Here are 3 unique things to do at each Wilmington-area beach town

Jamey Cross, Wilmington StarNews
Updated ·5 min read
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier is one of a few Wrightsville Beach attractions.
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier is one of a few Wrightsville Beach attractions.

Summer has arrived in the Cape Fear region and people are flocking to area beaches.

There are 12 beach towns stretched across Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and southern Onslow counties. While all offer the basics for any beach town – sandy beaches and blue waters – they also each are unique in their own ways.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, here are three unique things to do at each beach town in the area.

New Hanover County

Wrightsville Beach:

  • Go paddleboarding on the Intracoastal Waterway. Several spots in Wrightsville Beach offer kayak and paddleboard rentals.

  • Visit Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier. Johnnie Mercers is the first concrete fishing pier in North Carolina and extends more than 1,200 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. The tackle shop offers snacks and drinks, as well as souvenirs and gifts. Take a walk on the pier at 23 East Salisbury St. for just $2.

  • Learn about Wrightsville Beach history. Open Thursday through Sunday, the Wrightsville Beach Museum at 303 West Salisbury St. tells the story of the town through the years.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a number of daily events throughout the summer.
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a number of daily events throughout the summer.

Kure Beach:

  • Visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. From stingrays to albino alligators to baby sea turtles, this aquarium has it all.

  • Walk on the oldest fishing pier on the East Coast. The Kure Beach Fishing Pier sits at 100 Atlantic Ave. If you’re not planning to fish, the pier is free to visit.

  • Visit Fort Fisher. The historic, Confederate fort played a key role during the Civil War, keeping Wilmington's port open as a lifeline for the South. Admission is free.

Carolina Beach:

  • Take a walk at Carolina Beach State Park. Home to nine miles of trails and access to a variety of habitats, this is the only state park in the tri-county area.

  • Ride the Ferris wheel at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. If heights aren’t your thing, the boardwalk is home to several other amusement rides, live music and fireworks.

  • Grab a book at Island Book Shop. Whether you prefer new or used, this local book shop will have something for you.

Brunswick County

Oak Island/Caswell Beach:

  • Visit the Oak Island Lighthouse. (Yes, it’s actually in Caswell Beach.) One of just two lighthouses in southeastern North Carolina, this site is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Want to climb to the top? Make a reservation online first.

  • Visit the Oak Island Pier and Pier House. Located at 705 Ocean Drive and open all week, the pier is free to walk.

  • Learn about ocean life at the Ocean Education Center at 4700 E. Oak Island Drive -- across from town hall.

Holden Beach:

  • Leave a note at one of the three "Golden Holden Memories Mailboxes." One mailbox is located on each the east end of the island and the west. The third is located at Sailfish Park.

  • See a show at the Holden Beach Pavilion. The town's summer concert series features concerts each Sunday night through early September.

  • Visit the Magic Mountain Fun Park. Featuring a water slide and arcade, the park is open through Labor Day at 3996 Holden Beach Road.

Ocean Isle Beach:

  • Visit the Museum of Coastal Carolina. Located at 21 E. Second St. in Ocean Isle Beach, this museum is just one block from the beach and combines family fun and education.

  • Play a round at River Country Mini Golf. This spot on East First Street offers 18 holes of miniature golf.

  • Zipline at The Swamp Park. This adventure park at 5550 Watts Road also offers an aerial ropes course, ATV tours and swamp boat rides. Watch out for the 11 alligators that call the swamp "home."

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The Kindred Spirit mailbox has been a part of Sunset Beach for decades.
The Kindred Spirit mailbox has been a part of Sunset Beach for decades.

Sunset Beach:

  • Visit the Ingram Planetarium, a full-dome, immersive theater and science center at 7625 High Market St. in Sunset Beach.

  • Leave a message at the Kindred Spirit Mailbox. Start at the public beach access located at West 40th Street on Sunset Beach, go out to the beach and head away from any development, toward the southwest. The walk is about 1.5 miles along the beach, and you'll spot the mailbox in the dunes.

  • Pay homage at the Sunset Beach Veterans' Memorial located in the Sunset Beach Town Park.

Bald Head Island:

  • Visit Old Baldy. Located on Bald Head Island, Old Baldy is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina. The island is only accessible by ferry, so make it a day trip.

  • Visit the Village Chapel. Constructed in the 1980s, this church features stained glass windows and Carolina coastal architecture.

  • Learn about marine life at the Bald Head Island Conservancy. This non-profit hosts a wide variety of family friendly programs through the year. Check out their calendar.

Pender County

Topsail Beach:

  • Roller skate to 70s and 80s music at the family-owned Topsail Beach Skating Rink at 714 S. Anderson Blvd.

  • Play a round of putt-putt at the Patio Playground. At 807 S. Anderson Blvd., this family friendly spot also offers ice cream, arcades and a DJ.

  • Learn about history and missiles at the Missiles and More Museum. The building at 720 Channel Blvd. was used to assemble missiles for a secret missile operation being conducted on Topsail Island in the 1940s. The museum opened in 1995.

The Surf City Ocean Pier in Surf City.
The Surf City Ocean Pier in Surf City.

Surf City:

  • Tour the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center at 302 Tortuga Lane.

  • Visit the Surf City Pier at 112 S. Shore Drive. Originally built in 1948, the pier has been owned and operated by the Lore family since 1973.

  • Visit Soundside Park. At 517 Roland Ave., this park offers a playground, kayak launch, boardwalk and amphitheater.

Onslow County

North Topsail Beach:

  • Visit the Seaview Pier. This pier is one of the longest in North Carolina -- drop a line or just take a stroll.

  • Bike the island. A bike and pedestrian path starts from the parking lot at the North Topsail Beach Town Hall and runs north for about a mile along New River Inlet Road.

  • Kayak in the sound. Local vendors offer kayak rentals. Explore the barrier island from the ocean or Stump Sound.

Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What to do in Wilmington NC beach towns