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. 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.

Fort Fisher Cannon

STEP BACK IN TIME

Experience the island’s history firsthand during the Battle of Fort Fisher anniversary event in January. Watch the past come to life with tactical battle scenes, cannon firings, educational programs and more. Visit Fort Fisher State Historic Site, the site of the Civil War’s largest amphibious (land and water) battle. Discover the story of Fort Fisher by exploring the museum’s permanent exhibits, housed in the Visitor Center. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River, follow a scenic trail around the fort and see the remaining portion of the South’s largest earthworks along with a restored palisade fence and seacoast cannon.

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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. Enjoy a leisurely day aquarium gazing or take a behind-the-scenes tour to see the inner workings of the aquarium, animal care areas and more. 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.

Visit Island Attractions

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.

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