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We go down to Kure Beach a lot. It is a little over 2 hour drive. Right accross from the pier there is a hot dog/pizza/ice cream little shop, there is also ice cream at the pier. There is always plenty of parking at Fort Fisher Recreation area, they have bathrooms with changing area and several rinsing off stations, they also have a grill area with picnic tables if you want to cook your lunch. I am not sure about the smoking, I didn't see anyone smoking there when we were there with our kids, and they don't allow alcohol on that beach section and there are lifeguards. We also like Wrightsville beach, but it is a little hard to get a parking spot in the pay lots if you don't get there real early, some of the lots do have bathrooms, and there are lifeguarded secitons. Carolina beach has a huge boardwalk with tons of shops and eateries and a small amusement area there as well, I don't know the beach at all, we just go down there for the great Brit's doughnuts in the morning!
We go down to Kure Beach a lot. It is a little over 2 hour drive. Right accross from the pier there is a hot dog/pizza/ice cream little shop, there is also ice cream at the pier. There is always plenty of parking at Fort Fisher Recreation area, they have bathrooms with changing area and several rinsing off stations, they also have a grill area with picnic tables if you want to cook your lunch. I am not sure about the smoking, I didn't see anyone smoking there when we were there with our kids, and they don't allow alcohol on that beach section and there are lifeguards. We also like Wrightsville beach, but it is a little hard to get a parking spot in the pay lots if you don't get there real early, some of the lots do have bathrooms, and there are lifeguarded secitons. Carolina beach has a huge boardwalk with tons of shops and eateries and a small amusement area there as well, I don't know the beach at all, we just go down there for the great Brit's doughnuts in the morning!
Ditto to everything. I usually pack a cooler and we have a picnic. Brit's are the only doughnuts I eat aside from KK!
Pretty much every NC beach is kid-friendly, though of course nobody can guarantee that there won't be smokers around, at any of them. None should be so crowded that you have to get very close to any other folks, though, smokers or not.
If you want <= 2 hours, you're looking at the ones down near Wilmington (already mentioned). As has been said, parking will be the biggest issue as a "day tripper".
In my opinion, the absolute best is the north end of Wrightsville beach. Small parking lot next to shell island, you may have to wait 10 min to get a parking spot but send the spouse on to the beach and while you wait a spot to open up (can also head a quarter mile down the beach to a larger.
For 2 hours on either side of low tide an awesome tidal pool forms in front of the hotel, probably 50 yards long and 20 yards wide, 6" to 2' deep. Perfect for little kids, lots of crabs and fish to chase around. Really cool spot.
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I usually pack a cooler and we have a picnic. Brit's are the only doughnuts I eat aside from KK!
