A Visit to Wilmington and Island Beaches:
This beach trip arrived just when I needed it most. The kids were out of school, and I was eager to escape the relentless hustle and bustle of everyday life.
I love the beach! It’s one of my happy places. I used to enjoy going there to relax, read a book, and soak up the sun. Since having kids, my experience has changed a bit. Now, I love going to the beach to watch the joy on my kids’ faces, play in the sand, and splash around in the water.
For years, our only destination has been Topsail Beach, NC. A Weekend in Topsail Beach was our second home away from home.
This time, we chose to do something different. We stayed in Wilmington as our starting point since it was close to all the attractions we wanted to visit each day.
The first day we spent it at Wrightsville Beach. It is an island known for its crystal-clear blue waters, expansive shoreline, and captivating Intracoastal waterway that offers a range of watersport adventures and fishing opportunities.
During the summer, it tends to get quite crowded. While this has its pros and cons, it’s an excellent destination for groups of friends and families who enjoy a bustling atmosphere, live music, and restaurants within walking distance, along with much more to experience.
This was my son’s first fishing experience. Armed with a small fishing rod and his favorite bait, he was ready for the challenge. When he caught his first fish, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he jumped up and down, screaming, “I caught a fish! I caught a fish!”
He couldn’t stop smiling throughout the entire day. It was a memorable adventure for both of us, and he loved every moment of it!
Photos of people who caught fish…huge fish!
Day 2: Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach is located 15 miles south of Wilmington, NC, on the northern end of Pleasure Island.
I loved Carolina Beachside Boardwalk. It’s filled with fantastic beachside shops, places for kids to play, and more.
This beach has its own charm.
Around 6:00 PM, we rented electric scooters and rode them to Kure Beach, which is just a few minutes away from Carolina Beach.
We stopped to listen to some live music, enjoyed the tunes, and then continued our scooter-riding adventure. It was a great time!
Then we drove back to downtown Wilmington, and what a nice evening at Wilmington Riverwalk!
After dinner with a beautiful river view, it was time for some ice cream, and chocolate. I couldn’t resist. 😋
I hope you had a wonderful long weekend! 💕
Carolina Mom 
Excellent post about a great area! Carolina Beach, esp in the off-season, has this very chill vibe. Lots of great restaurants and they show outdoor movies in summer.
Amazing pix of what people caught on the pier! I usually just surf cast and think I’m lucky to catch a dinky 2-lb croaker. A 50-lb King Mackerel! Wow! That guy’ll be eating good for a while 😎🤣
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I observed the guys fishing and it felt like some sort of fishing competition.
They cheered for anyone who caught a fish!
A 50-lb King Mackerel sounds like a good dinner for a crowd of family and friends. 👌🏼
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Looks lovely.
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Thank you, Cindy.
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Looks like a wonderful weekend!
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It was fantastic! I needed some sea breeze to clear my mind.
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Any weekend at the beach is perfect as far as I’m concerned. We were in Wilmington for the first time a year ago for my niece’s baby shower but never made it to the beach there. We drove down to stay at Pawley’s Island for a couple days after the shower then flew home from Myrtle Beach. My BIL and his family stay at Topsail every summer. The beaches look wonderful!
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Yes, that’s true. The beaches are beautiful. Most families choose Topsail Beach. It is known for it’s “retro, laid back” feel with mostly residential areas and quaint locally owned shops and restaurants in the center of town.
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