Winter things to do

Find New Adventures in Kure Beach

While a beach trip may not normally be associated with a winter getaway, milder average temperatures here mean it’s always a great time for a getaway to Kure Beach. Swing by the sea and breathe in the fresh salt air, tune out all the noise and unwind surrounded by miles of undisturbed natural beauty. A new year brings new things to see and do like exploring new exhibits at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher or yoga on the beach with Kure Yoga. Discover activities to enjoy during the winter visitors of all ages will love from exploring the island’s rich history to seeing the local sites.

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Jan 26

Fourth Wednesday Bird Walk

January 26, 2022 - December 28, 2022

Carolina Beach State Park Marina at Snows Cut Trail

Jan 27

East Coast Shag Classic

January 27, 2022 - January 30, 2022

Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront

Feb 19

Special Olympics Polar Plunge

February 19, 2022

Ocean Front Park & Pavilion

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Kure Oceanfront Park

DISCOVER ALL THINGS NEW

Get active with new events featuring live music, face painting and more during Up and Active each Thursday June – August or enjoy Storytime by the Sea each Wednesday this summer at Ocean Front Park & Pavilion. Find your flow with Kure Beach Yoga with classes on the sand near Kure Beach Pier, on the stage at Ocean Front Park and inside the Community Center. The studio strives to make yoga accessible for all and now offers new classes for expanded levels. Discover three new exhibits at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher this spring, including Caribbean Corals, a jellyfish exhibit and a new habitat for rescued screech owls.

Discover What's New

Kids viewing the Asian small-clawed otters at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

EXPLORE INDOORS

Spend a day (or two) enjoying one of Kure Beach’s indoor activities. At the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, ranked one of VacationIdea.com’s best aquariums in the U.S., you can explore both fresh and saltwater indoor exhibits of marine environments and aquatic life. Say hello to Luna the albino alligator or be curiously entertained at the aquarium’s exhibit, “Otters on the Edge.” Visit the climate-controlled Exhibit Hall at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area for the rangers’ regularly scheduled educational and interpretive programs about the area’s turtles, salt marshes, birds and more.

Zeke's Island Kayak Tour

PATH LESS TRAVELED

Only accessible by kayak, canoe, boat or stand up paddleboard, Zeke's Island Reserve is one of the East Coast’s most important shorebird feeding habitats. Spot rare black-bellied plovers, great blue herons and more on a guided tour with a local outfitter, and explore intertidal flats, salt marshes, dunes and beach. Enjoy the unmatched beauty of the coquina rocks formation, host to a rare mossy hard rock outcrop cemented together by seashells and coral, and only visible at low tide. For an outdoor adventure the whole family will love, visit Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and nearby Carolina Beach State Park, both part of the North Carolina State Parks system. Offering nature hikes, beautiful coastlines, bikeable roadways and educational and environmental programs, the parks make for an ideal outdoor activity.

View from the deck of the Kure Lighthouse Inn at sunset

ESCAPE ON A ROMANTIC GETAWAY

Celebrate love this Valentine’s Day or anytime in February with a rejuvenating beach getaway. Book a relaxing stay at Kure Lighthouse Inn and stay in one of their luxury apartment suites with spectacular ocean views. Grab a cup of coffee from Happy Hippies Java Hut and take in spectacular sunrises from the Kure Beach Fishing Pier. Rent a kayak from local outfitters and explore the island waterways. Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at Freddie’s Restaurant, consistently voted Most Romantic on the island year after year or indulge in Caribbean-inspired dishes at Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill.