Wrightsville vs Carolina Beach (Charlotte, Wilmington: spring break, houses, living)

[J-Hawk]

I just recently moved to the Charlotte area so I haven't been to many of the NC beaches. However, I have family coming to visit the end of March. There will be 3 of us in our mid-late 20s and a 2 year old. I want to give my family the beach experience but not sure where to take them.

I've been to Myrtle and it wasn't my scene at all. Can you recommend a good, clean beach with family activities? I don't want to feel like I'm on spring break but I don't want to be totally secluded.

Any advice? I've heard good and bad about Carolina and Wrightsville both so I'm a little confused!!

[rubber_factory]

Yeah, I don't like Myrtle Beach either. Litchfield, and Pawleys are much better family beaches in that area, Garden City and Surfside are good too. Brunswick Cty, NC has good beaches at Holden and Sunset, and probably others I haven't been to. I've never been to any of them north of Wilmington in the rest of NC - but I hear good things.

I'm not too crazy about the New Hanover beaches, though. Figure Eight is private-access, Masonboro is difficult to access (only via water), so everybody piles into Wrightsville. Carolina and Kure Beaches are a little different. Violent surf, grimy water, with a few really sketchy tourists and locals. I go down there plenty, because a beach is a beach, but Carolina Beach in particular has some Myrtle Beach-ish qualities.

[MTNesters]

I think you would enjoy Wrightsville - it's a nice beach. Topsail Island is also nice. Since you are in Charlotte, you could also consider beaches down near Charleston, SC. It's about a 4 hr. drive to either come over to the NC beaches or head south to the SC beaches. We used to love going to Pawleys Island beaches.

[energygrrl]

Topsail beach is awesome and any Outer Banks weekend is very nice. I have seen all of the lighthouses in nc , probably more than many natural born North Carolinians. (per many of them) and they are truly gorgeous!
I agree with the posters about the beaches in wilmington and Myrtle Beach is not my thing either. Wasnt impressed at all.

[kbb34]

Topsail is nice, but lacking in a lot of activities...Unless all you want to do is go out to yummy seafood restaurants and sit on the beach...it depends on what type of activities you are looking for. I might look more towards the outer banks if you dont want Wrightsville or CB

[J-Hawk]

Thanks for the feedback! It's much appreciated!

[Uneekarts]

Go for both, they are less than 1/2 hour from each other. Follow Carolina Beach Road 421 to 132 North to Oleander, get on Oleander and head towards Wrightsville Beach to Eastwood Road, Turn right on eastwood road and once you cross the bridge you are there. Wrigthsville is a bit classier but also a bit more crowded and smaller. Carolina Beach has Fort Fisher on one end and Freeman's Park on the other that allow for on the beach 4 wheel access. There is something about driving out on the sand that makes the beach more wonderful than just a walk along the populated areas.

[BeachLiving]

I'm surprised someone would describe the waters here on Pleasure Island as grimy? In 2007, Kure Beach was honored by the Natural Resources Defense Council as being a 'beach buddy.' Only 13 beaches in the nation received this recognition. (the only other NC beach was Kill Devils Hill Beach).

https://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/070807.asp

[rubber_factory]

Originally Posted by BeachLiving

I'm surprised someone would describe the waters here on Pleasure Island as grimy? In 2007, Kure Beach was honored by the Natural Resources Defense Council as being a 'beach buddy.' Only 13 beaches in the nation received this recognition. (the only other NC beach was Kill Devils Hill Beach).

https://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/070807.asp

^That means bacteria counts are low. That is a good thing, it indicates less pollution from stormwater. However, even if bacteria levels were high, the water would not necessarily be "grimy" like I stated.

The Ecology of the Cape Fear River System
Satellite image of Cape Fear

^ This an aerial photograph of the Cape Fear River estuary. You can see the brown discharge from the Cape Fear River out into the ocean, and this is what I am referring to. Snows Cut carries a lot of river water through the north end of Carolina Beach at Carolina Beach Inlet.

[1Sunshine1]

Wrightsville Beach is a more upscale beach vs. Carolina Beach which is less so.
The actual beach itself there is no difference. Both are very nice.