Carolina Beach was made for unique family vacations. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, busy elementary schoolers or hard-to-impress teens, there’s an adventure waiting for everyone.
Little ones can set sail on the high seas aboard a pirate cruise, hit the playground, play a game of mini golf and enjoy easy bike rides. Older kids can level up with kayaking, fossil and shark tooth hunting, surf lessons and arcade games.
We’ve also rounded up kid-approved restaurants and can’t-miss dessert spots, because every great vacation needs a sweet ending. Dive into this guide and start planning a getaway the whole crew will love.
1. Activities for Little Kids
Carolina Beach is full of ways for toddlers and elementary-aged kids to play and explore:
Join the Island Cruises crew for a Pleasure Island Pirate Adventure
Ahoy, mateys! This 90-minute narrated cruise is tailor-made for kids ages 2 and up. Sailing along the Intracoastal Waterway aboard a double-decker catamaran, kids join pirate actors on a swashbuckling quest to reclaim stolen treasure. Along the way, they’ll hear stories of real pirates who once roamed the Cape Fear coast and take part in an exciting treasure hunt.
Bring sand toys or look for seashells on the beach
Sometimes, all kids need is a little time on the sand. Pack some beach toys or let them search for seashells along the wide, walkable shoreline, where there’s plenty of room for imaginations to run wild.
Discover coastal playgrounds
At the Brandy Myers Memorial Playground at Carolina Beach Lake Park, kids of all abilities can climb, slide and play on features inspired by the nearby beach. Designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, the rubber flooring includes a shark and turtle design, and the playset even resembles a stingray when viewed from above. After playtime, take a stroll around the peaceful freshwater lake.
The playground at Mike Chappell Park offers classic fun with slides, swings and climbing features, including a rock wall and monkey bars that parents can help younger kids navigate. It’s also conveniently located near the Island Greenway.
Learn to bike along the Island Greenway
The Island Greenway is a wide, flat, paved path that’s perfect for beginner bikers. Starting near Mike Chappell Park, it winds 1.2 miles through quiet, wooded areas – ideal for kids just learning to ride. Pleasure Island Rentals makes things even easier by offering training bikes, baby buggies, rear-mounted child seats and jogger strollers for the littlest adventurers.
Play a round of mini golf
Kids will love navigating fun obstacles at Shipwreck Neon Mini Golf. The indoor course features two black-light, nine-hole courses with 5,000 square feet of glowing fun, plus treats like popcorn and cotton candy to enjoy after your round.
2. Activities for Big Kids
From paddling and fossil hunting to a skatepark and arcade, Carolina Beach offers experiences that fuel older kids’ curiosity, challenge their coordination and inspire their sense of discovery:
Take the Carolina Beach Eco Kayak Tour with Paddle NC
Perfect for families and first-time paddlers, this two-hour guided kayak tour explores the natural beauty and wildlife of Carolina Beach State Park. Kids can ride tandem with an adult, making it accessible even for younger big kids. Insider tip: Bring snacks and be sure to wear water-friendly shoes, like Crocs or strapped sandals (available for purchase at CB Surf Shop, just a short drive away).
Join Kayak Carolina’s Shark Tooth Island Tour
On this three-hour guided paddle along the Cape Fear River, families visit Shark Tooth Island and nearby islands to search for real shark teeth, fossils and ancient shells. Calm, shallow waters and expert guides make this tour kid-friendly, while the treasure-hunting element keeps everyone engaged the entire time.
Set sail with Capt. Charlie’s Adventures
Captain Charlie offers a variety of family-friendly boat outings, including trips to Shark Tooth Island to search for prehistoric fossils, visits to Sand Dollar Flats, dolphin spotting and sightseeing cruises. Don’t forget snacks and water-appropriate shoes.
Learn to fish with Carolina Beach In-Shore Adventures
Carolina Beach In-Shore Adventures specializes in fishing trips designed just for kids. The focus is on fun, exploration and keeping kids engaged, whether they’re reeling in fish or happily splashing their hands in the baitwell.
Learn to surf or paddleboard at Tony Silvagni Surf School
Tony Silvagni Surf School offers year-round private and group surf and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) lessons led by highly qualified instructors who are CPR- and first aid-certified. Lessons last one to two hours and cover wave formation, paddling, positioning, surfing etiquette and water safety. All equipment and drinking water are provided – all you need are swimsuits and towels.
Hike the trails at Carolina Beach State Park
Carolina Beach State Park offers easy trails that kids genuinely enjoy, with opportunities for families to explore together and learn about how the park’s coastal habitats support plants and wildlife. The 0.75-mile, one-way Snow’s Cut Trail winds through a pine-hardwood forest and includes a designated Kids in Parks TRACK Trail section, complete with downloadable activities and rewards. The Flytrap Trail is a short, 0.5-mile loop where kids can see rare Venus flytraps growing along the edges of the pocosins, a unique type of freshwater wetland. For a longer hike, take the Sugarloaf Trail (a 3-mile loop) through coastal forests, a tidal cypress-gum swamp and longleaf pine savanna to reach the Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot sandy peak where soldiers camped during the Civil War.
