15 Best and Fun Things To Do In Atlantic Beach NC (North Carolina)

Atlantic Beach, located on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, is a popular tourist destination. This small coastal town has long been a favorite vacation spot for American families due to its proximity to the ocean, miles of wide sandy beaches, and seemingly endless options for oceanfront entertainment at Carolina Beach.

Things To Do In Atlantic Beach NC, Located at the tip of Bogue Banks to the east, it’s a quick drive to Atlantic Beach. Between the barrier island of Atlantic Beach and the mainland city of Morehead City, there is a bridge known as the Atlantic Beach Causeway.

This outdoor enthusiast’s dream features miles of pristine beaches on both the ocean and sound sides, perfect for surfing, fishing, boating, kayaking, and more. It’s not hard to see why tourists keep coming back to the same destination year after year at myrtle beach.

You can’t find a better spot for a memorable family beach vacation than this one, where the sun shines bright and the days are long at South Carolina. Learn about some of the top attractions in Atlantic Beach before your next trip to the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.

15 Best Things To Do In Atlantic Beach NC Today

1. Hit the beach

Located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Sound, the town of Atlantic Beach provides visitors with miles of pristine beaches and a seemingly endless array of things to do when they’re not lounging on the sand at ocean isle beach. 

The most popular public beach access point is at The Circle at Atlantic Beach, located just across the Atlantic Beach Causeway. Picnic Street Park and Fort Macon State Park also provide public beach access.

2. Stroll the boardwalk.

The Atlantic Beach Boardwalk is a major attraction near The Circle at Atlantic Beach. There are plenty of places to eat and shop along the narrow boardwalk, as well as benches and picnic tables where visitors can sit and take in the scenery. 

There are volleyball courts and a swing set for kids just a short distance from the virginia beach.

3. Visit North Carolina’s most visited state park.

Visit Fort Macon State Park to learn about North Carolina’s past. This 389-acre park features a perfectly restored Civil War-era fort that was originally built to ward off the region’s infamous pirate attacks.

Learn about the Civil War’s impact on the coast and what it was like to live on the front lines right here. Tours of the park are available every day and are led by the park’s knowledgeable staff at harkers island. 

Visitors can see history come to life at one of the many Civil War reenactments that are held regularly in the area. Whether you’re on the ocean or the sound side of the fort, you can take advantage of the beautiful scenery, go fishing, or go shelling on the beaches that surround the structure at new bern.

4. Enjoy panoramic ocean views from the pier.

Atlantic Beach’s Oceanana Fishing Pier is an iconic landmark and popular hangout for locals and visitors alike. The pier is not only a great place to catch fish, but it also offers stunning views of the ocean and is a popular spot for tourists to take in the sights of the Crystal Coast. 

You can catch spots, croakers, flounder, and pompano in the summer, and black and red drum in the spring and fall.

Walking the length of the pier and taking in the expansive view is almost as popular as fishing there. Also, having access to delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner options at the onsite Pier House Restaurant makes a day trip to the pier a breeze at vacation rental.

5. Go on a sportfishing adventure.

Atlantic Beach is just one of many locations along the Crystal Coast where you can book a fishing excursion. Experience a memorable fishing trip on the east coast with Capt. Stacy Fishing Center and one of the finest fishing vessels in the area at panama city beach.

Capt. Stacy Fishing Center provides a wide range of guided fishing trips and charters, from deep-sea fishing on a headboat for red snapper, black sea bass, and amberjack to sport fishing on a charter boat for blue marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi, and Spanish mackerel indian beach.

Atlantic Beach is home to a number of fishing charter companies, including Crystal Coast Adventures and Top Shelf Sport Fishing.

6. Explore the coastal waterways by boat.

Taking a boat ride is a fantastic way to enjoy the coast and all it has to offer. Discover new and exciting fishing spots along the coast by venturing into the many creeks and marshes. Spend the day tubing or knee boarding along the waves at Atlantic Beach with the family at North Carolina Maritime Museum. 

Cape Lookout National Seashore is a great place to spend a day exploring and photographing the wild Shackleford horses that roam the barrier islands.

Sea Water Marina, Anchorage Marina, and Fort Macon Marina are just a few of the marinas you’ll find in Atlantic Beach. The area has plenty of parking and a number of boat ramps, so you can be out on the water in no time at North Myrtle Beach.

7. Take a tour to Cape Lookout on a jet ski.

When it comes to renting watercraft in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, no one does it better than AB Watersports. Paddle along the coast’s quiet waterways. You could also go stand-up paddleboarding as a family. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards from AB Watersports for an afternoon or a whole day.

Put in at a marina and rent a pontoon boat or a jet ski to cruise the coast and take in the sights. You can also take a guided jet ski tour to Cape Lookout National Seashore, where you can swim, fish, and shell on the beach, hike up to the top of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, and take some breathtaking photographs of the crown jewel of the Crystal Coast.

8. Eat like a local.

Dinners of fresh seafood are a highlight of any trip to the beach. Modern American seafood dishes with a Southern twist are the focus at Amos Mosquitos. The restaurant, with its picturesque bayou-style setting on the sound side of Atlantic Beach, offers stunning views of Bogue Sound.

