs Love & Forgiveness This is another one of those dog parks that somebody intelligently stuck between the outfields of two baseball diamonds!! It is mostly sand but has a little grass around the edges. It has a couple very nice shade structures with picnic tables underneath them as well as multiple other places to relax and sit. There is a nice concrete double-gated entry area as well as a poop bag dispenser and trash can. You park in a little beachy parking lot right next to the dog park. Although it's not that big the dogs tire out easily running in the sand. All the picnic tables are on nice concrete bases