~ ~ ~ Attractions, Events & Tournaments ~ ~ ~
Cape Fear Fishing Tournament Calendar
| Offshore and inshore tournaments. Surf fishing. |
Atlantic Ocean Resort Beaches of the Cape Fear Coast
Wrightsville Beach ,Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Bald Head Island, Oak Island ,Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach
Cape Fear River
Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Southport, Wilmington
Carolina Beach State Park
Carolina Beach
The Carolina Beach State Park Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall, located by the entrance to the park, offers environmental education programs and exhibits. The interactive maps and exhibits highlight the park's flora and fauna, but focus specifically on the carnivorous plants that are unique to their area. Spot the rare Venus flytrap and other species of plants. Wind your way through habitats along intriguing trails or enjoy fishing and boating. Covers 712 acres with five miles of hiking trails, and boat ramps, slips and fuel dock. Campsites, picnic areas, group camping. Free. Fee for camping, ramps and slips. Carolina Beach State Park
Carolina Beach Lake Park
Carolina Beach
A lovely setting for a picnic and the site of Pleasure Island's annual ''Light up the Lake'' celebration during the holiday season. 11-acre lake with four gazebos, playground and picnic area. carolinabeach.org/pages/parks_rec.html
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Visitors Center
Kure Beach
The Fort Fisher State Recreation Area's Visitor Center Collection includes loggerhead and other turtle shells, seashells, taxidermy mounts of native ducks and other birds, and a variety of other natural history and science specimens. This growing collection is housed and exhibited in the visitor center classroom. Four miles and 288 acres of undeveloped beach. Swimming area and concession stand Memorial Day-Labor Day. Nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles and nesting waterbirds. Hiking trails. Licensed four-wheel-drive vehicles may travel on the beach in designated areas for access to excellent surf fishing. A regional public beach access with restrooms, showers, and refreshment stand. Offers educational nature programs. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Kure Beach
Fort Fisher Historic Site preserves, educates and interprets for public benefit the history and structure of Fort Fisher and its significance to the outcome of the Civil War. The visitor center features exhibits on the Civil War, local figures, and a fiber optics map illustrating the Battle of Fort Fisher. It also interprets Fort Fisher's history during World War II, as well as educates on coastline erosion and environmental issues. The earthworks can be accessed from the visitor center and are interpreted year round, including the reenactment of the Battle of Fort Fisher.## At the dawn of the Civil War, the Confederacy took control of a neck of land in Southern North Carolina near the mouth of the Cape Fear River and constructed what was to become the largest and one of the most important earthwork fortifications in the South. Approximately 10% of Fort Fisher remains, along with a restored palisade fence. The visitor center contains interpretive exhibits and an audiovisual presentation. Among the displays are items recovered from sunken blockade-runners. State headquarters for underwater archaeology is also located here. Free. ## Civil War: Confederate fort built between the ocean and the Cape Fear River, guarding the approach to Wilmington. Only about 10 percent of the original fort remains, but what is left is impressive. A visitor center describes the importance of the fort and the battles that eventually resulted in the Union capture Jan. 15, 1865. The visitor center offers a bookshop, audio-visual program, and newly refurbished exhibits tracing the history of the campaign and battles. The centerpiece of the exhibits is a large fiber-optic battle map featuring a three dimensional model of Fort Fisher, thousands of moving lights, and dramatic narration and sound effects illustrating the final bloody hours of Fort Fisher. A tour trail circles the fort's massive remains. A restored gun emplacement at Shepherd's Battery features a fully operational replica of a 32-pdr. seacoast cannon. Wayside exhibits, placed along the tour trail and oceanfront, provide historical context for visitors. Battle Acre features a monument to soldiers who fought here. Also see ''Hidden Beneath the Waves,'' a pavilion exhibit featuring recovered and preserved artifacts from local shipwrecks (including Civil War era) Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area
Kure Beach
Recreation Area, designed to provide a pleasant, relaxing get away for authorized Department of Defense personnel. Additionally, during non-summer months, we support official training in a partnership with the on-site North Carolina National Guard Training Center. ftfishermilrec.com
Freeman Park Recreation Area
Carolina Beach
North end of Carolina Beach. Permits are required, $40 annual or $10 day. Must have four wheel drive vehicle to navigate through the sand. carolinabeach.org/pages/parks_rec.html
Intracoastal Waterway
Camden County, Elizabeth City, Currituck County, Hyde County, Belhaven, Oriental, Morehead City, Beaufort, Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Swansboro, Sneads Ferry, North Topsail Beach, Surf City, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Southport, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach
Masonboro Island Coastal Estuarine Reserve
Wrightsville Beach
Evidence strongly suggests that the first stretch of the continental American Coastline ever spotted and described by European explorers was the 8-mile long beach now called Masonboro Island. Masonboro is the largest undisturbed barrier island along the southern part of North Carolina's coast. Masonboro Island Coastal Estuarine Reserve
NC Underwater Archaeology Center
Kure Beach
The Underwater Archeology Branch excavates and surveys shipwrecks and other underwater archaeological sites throughout the state. The branch also coordinates ongoing recovery and restoration projects, such as the Queen Anne's Revenge ## The Underwater Archaeology section of the NC Division of Archives and History operates this small museum with exhibits on maritime history featuring artifacts uncovered in underwater explorations dating from prehistoric(Native American) to the Civil War and the present. NCDCR (1) NCDCR (2)
NC Military History Museum
Kure Beach
The North Carolina Military History Museum collects, interprets and attempts to preserve yearbooks, histories, photographs, uniforms and artifacts related to United States military activity from the Spanish American War to the present day. The focus is especially on North Carolina's contribution to all branches of the military in the twentieth century. ncmhs.net/NCHMSlocations.htm
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Kure Beach
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, one of three aquariums operated by the state of North Carolina, was established in 1976 to promote an awareness, understanding, appreciation, and conservation of the diverse natural and cultural resources associated with North Carolina's ocean, estuaries, rivers, streams, and other aquatic environments. Non-living special collection materials include a growing collection of original bronze sculptures depicting marine and aquatic subjects, several works by sculptor Michael Van Houten, many lithographs, prints and posters, and research library focusing on marine education and conservation. ••• The 93,000-sq.ft state-owned aquarium showcases plants and animals of the Cape Fear River, swamps, estuaries, beaches and ocean. A half-acre freshwater conservatory, a touchpool, large ocean tank with sharks, moray eels, stingrays and more. Newest exhibits: seahorses, indoor salt marsh, sea turtles. Dive shows daily, 10:30 am and 2:30 pm. Feedings at 3 pm. Free programs include films and live animal presentations. Special activities may require reservations & fee. North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
NCDOT Ferry System: Fort Fisher / Southport Ferry
Kure Beach - Southport
A scenic ferry ride across the Intracoastal Waterway from Fort Fisher, Kure Beach to Southport. North Carolina Ferry System
Zeke's Island Estuarine Reserve
Kure Beach
With a sum total of 1,160 acres, the Zeke's Island component of the North Carolina NERR is comprised of three islands, the Reserve site encompassing 42 acres of high ground on Zeke's Island, 138 acres of upland on North Island and 3 acres on No Name Island. A small parking lot and boat ramp are maintained by the state Wildlife Resources Commission on the shore of the basin area. There are no trails on Zeke's Island. Zeke's Island is open year round, but is accessible only by small boats, canoes, and kayaks. Zeke's Island Coastal Estuarine Reserve
