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Situated on parts of the coast in North Carolina, the Carolina Beach Destination is home to various cities such as Wilmington and Fayetteville. The destination derives its name from a relatively small town in the region, Carolina Beach which has roughly 5,000 residents. Many of the cities in the destination have mottos or nicknames of some kind. For example, Carolina Beach sports the motto of "Relax, you're here," whereas Fayetteville is referred to as "the unofficial home of the U.S. Army."[5][1] The temperatures in the region do not vary extensively from town to town, though there are slight differences in the climate that are of note. As an example, Fayetteville sits in the northwest portion of the Carolina Beach Destination and as such, is able to experience small levels of snowfall during January and February. Carolina Beach itself, on the other hand, only experiences rain, which is most commonly experienced in July and August. Temperatures in the zone can range from 27 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit on average. Spring and fall are the most temperate seasons in the area, allowing for outdoor activities.[10][4]
The Carolina Beach Destination is located on the eastern shoreline of the United States of America and includes the Cape Fear area of North Carolina. The destination is named after one of the area's cities, Carolina Beach, which has a population of around 5,700 as of the 2010 census. The city's motto is reported to be "Relax, you're here."[1] Other notable cities in the area include the larger metropolitan areas of Wilmington (located only a few miles north of Carolina Beach) and Fayetteville to the northwest, as well as a handful of smaller cities such as Goldsboro, Wilson, Elizabethtown, and Hope Mills, all of which are located in North Carolina.
Carolina Beach is part of Wilmington's metropolitan area and is situated on the northern end of Pleasure Island. The town's land area is only 2.45 square miles, though the city does act as the home of a few attractions.[1] One of the most visible attractions in the town is the Carolina Beach Giant Ferris Wheel, which stands nearly 100 feet tall. The structure is open on weekends until Memorial Day of each year, where hours of operation extend in anticipation of the summer. The boardwalk in Carolina Beach contains various dining and shopping locations and is another way for visitors to spend their time. Boating is one of the town's most advertised attractions, with Batson Charter Boats, Cape Fear Guide, Jet Ski Rentals, and Carolina Beach Pontoon Rental all fitting into nautical categories. Scuba diving is also available, catering to people looking for spear-fishing or shipwreck diving. Training is offered for the dives, and the trips are known for specializing in "fossil hunting for Megalodon teeth."[2]
Fayetteville is the largest city in the Carolina Beach Destination, with a population of just over 200,000 people in the 2010 census. That population has been estimated to have grown by about 9,000 by 2019. It is the sixth-largest city in North Carolina and acts as the county seat of Cumberland County. The city's metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of around 525,000 people.[9] Many of the attractions in Fayetteville are centered around the area's history, with an emphasis on military endeavors. Fort Bragg's presence in the region has gained Fayetteville the nickname "the unofficial home of the U.S. Army." The city has been home to military members since the Revolutionary War, and there are various sites that help to educate visitors on the details of that history. Fayetteville is also home to an assortment of memorial landmarks. Many of the town's attractions are free, such as the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum and the Cape Fear Mountain Bike Trail.[5]
Battleship North Carolina, Crystal Pier, and Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park are all attractions that can be found in or around the Wilmington area. The city's proximity to Carolina Beach means that the two towns share a handful of their interests. Aquariums, museums, and the Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts are also visitable.[7]
New Hanover County, which is where both Carolina Beach and Wilmington are located, saw increases in tourism between 2018 and 2019. Approximately 650 million dollars were spent by tourists, which placed the county as the second-highest in tourism profits when compared to other coastal counties. The tourism industry also helped to employ 6,680 people in New Hanover County.[8] Many visitors choose to travel to the area from mid-April to early June, as well as from mid-September to late October. These months allow for warm-weather activities without experiencing the hottest temperatures of which the site is capable.[4]
Described as having warm, oppressive summers and "short, cold, and windy" winters, Carolina Beach sees generally temperate climates throughout the year. Usually, residents of the area experience temperatures somewhere between 40 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit, with occasional extreme temperatures that push those boundaries to 27 degrees and 91 degrees. July is the hottest month for the town, with an average temperature range of 75 to 86 degrees. Because of this—in addition to the fact that July and August are the area's rainiest months—many people choose to visit the destination from April to June, or alternatively from September to October.[4]
Though Carolina Beach is relatively representative of the destination's average temperatures and climates, there is some variance as one travels to the northwest. Fayetteville, for example, has slightly more extreme temperatures over the course of a year, with a range of 22 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that Fayetteville has the possibility of snow, which is something that the southeastern part of the region doesn't experience. Snow is most likely to occur in Fayetteville in either January or February, with an average of 1.7 inches. The two areas in the Carolina Beach Destination do share some things in common, such as their rainiest months of the year and the "best time[s] for tourists" to visit based on the weather.[10]
The Carolina Beach Destination can be found exclusively in North Carolina in the United States. Its southernmost point is Bald Head Island, and Southport is the closest city to the island. Carolina Beach and Wilmington are situated a few miles to the north of this point, and the destination's borders follow the North Atlantic coast until North Topsail Beach. The boundary then transitions inland, with corners that encapsulate Wilson and Fayetteville.
The overall topography of the destination is flat, with sizable portions of land being covered in greenery. The coast is one of the region's most defining geographical features, as evidenced by cities such as Wilmington, Surf City, and Carolina Beach itself. A few lakes are present in the area, in addition to the Bladen Lakes State Forest and the Green Swamp Preserve. Overall, however, the Carolina Beach Destination is mainly urbanized.
The Cape Fear region, which encompasses the southeastern sections of North Carolina, is home to a variety of wildlife. The bald cypress is a type of tree that can be found throughout North Carolina and is thought to be "one of the oldest trees in the world." Azaleas are flowering plants that are celebrated in the North Carolina Azalea Festival and also at Airlie Gardens. Local mammals include species such as the West Indian manatee, turkey, raccoons, rabbits, and river otters. With regards to other fauna, visitors can find American robins, red-headed woodpeckers, great blue herons, butterfish, speckled trout, and marlins in the Cape Fear region.[6]
The earliest inhabitants of the Carolina Beach Destination were the Tuscarora Indians, who lived in the area until the early 1700s. They were driven to a region west of the Cape Fear River between 1711 and 1715, though Carolina Beach itself would see very little change for the next few centuries. By the Civil War in the United States, the town had only 72 residents, though the area would soon experience exponential growth. The entrance of the Cape Fear River was established as a route for blockade runners to deliver supplies to southern states, and after the war, various businesses began to be installed in the area. By the 1940s, Carolina Beach was seeing a noticeable increase in popularity due to bands coming to the area for "some fun in the sun." In current times, the city's notable historic sites include Freeman Park, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, the Ocean Plaza Building, and Fort Fisher.[3]
To the northwest, Fayetteville had a somewhat more extensive history. The town was incorporated in 1783 and was named in honor of French military hero Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. The city was a center of activity during the American Revolution as well as the Civil War, where 60,000 men attacked Fayetteville and subsequently were able to destroy the Confederate arsenal. Population in Cumberland County, where Fayetteville is located, grew more rapidly after WWII. This growth steadily increased until it became approximately 210,000, the city's current estimated population. Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield Field have been home to several U.S. Army units over the years, with a specific accomplishment of Fort Bragg being the fact that it was the home of the Field Artillery during WWII. The extensive military history of the area has caused Fayetteville to achieve various nicknames, such as "America's Most Pro-Military Town" and "the unofficial home of the U.S. Army." Cumberland County as a whole has announced itself to be the "World's First Sanctuary for Soldiers and Their Families."[9]
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