Get creative and original this winter in Carolina Beach

From a press release:

This winter, the adventurous are skipping the trip westward and trading their snowmen for sand castles. Why hit the slopes when you can hit the sand with an original winter getaway at Carolina Beach?

For some travelers, Carolina Beach (http://www.carolinabeachgetaway.com) puts a decidedly original spin on the winter getaway they seek. Lively local festivities, including the 147th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher, complement a fantastic variety of area amenities, including locally owned shops and restaurants, as well as rentals and accommodations at discounted rates.

Budget-Friendly Beach
Looking for a wallet-friendly winter getaway after the hustle and bustle of the holidays? Carolina Beach makes it easy to plan for a long weekend or extended family getaway with rental options for any budget. Motels, hotels and many beach condos offer low off-season rates that make Carolina Beach an attractive destination during the winter and throughout the year(http://www.carolinabeachgetaway.com/lodging/). Others might check out the special offers at area hotels and motels (http://www.carolinabeachgetaway.com/lodging/hotels_motel ...).

A Different Kind Of Winter Chill
With high temperatures often reaching into the 60s in January, Carolina Beach offers milder winter getaway weather than other traditional destinations. Outdoor adventurers seeking an active getaway will be pleasantly surprised at nature’s bounty this time of year. Speckled trout and striped bass are especially plentiful in area waters, much to the delight of both seasoned and amateur anglers (http://bit.ly/

pLY3Uv). And an array of unique birds make their winter homes at Carolina Beach State Park, from the belted kingfisher and Boat-tailed Grackle, to Bonaparte’s Gull, the Bufflehead, Forster’s Tern and more (http://bit.ly/oY5L9N). Bundle up and hike along one of the park’s six nature trails. Sugarloaf Trail, named for the 50-foot sand dune near the bank of the Cape Fear River, offers a three-mile journey that is an excellent place for watching water birds, exploring the tidal marsh, and observing fiddler crabs as they travel over the mudflats.

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CB gets another grant, but pier project still on hold

From the Star-News' Shannan Bowen:

Another state grant has been awarded for Carolina Beach's proposed Ocean-to-Sound Park and state fishing pier, but the project itself still remains on hold.

The N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund awarded $369,179 to Carolina Beach for the project, and the town will have to match that amount, according to a news release Wednesday from Gov. Perdue's office.

The town already received $250,000 in state grants, and all grants will help pay off $4.3 million in land the town purchased in hopes the state's Aquariums Division would build its third aquarium fishing pier here.

Carolina Beach manager Tim Owens said the town is still applying for other grants to help cover the costs of the land. He said the council, which has three new members, will decide the future of the park and fishing pier.

Happy New Year!

Now get down here and enjoy the beach!

One of these days we'll actually see this in person

The Holiday Flotilla was held recently, and it sounds like an extremely cool thing.

"It’s a floating parade with fishing boats and pleasure craft decorated with thousands of lights that present a spectacular display on the intracoastal waterway," says WWAY. "Hundreds venture down to Pleasure Island each Christmas season to watch the sparkling event."

Unfortunately, we typically have a little holiday party of our own (in Raleigh) the same day as the Flotilla, which means we've never been able to enjoy it. Some day.

"We just thought it would be different. A lot of places in Raleigh, you know, there are parades and the usual Christmas stuff, but there are no flotillas because there's no ocean nearby,” Joan Plotnick of Raleigh said. “So we thought, we want to do something we've never done before, and then I saw this flotilla listing in the magazine and thought, that's different!"

It's the most wonderful time of the year ...

Well, if you're at the beach, perhaps SUMMER is the most wonderful time. But, aside from that. the holidays can be nice too.

From a press release ...