Insider tip: Blooming during the spring and summer, Venus flytraps are small, fragile plants native only to Carolina Beach and surrounding areas. Encourage kids to observe closely but leave the plants undisturbed to protect this extraordinary local treasure.
Play sports or skate at Mike Chappell Park
Mike Chappell Park offers plenty for active kids, from tennis, pickleball and basketball courts to soccer and baseball fields. The park also features a skatepark with ramps, rails, bowls and a pump track.
Win prizes at Carolina Beach Arcade
For retro fun and games, head to Carolina Beach Arcade on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. With driving games, hoops challenges and prize-winning machines, there’s something to entertain every kid.
Conquer an 18-hole mini golf challenge
Surf’s Up Mini Golf is an 18-hole outdoor course packed with water features, tricky angles and fun surprises – including a 15-foot octopus with motorized, waving tentacles. After your round, stop by the Shaka Shak for Italian ice or snacks to celebrate your victories.
Plan around seasonal events
Every Thursday evening from late May to late August, the island lights up during the Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast show. Families can enjoy live music starting around 6:30 p.m. at the Boardwalk Gazebo, then watch the sky burst with color at 9 p.m. Insider tip: Check our calendar for special events like the Wings Over Carolina Beach Air Show in April, the Boardwalk Blast Kickoff in May and a special Independence Day display in July.
On Sunday evenings from late May through early September, take the family to see free Summer Movies at the Lake. Bring a blanket and snacks to Carolina Beach Lake Park and settle in for a unique movie-watching experience. Check the Carolina Beach Parks & Recreation Facebook page for this year’s family-friendly movie schedule.
3. Kid-Friendly Dining and Treats
When it’s time to eat, Carolina Beach has plenty of spots where kids (and adults) will find something tasty:
Breakfast and Brunch
Named Best Breakfast and Best Pancakes in the WWAY 2025 Viewers’ Choice Awards, this locally owned restaurant is known for its wide variety of pancakes, waffles and Southern breakfast favorites. Kids ages 10 and under can order from a dedicated kids’ menu that includes pancakes and cereal.
Start your day with a treat that’s equal parts fun and delicious. Wake N Bake Donuts serves over-the-top creations topped with crushed potato chips, candy bars, pineapple rings and more. For something truly unexpected, try the Pop Tart Stuffed Donut (yes, there’s a Pop Tart baked right inside). Adults can also grab a coffee drink to power through the sugar rush and keep up with the kids.
Lunch and Dinner
Fentoni’s Pizza serves New York-style, hand-tossed pizza right on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Grab slices, chips, salads and classic desserts from the seasonal walk-up window, or visit the year-round location at Publix Commons for a casual sit-down meal.
Pop’s Diner serves up fresh lunch and dinner in a nostalgic 1950s-style setting, complete with a hot dog statue at the front door. The menu features burgers, BLTs, hot dogs, chicken tenders, and baskets of fries and onion rings. Insider tip: Kids love picking songs on the classic jukebox!
Stop by Island Burgers & Bites for burgers, Philly cheesesteaks and handspun milkshakes. Insider tip: Regulars rave about the loaded crinkle-cut fries, thick-cut onion rings and creative burger combinations.
Lazy Pirate is a lively, family-friendly restaurant with an on-site arcade and outdoor games like cornhole. The kids’ menu includes favorites like cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, fried shrimp and pizza, all served with wedge fries and a cookie.
Michael’s Seafood Restaurant offers a fun, tiki-themed atmosphere that’s especially popular with families. The kids’ menu for ages 12 and under includes a wide range of options, from pizza and hot dogs to hamburgers and crab legs, along with drink choices like soft drinks, smoothies or milkshakes.
Sweet Treats
Boombalatti’s Ice Cream serves locally made ice cream crafted with milk from grass-fed North Carolina cows. There are vegan and lactose-free options, too. Enjoy a few scoops in a homemade waffle cone with fresh toppings and delicious hot fudge.
Celtic Creamery brings a storied Irish ice cream recipe to Carolina Beach, offering rich, velvety scoops with a wide range of toppings. Adventurous eaters can share the signature Tummy Trembler, a towering dessert complete with ice cream, doughnuts, a banana, and plenty of toppings and sauces!
Located right on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Latella at the Beach serves handmade gelato year-round. Flavors rotate regularly, including vegan and sugar-free options. The menu also features smoothies, milkshakes, sorbetto slushies and pastries, plus coffee and espresso drinks for the adults.
Fudgeboat is a fun stop where kids can watch butter-and-cream fudge being made right before their eyes. The shop offers a wide variety of flavors and treats, from dipped chocolates and pretzels to Krazy Kones ice cream. Don’t miss favorites like cookies-and-cream fudge, Cookie Monster fudge or a chocolate Megalodon tooth made from a real fossil mold!
Locals’ Seasonal Favorites
Re-opening for the season on Easter weekend, Squigley’s is a hands-on ice cream destination where kids can pick from a huge selection of fruits, candies and baked goods to create their own custom flavor using the patented Squigley machines.
A summer-only favorite on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Britt’s Donut Shop serves made-from-scratch glazed donuts that have been a local tradition since 1939. Simple, hot and perfectly sweet, these donuts are a nostalgic treat that keeps families coming back each season.
For more kid-friendly dining options, check out this link.
