United Beach Vacations Blog

Tepid water, fun bars, pet-friendly areas

2008-04-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

The ocean temperature is up to 62 degrees, and before you know it people will be complaining that the water is too warm. At a peak of between 80 and 85 degrees, I love an Atlantic bath tub. Meanwhile, fishing is good, it’s a great time of year to visit Carolina Beach State Park, and farmer’s markets have started up with fresh local strawberries, tasty lettuce and sweet potatoes, plus spinach, spring onions and radishes.

A friend writes that his favorite things about Carolina Beach are The Fat Pelican and The Last Resort, two bars that are so small you have to go outside to change your mind (to quote Bugs Bunny). While the Fat Pelican is long established and boasts a list of beers long enough to satisfy any trenchant lover of the golden beverage, The Last Resort is a newer watering hole that bills itself as the “smallest bar in North Carolina” and makes a helpful suggestion: “Don’t bring your friends; we don’t have room.” We like a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Truth be told, it’s a great spot for a cold one and some nice conversation and even has a little deck if it gets too crowded inside. At about 260 square feet, that can happen if a Beetle and a Camry unload a car full of peeps.

More and more folks are considering bringing their pups to the area. Although dogs are not allowed on the beach from March 1 to Oct. 31 in Carolina Beach and from April 1 to Sept. 30 in Kure Beach, fear not. Here are alternative areas that are pooch friendly:
FREEMAN PARK: Located at the north end of Carolina Beach, this area is accessed by four-wheel drive vehicles ($10 day pass required) and dogs must be leashed.
FORT FISHER STATE PARK: Also accessible by 4-wheel drive and a $10 day pass, this popular park is located at the southern end of Kure Beach. Dogs are permitted at all times but must be leashed.
CAROLINA BEACH STATE PARK: This scenic 700-acre park features miles of trails through various habitats and is free and open to the public. Lest they be swallowed by a Venus Flytrap or a wandering alligator, dogs must be leashed at all times. More likely, your pet will be tempted to run after a few passing deer, so please be alert.
There are also a few dog walking parks in the area so please inquire about those.

Soccer by the shore

2008-03-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

Soccer on the beach isn't very practical -- the ball rolls into mini dunes and sometimes stops dead -- but it sure is fun. The Pleasure Island Soccer Association (PISA) has married this fun with a friendly competition with the inaugural Carolina Sand Blast tournament, to be held in Carolina Beach overlooking the sparkling waters of the Atlantic Ocean the weekend of April 5-6.

The tournament is open to boys and girls U9 to U19 (that's under age 9 up to under age 19 in soccer speak) as well as adult divisions, over-30, and co-ed. Each game features 4 against 4.

Registration deadline is March 26. Please contact admin@pleasureislandsoccer.com for registration and details.

Bloom City

2008-03-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

A lot of visitors to our area might not be familiar with the term "Azalea Coast". But if you've ever been in or around Wilmington in spring time you'd be amazed at the sheer number and beauty of azaleas, the aggressively flowering bush that blooms in spring with intense hues of red, purple, pink and yellow. Nearly every home with a yard boasts at least one plant, and many offer whole yards filled with them. The overall effect is like a flashback to the 1960s , or a floral candyland (ooh, remember that board game -- I loved it!)

With the help of some unseasonably warm weather (and a little much-needed rain), some azaleas are already blooming. But to see the real show, you'll likely need to wait till early April, or better yet, visit during Wilmington's 61st Azalea Festival, slated for April 9-13.

For more information, please visit http://www.ncazaleafestival.org/

Rebirth for Carolina beach boardwalk?

2008-03-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

People over the age of 50 can recall a Carolina Beach boardwalk that steamed in the summer with dance halls and raging shag contests. Younger folks remember arcades with the latest games and rides that provoked squeals over the Atlantic. As the area slowly moved from mecca to blight, regulars can glumly recall bar fights that involved more than fists and testosterone.
But that could change as early as this summer because lawmakers and friends with influence and deep pockets have teamed up to spruce up the once revered area.
Earlier this year the town council unanimously approved $53,000 to kick-start renovations for what is rather prosaically called Boardwalk Makeover. Ideas for the coming vacation season are to provide family friendly live music and other entertainment during weekly summer fireworks.
Longer term plans call for development that could include wide swaths of public space complemented by high-rise commercial and private buildings. That term "high-rise" is what scares many locals, who fear unchecked Myrtle Beach-type growth. This is unlikely in our small town since even developers seem eager to keep the feel of quaint Carolina Beach.

Brrrravado highlights Carolina Beach Polar Plunge

2008-02-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

The first time Rudy Branson attempted a Polar Plunge he stripped to his bathing suit, ran full speed to the water … and … stopped dead in his tracks. Goosebumps appearing like kudzu on his body, he shivered in the cold air and walked back to the beach to dress.

That was four years ago during the first annual Special Olympics Polar Plunge in Carolina Beach, and Rudy laughs at the memory. On Saturday, Feb. 16, he plunged into the chilly Atlantic for the third year in a row. The water temperature was 56 degrees and the air was not much better.