You can choose from a wide variety of delicious dishes made with the finest seasonal ingredients, from seafood like crab cakes and grilled shrimp and sushi rolls to American classics like meatloaf and fried boneless pork chops. Also, the s’mores you make at the tableside “campfire” are sure to be a memorable dessert.

9. See what’s on tap.

In Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, you’ll find Crystal Coast Brewing Company, a small brewery run by a friendly family. Crystal Coast Brewing has been supplying the Crystal Coast with delicious craft beer since 2017. Their beers are brewed in eastern North Carolina Coast and use many local ingredients.

In addition to wine, cider on tap, and sodas, the Atlantic Beach Taproom serves up 17 fantastic craft beers. Hours of entertainment for the whole family can be had in the game room with activities such as shuffleboard, giant Jenga, video games, corn hole, and more. 

The Atlantic Beach Taproom is a great place to meet up with friends and family because it has plenty of room both inside and out at Oceanana pier.

10. Venture through the maritime forest.

Are you interested in experiencing the Crystal Coast’s wildlife up close and personal? A salt marsh and the estuary where Hoop Pool Creek empties into Bogue Sound can be seen at the end of the one-mile round-trip hike along the Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail in the maritime forest. 

The Hoop Pole Creek Preserve has been designated a natural heritage area and is under the protection of the North Carolina Coastal Federation.

With its combination of boardwalk, paved trail, and hard ground, this trail is ideal for families with young children and hikers with mobility issues. Animals and plants of all kinds find safety in this area. Hikers can encounter a wide range of wildlife, including deer, raccoons, turtles, and numerous species of birds.

The Crystal Coast of North Carolina is a fantastic location for taking in the region’s breathtaking natural scenery. From the Atlantic Station Shopping Center’s Food Lion parking lot, you can enter the Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail at Carova Beach.

11. Boat, Walk, Beach…Repeat.

This may not sound like your typical beach activity, but H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions offers some of the most popular and truly “Instagrammable” eco-tours around. The BWB Repeat Tour is a grand slam of travel experiences. 

You can take a guided tour of the wild Shackleford Banker horses and look for shells on the beaches as you make your way back to the boat as you cruise along the tranquil sound waters that run alongside Shackleford Banks. 

A tour guide will then lead you through the Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve’s Middle Marshes to the north, and then up Taylor Creek along Beaufort’s historic waterfront.

H2O Captain provides a wide range of exciting eco-tours that can be tailored to suit your family’s interests. It is imperative that you book an excursion with Captain Mark during your next visit to the Crystal Coast.

12. Grind the rails at the Skatepark.

With its skatepark, mini-golf course, splash pad, playground, and basketball court, Atlantic Beach Town Park is a great place for family fun. Skaters of all experience levels will enjoy the Atlantic Beach Skatepark, one of the largest in Eastern North Carolina. Permit the youngsters to try out some new tricks or simply skate around in the bowl.

Afterwards, you can cool off in the water fountain at the Splashpad. The 18-hole miniature golf course with challenging obstacles, a waterfall, and fountains is fun for the whole family.

13. Prepare for battle on an epic mission.

Take the kids to Battle Works for a round of laser tag on those days when you need a break from the sun or when it’s pouring outside. Battle Works is an indoor arena first-person shooter game designed for players aged 12 and up. 

It’s a lot of fun for the whole gang to work together to complete a mission full of exciting challenges and find out who the victor is. Nerf battles and axe throwing are just two of the many activities available at Battle Works.

14. Catch a flick on the big screen.

After a day at the beach, the Atlantic Station Cinema in the Atlantic Station Shopping Center is a great place to unwind and cool off. Join the whole gang in seeing a movie at the theater. Get yourself some popcorn and soda and settle in for a good time.

Head out to the movies early so you can spend some time exploring the Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail, which begins just across the street from the shopping center’s parking lot.

15. Explore fun things to do nearby Atlantic Beach, NC.

The NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, one of the Crystal Coast’s most visited tourist destinations, is only a short drive away. Learn more about marine life and its habitats by taking the kids on an underwater adventure. 

See the infamous Queen Anne’s Revenge, captained by Blackbeard. Reach out and pet a stingray. The whole family will enjoy themselves immensely.

Lost Treasure Golf & Raceway in Salter Path, North Carolina is another fantastic destination further down Bogue Banks. There’s something for the whole family on this exciting journey, from go-kart racing and mini-golf to kiddie rides and an arcade.

Where To Stay In Atlantic Beach, NC?

There’s a good reason that Atlantic Beach, North Carolina is such a well-liked vacation spot. There are many vacation rentals along the Crystal Coast, and many of them are right on the water or very close by, complete with all the comforts of home and more. 

These vacation rentals have everything you could want, from private pools and game rooms to gourmet kitchens and multiple master suites, and they range from oceanfront mansions to high-rise condominiums.

The best deals on a wide variety of vacation rentals can be found by booking with Emerald Isle Realty. Were you not prepared to go back? Atlantic Beach has a wide variety of real estate and homes available, making it a great place to look for a vacation home.

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, has a unique coastal appeal thanks to its rich history, pristine beaches, breathtaking views, and a seemingly endless list of things to do. Your next family vacation to the beach should be on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast.

FAQs Things To Do In Atlantic Beach NC