Pelican Guidebook
Things To Do
- It's time to hit the beach! Take a left off the front of property and walk one block down Pelican Lane to the public beach access. Just a 1 minute walk! The access can be found as “Pelican Public Beach Access” on Google Maps.
Pelican Public Beach Access
Pelican Lane- It's time to hit the beach! Take a left off the front of property and walk one block down Pelican Lane to the public beach access. Just a 1 minute walk! The access can be found as “Pelican Public Beach Access” on Google Maps.
- Home to restaurants, shopping, bike rentals, surfboard rentals, and more. Be sure to check out Britt’s Donuts while you’re there! Just a 2 minute drive or 7 minute walk.
184 locals recommend
Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Carolina Beach Avenue South- Home to restaurants, shopping, bike rentals, surfboard rentals, and more. Be sure to check out Britt’s Donuts while you’re there! Just a 2 minute drive or 7 minute walk.
- Take a right off the property and see the deep sea charters docked in the canal! Check online to find rates & availability for the different charter boat companies if you’re interested in a tour.
6 locals recommend
Fish Witch Charters
300 Canal Dr- Take a right off the property and see the deep sea charters docked in the canal! Check online to find rates & availability for the different charter boat companies if you’re interested in a tour.
- Features a walking trail around the lake, paddle boat rentals, picnic area, and playground. Just a 2 minute drive!
- Saturday morning farmer’s market every week during the summer. Open from 8am-1pm.
- Sunday evening free outdoor movie nights every week during the summer. Movies start at dusk (8:45pm).
47 locals recommend
Carolina Beach Lake Park
400 S Lake Park Blvd- Features a walking trail around the lake, paddle boat rentals, picnic area, and playground. Just a 2 minute drive!
- Saturday morning farmer’s market every week during the summer. Open from 8am-1pm.
- Sunday evening free outdoor movie nights every week during the summer. Movies start at dusk (8:45pm).
- Hop in your car and head to the north end of CB! Vehicles with four wheel drive can drive onto the beach upon purchasing a pass. (Seasonal, 7-day, and daily passes can be purchased online.) Just a 6 minute drive.
97 locals recommend
Freeman Park
1800 Canal Dr- Hop in your car and head to the north end of CB! Vehicles with four wheel drive can drive onto the beach upon purchasing a pass. (Seasonal, 7-day, and daily passes can be purchased online.) Just a 6 minute drive.
- Check out beautiful hiking trails, wildlife, the marina, kayak & paddle board rentals, and more! Just a 4 minute drive.
245 locals recommend
Carolina Beach State Park
1010 State Park Rd- Check out beautiful hiking trails, wildlife, the marina, kayak & paddle board rentals, and more! Just a 4 minute drive.
- Includes a playground area, dog park, tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer & baseball fields, and a skatepark. Just a 5 minute drive. You’ll also find an entrance to the Carolina Beach Greenway, a great way to walk or bike around the island!
19 locals recommend
Mike Chappell Park
501 Dow Rd S- Includes a playground area, dog park, tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer & baseball fields, and a skatepark. Just a 5 minute drive. You’ll also find an entrance to the Carolina Beach Greenway, a great way to walk or bike around the island!
- About a 12 minute drive from the property. Visit more beautiful beaches and marshlands, and check out the historic site to learn more about Fort Fisher’s role in the Civil War.
315 locals recommend
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd S- About a 12 minute drive from the property. Visit more beautiful beaches and marshlands, and check out the historic site to learn more about Fort Fisher’s role in the Civil War.
- Rainy day? Check out the aquarium, just past Fort Fisher. Enjoy a variety of exhibits and marine life! About a 15 minute drive.
550 locals recommend
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead Rd- Rainy day? Check out the aquarium, just past Fort Fisher. Enjoy a variety of exhibits and marine life! About a 15 minute drive.
- Take a ferry ride to explore Southport! The ferry terminal is located 15 minutes away, near Fort Fisher. This charming, southern town offers boutique shopping, local restaurants, and a beautiful river walk. Portions of Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven were shot here as well.
242 locals recommend
Southport
- Take a ferry ride to explore Southport! The ferry terminal is located 15 minutes away, near Fort Fisher. This charming, southern town offers boutique shopping, local restaurants, and a beautiful river walk. Portions of Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven were shot here as well.
- The neighboring beachfront to Carolina Beach -- just 8 minutes down the road!
84 locals recommend
Kure Beach
- The neighboring beachfront to Carolina Beach -- just 8 minutes down the road!
- Take a 30 minute drive into Wilmington and explore downtown! Downtown offers an expansive river walk along the Cape Fear River with a variety of waterfront restaurants, bars, and shopping! Be sure to check out the Cotton Exchange for some adorable shops.
31 locals recommend
Wilmington Downtown Incorporated
226 N Front St- Take a 30 minute drive into Wilmington and explore downtown! Downtown offers an expansive river walk along the Cape Fear River with a variety of waterfront restaurants, bars, and shopping! Be sure to check out the Cotton Exchange for some adorable shops.
Tony Silvagni offers a variety of surf lessons & camps, paddleboarding lessons, and kayak tours. Beach gear rentals are also available. Check out their website for more information, www.surfschoolNC.com.
64 locals recommend
Tony Silvagni Surf School
107 Charlotte AveTony Silvagni offers a variety of surf lessons & camps, paddleboarding lessons, and kayak tours. Beach gear rentals are also available. Check out their website for more information, www.surfschoolNC.com.