Celebrate the season coastal-style and experience the color and pageantry of holiday events that reflect the traditions, creative culture and independent spirit of Wilmington, North Carolina's historic river district and island beaches. Visitors can choose from more than 40 holiday events to create a meaningful vacation or memorable getaway in Wilmington, N.C. and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach. Annual traditions include candlelight home tours, light displays, Colonial & Victorian celebrations, flotillas, cruises, parades, and fireworks. And that's not all-the arts are alive with music and theatre galore! To download a holiday events brochure, visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com/holiday or call 1-866-266-9690 to request a free copy. For holiday specials, featured events and experiences, visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com.

Among the CB items highlighted are:

-Nov. 25-Dec. 17-Christmas by the Sea. Boardwalk lights up at 8pm on Nov. 25. Then on Saturdays from 5pm-9pm, enjoy family holiday activities & entertainment. Carolina Beach Boardwalk, www.boardwalkmakeover.org

-Nov.25-Dec.31-Island of Lights Festival. Holiday lights & events. Carolina/Kure beaches. www.islandoflights.org.

-Nov. 25-Dec. 31-Light-Up Celebration & Walking Tours of Lake. 7pm. Ceremony (Nov. 25) begins "Island of Lights Festival," Carolina Beach Lake. Lit nightly for walks thru Dec. Free. 910-458-6885. www.islandoflights.org

-Nov. 26-Dinner Cruise to view NC Holiday Flotilla. Board at3pm. Admission charge. Advance reservations. Royal Winner Princess, Carolina Beach Marina. 910-458-5356; www.winnerboats.com

-Dec. 2-Island of Lights Christmas Parade. 7:30pm. Extraordinary nighttime lighted parade announces Santa's arrival on the island. Lake Park Blvd/ Hwy 421 S, Carolina Beach. Free. www.islandoflights.org

-Dec. 31-Island of Lights New Year's Eve Countdown Party. 9pm-12am.Music, fireworks, lighted beach ball drop. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Free. www.islandoflights.org

N.C. still committed to an educational pier in CB

From WECT:

Council members in Carolina Beach have been hoping to build a pier near Carolina Beach Avenue by 2014, but there has been some issues with funding.

Last week, Town Manager Tim Owens received and email from the NC Aquariums Division Director David Griffin saying the state is still committed to an educational fishing pier in the area.

Griffin said the economy is to blame for the delay.

There is still an $800,000 grant available, along with an additional $350,000 from the aquarium that could be used to purchase the ocean front lot.

CB keeps its character

From a press release:

There’s always something new and nostalgic to discover in Carolina Beach (http://www.carolinabeachgetaway.com), a North Carolina beach destination known for its vintage and authentic appeal.

Thanks to the vision of community leaders, Carolina Beach is experiencing a revitalization of its boardwalk that helps to preserve the vitality and originality of this classic beach town. These efforts will also ensure that Carolina Beach remains a fun, safe and clean place for families and future generations to enjoy. Family-friendly events and new businesses help to keep things fresh and exciting for visitors, all the while enhancing the personality and allure of Carolina Beach.

While the classic Carolina Beach Boardwalk evokes nostalgia for the past, a variety of shops and activities put this local and visitor favorite very much in the present (http://bit.ly/jKDdqW). New shops, restaurants and rental stores provide visitors with a fresh alternative to the “same old, same old” beach trip. Families can enjoy everything from riding around in surrey carts to tasting the best of the beach’s culinary delights.

Carolina Beach businesses, residents, and civic groups are committed to an ongoing “boardwalk makeover” campaign to restore the Boardwalk’s charm and to keep people coming back year after year. As a result, visitors now enjoy a Boardwalk with park space, aesthetic improvements, blossoming local businesses, and year-round activities.

This fall and holiday season, fishing tournaments and holiday events draw visitors to Carolina Beach, including the annual Christmas by the Sea celebration and month-long Island of Lights Festival, which both kick off in November.

For fall visitors who enjoy supporting local farmers and producer growers, the Pleasure Island Fresh Market serves up a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables at the Carolina Beach Marina each Saturday through early December (http://bit.ly/rr8xfa). Fresh food and a fun atmosphere contribute to the constant renewal and community evolution of Carolina Beach.

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