Family Friendly Activities on Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island, NC is where family memories are made.  There are so many great ways to enjoy time together with the kids, you’ll never run out of fun things to do.  When it’s time to venture off the beach, check out some of these ideas for activities sure to keep everyone in the family happy and entertained.

Carolina Beach State Park

Kids will find endless ways to explore at this beautiful state park located just a few minutes’ drive from the beach.  A family picnic under the shade of big oak trees provides a cool respite from the sun’s rays. The picnic area situated near the banks of Snow’s Cut offers tables, grills, wheelchair-accessible sites and restrooms nearby.

Once tummies are full, stretch your legs on one of the park’s nature trails.  Both kids and grown-ups will delight in the wide variety of plant and animal life found on these easy-to-traverse-trails. The Flytrap Trail is a favorite as hikers try to spot the rare Venus flytrap and native orchids that grow wild here.  Other trails meander along the waters of the Cape Fear River and Snow’s Cut and offer glimpses of shore birds and fiddler crabs scurrying along the mudflats.

Kayaking, fishing and camping are also available at Carolina Beach State Park.  Be sure to stop in the Visitor’s Center where interactive exhibits provide a fun and educational look at the region’s diverse ecosystem.  For more, visit http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/cabe/main.php

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

This must-see attraction has families coming back year after year, as new exhibits and programs are added on a regular basis.  Brand new this year is Lorikeet Landing, where kids can observe these colorful tropical birds up close and feed them from tiny nectar cups.  Of course, the fish are the stars here, and children delight in the touch tank full of friendly creatures like rays, urchins and sea stars.  Also, be sure to plan your visit in time for one of the many daily feedings of the sharks and other marine animals, and interact with the scuba divers as they go about their chores in the giant 235,000 gallon Cape Fear Shoals tank.  For tickets, hours of operation and a complete list of daily programs visit http://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.

Tony Silvagni Surf School

Get “on board” with top-notch lessons guaranteed to have kids and adults of all fitness levels riding the waves – it’s a great way to get the whole family involved in an exciting new experience on the water.  Learn how to surf or paddleboard in a safe and friendly atmosphere.  Surf School offers individual and group lessons, and hosts private surf parties for large family gatherings.  Stand up paddleboard instruction is offered on the calm, sheltered waters of the Intracoastal Waterway.  If you’d rather hit the waves on your own, Surf School offers rentals of body boards, kayaks, surfboards and skim boards.  Get all the details at www.surfschoolnc.com.

Sunday Night Movies at the Lake  

When everyone is tuckered out after a big day of exploring Pleasure Island, the whole family will relish the chance to plunk down on the lawn at Carolina Beach Lake Park on Sunday evenings and enjoy a free movie on the giant outdoor screen.  The movies are family friendly, and everyone can refuel with a variety of reasonably-priced concession snacks.   Movies in the Park is held each Sunday from May through September.  Find out what’s playing by visiting the Events page of our website, http://www.pleasureislandnc.org/events.php.

Story Time by the Sea

This is another great way to let the kids wind down a bit after non-stop activity.  Held at the beautifully renovated Kure Beach Ocean Front Park, children will enjoy stories, crafts and games and can even have their picture taken with a storybook princess.  Parents can take a little break, too, and take in the ocean breezes on one of the relaxing swinging benches. Story Time by the Sea is free of charge, and is held on Wednesdays from 10am – 11:30pm through August.