Places To Eat
Nollie's Taco Joint
3 Pelican Ln- Enjoy specialty tacos right across the street!
- American style food & an outdoor patio bar. Frequently has live music/entertainment, and only a 2 minute walk!
175 locals recommend
SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar
227 Carolina Beach Ave N- American style food & an outdoor patio bar. Frequently has live music/entertainment, and only a 2 minute walk!
- Have a meal & some drinks with an ocean view! Beautiful pier with a tiki bar & live music on Thursday evenings during the summer. About a 4 minute drive.
163 locals recommend
Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar
1211 S Lake Park Blvd- Have a meal & some drinks with an ocean view! Beautiful pier with a tiki bar & live music on Thursday evenings during the summer. About a 4 minute drive.
- Head to the boardwalk for some of the best donuts! Remember that Britt’s is cash only; no credit/debit cards accepted.
- Open every day during the summer and on weekends only during the spring.
277 locals recommend
Britts Donuts
13 Carolina Beach Ave N- Head to the boardwalk for some of the best donuts! Remember that Britt’s is cash only; no credit/debit cards accepted.
- Open every day during the summer and on weekends only during the spring.
- Our current favorite restaurant on the island!
- Great variety of food and some delicious mixed drinks
93 locals recommend
Soul Flavor
716 N Lake Park Blvd- Our current favorite restaurant on the island!
- Great variety of food and some delicious mixed drinks
- Some of our favorite seafood on the island! About a 2 minute drive.
- Please note that this is a small restaurant. It’s best to call in advance & make a reservation to ensure you’ll have seats available.
52 locals recommend
Salt Fish Restaurant and Tiki Bar
718 N Lake Park Blvd- Some of our favorite seafood on the island! About a 2 minute drive.
- Please note that this is a small restaurant. It’s best to call in advance & make a reservation to ensure you’ll have seats available.
- Check out Kate’s for a delicious breakfast! About a 2 minute drive or 9 minute walk.
78 locals recommend
Kate's Pancake House
102 S Lake Park Blvd- Check out Kate’s for a delicious breakfast! About a 2 minute drive or 9 minute walk.
- A local Wilmington favorite! Previously only in downtown Wilmington, they recently opened a new location in Carolina Beach near the boardwalk.
- American bar & grill food. Known for delicious burgers & fries!
48 locals recommend
Fork n Cork
102 Cape Fear Blvd- A local Wilmington favorite! Previously only in downtown Wilmington, they recently opened a new location in Carolina Beach near the boardwalk.
- American bar & grill food. Known for delicious burgers & fries!
Nikki's Gourmet & Sushi
6 S Lake Park Blvd- Great sushi & hibachi on your way to the lake!
Fentoni pizza
1018 Carolina Beach Ave N- Pizza on the boardwalk! Delivery also available on the island.
- Serves American bar/grill food & located across the street from Carolina Beach Lake Park
- Monday thru Friday serves lunch & dinner only. Also open for breakfast on Saturday & Sunday.
74 locals recommend
Hang Ten Grill
308 S Lake Park Blvd- Serves American bar/grill food & located across the street from Carolina Beach Lake Park
- Monday thru Friday serves lunch & dinner only. Also open for breakfast on Saturday & Sunday.
Squigley's Ice Cream & Treats
208 S Lake Park Blvd- Cute local ice cream shop next to Hang Ten Grill
- Just a short drive up the road for some delicious seafood! Located a couple shops down from Scoopin’ Yummies ice cream.
113 locals recommend
Michael's Seafood Restaurant
1206 N Lake Park Blvd- Just a short drive up the road for some delicious seafood! Located a couple shops down from Scoopin’ Yummies ice cream.
Carolina Smokehouse
9 Pavilion Ave S- North Carolina BBQ on the boardwalk
- Beach bar that also serves food. Located along the boardwalk, and there's a rooftop deck!
39 locals recommend
Hurricane Alley's
5 Boardwalk- Beach bar that also serves food. Located along the boardwalk, and there's a rooftop deck!
- A new coffee shop that opened near the boardwalk! Mālama serves Counter Culture coffee and offers breakfast & lunch food options.
37 locals recommend
Malama Cafe
108 Cape Fear Blvd- A new coffee shop that opened near the boardwalk! Mālama serves Counter Culture coffee and offers breakfast & lunch food options.
- A cute local shop with more than just fresh veggies! The Veggie Wagon offers craft beer, wine, coffee, baked goods, jams, cheeses, and other treats. Definitely worth checking out!
- Located close to Carolina Beach Lake Park
86 locals recommend
The Veggie Wagon
3315 Masonboro Loop Rd- A cute local shop with more than just fresh veggies! The Veggie Wagon offers craft beer, wine, coffee, baked goods, jams, cheeses, and other treats. Definitely worth checking out!
- Located close to Carolina Beach Lake Park
Beach Gear Rentals
Tony Silvagni provides a wide variety of beach gear rentals including bikes, chairs, kayaks, surfboards, and more. Chairs & umbrellas can even be delivered to your spot on the beach so you don’t need to carry them! Surf lessons & camps are also available March-September. Check out their website for more information, www.surfschoolNC.com.
64 locals recommend
Tony Silvagni Surf School
107 Charlotte AveTony Silvagni provides a wide variety of beach gear rentals including bikes, chairs, kayaks, surfboards, and more. Chairs & umbrellas can even be delivered to your spot on the beach so you don’t need to carry them! Surf lessons & camps are also available March-September. Check out their website for more information, www.surfschoolNC.com.