“I love this event,” said Rudy, a 74-year-old former electrician who has lived in Carolina Beach for 30 years. “It’s fun, raises money for a good cause, and fosters a sense of community.”

Rudy was the oldest of 54 brave souls to plunge into the ocean at the Carolina Beach boardwalk. Caitlin Roth, age 8, was the youngest. “It was really cold at first,” said Caitlin, sipping from a steaming Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate. “But then I kinda got used to it.”

In order to participate in the Polar Plunge, participants must raise a minimum of $50 and can enter as an individual or as a team (teams must have at least 5 plungers, and each plunger must raise a minimum of $50).

One team – amusingly called Fargo -- was the first to plunge and eagerly splashed in the three- to four-foot waves. Each was dressed in red Speedos and made an absurd contrast to the surfers nearby, who were decked out head to toe in black wetsuits and mostly bobbed in the surf, sitting on their boards and shaking their heads at the brave plungers.

This year’s Polar Plunge was dedicated to Karl Davis, WECT-TV general manager, who died in a motorcycle accident on Jan. 12.

Carolina Beach/Kure Beach events

2008-02-08T11:40:00.000-08:00

As we bask in the glow of more unseasonably warm temperatures here in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach (it's 65 degrees right now, down from 74 yesterday!), it's not too early to tell you about some great upcoming events in and around the area.

March 15 -- 4th Annual Steve Haydu St. Patrick's Lo Tide Run (5K) in Carolina Beach. Proceeds go to cancer victims in financial need. Visit www.lotiderun.org for more information.
April 19 -- Chowder Cook-off. Each year chefs from Pleasure Island, Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington gather on Pleasure Island for the famous Chowder Cook-off. Bring the family and a large appetite. Daylong event features live music, fun for the kids and of course, great food. Call 910-458-8434.
April 26 -- Kure Beach Street Festival. Arts & Crafts, food and fun. Call 910-458-8216.

Surfing, fishing report, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, United Beach Vacations

2008-01-31T06:14:00.000-08:00

There's so much to do in the Cape Fear region that it's sometimes the obvious that gets overlooked. Just yesterday as I was walking my dog on the beach during a spectacularly sunny and unseasonably warm day, I was struck by how many surfers bobbed in the chilly water, taking turns gracefully gliding along the swells.

But surfing isn't the only year-round obession in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Local fisherman swear by the great bounty of marine life available. Beginning today, United Beach Vacations will proudly provide readers with a periodic fishing report, courtesy of Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Fishing Charters. Here's his report for this week:

We've been successful catching a few speckled trout in the 2- to 3-pound range on live shrimp. We've also been catching a few red drum in the 16- to 18-inch range, on shrimp and lures. Additionally, the spiny sharks and black sea bass have been biting real well on the reefs and wrecks close to shore. There are a few fish around, you just need to know where to look.

Interested in booking a fishing trip in our area? Contact Capt. Robert at 910-264-1807 or visit his website at www.carolinaexplorer.com.

Ocean Dunes condos in Kure Beach, NC

2008-01-28T11:35:00.000-08:00

One of the more popular rental complexes in the Cape Fear region is the Ocean Dunes Condominiums in Kure Beach, NC. These properties include 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units in 21 oceanfront buildings and two buildings across the street from the beach (one building burned down in 2006 and is currently under reconstruction).

The complex includes two outdoor pools and a third under renovation, plus a recreation center with indoor pool, tennis, basketball, weight room, shuffleboard, and a small playground.

United Beach Vacations is proud to manage more than 40 units in Ocean Dunes. It's a wildly admired place for a a great vacation -- just ask the countless repeat guests, many of whom visit year after year.

Ocean Dunes is located about a mile or two south of the Kure Beach Pier, a main attraction in the small village for decades, along with restaurants such as Big Daddy's, Jack Mackeral's and the venerable Freddie's Italian Ristorante.

To see individual photos of each property please visit our website at www.unitedbeachvacations.com and look for Ocean Dunes under "Search Oceanfront".

Carolina Beach and Kure Beach news

2008-01-18T09:16:00.001-08:00

Greetings from Carolina Beach! This is the first post for United Beach Vacation's new blog.

It's been a very mild winter so far with many days in the 60s and 70s and lots of great long walks on the beach. Our drought continues, which is not so good for our area but is golden for people who love the beach. Our good weather is about to end this weekend, however, with overnight lows predicted in the 20s and rain forecast for Saturday, Jan. 19.

Quick news: The building that burned down at the Ocean Dunes condo complex in Kure Beach is currently under reconstruction and will be ready for the summer ... authorities have ordered the sand bags protecting the Riggings condominium to be removed, but this is an ongoing battle going back years ... horses are now permitted in Freeman Park (north Carolina Beach) during the off-season.

Test 2

2007-12-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Just testing, the first test uploaded to the wrong directory :(