Ocean Oasis
Food scene
Places we like to eat:
Great seafood! Nice patio and indoor seating with half circle bar and auquarium. No fried food. Fresh catches cooked however you like. Award winning chowder. They have a free shuttle service (tips appreciated) that can transport a large group.
113 locals recommend
Michael's Seafood Restaurant
1206 N Lake Park BlvdGreat seafood! Nice patio and indoor seating with half circle bar and auquarium. No fried food. Fresh catches cooked however you like. Award winning chowder. They have a free shuttle service (tips appreciated) that can transport a large group.
Great find! Food is always very good. American/Southern fusion? Perfect place to take guests. Arrive early for parking in their lot if Friday, Saturday, or holiday.
93 locals recommend
Soul Flavor
716 N Lake Park BlvdGreat find! Food is always very good. American/Southern fusion? Perfect place to take guests. Arrive early for parking in their lot if Friday, Saturday, or holiday.
Love their steamed oysters--we don't mind shucking--and breaded wings (medium sauce). Friendly bartenders. It's a small place and can have a wait, but worth it.
115 locals recommend
Shuckin' Shack
6 N Lake Park BlvdLove their steamed oysters--we don't mind shucking--and breaded wings (medium sauce). Friendly bartenders. It's a small place and can have a wait, but worth it.
Really good Mexican food. Margaritas are great too. There's a separate bar in back for waiting. Usually fast service. Many like it for take-out, but we always eat in, sometimes on the balcony overlooking the street.
36 locals recommend
El Cazador Carolina Beach
103 N Lake Park BlvdReally good Mexican food. Margaritas are great too. There's a separate bar in back for waiting. Usually fast service. Many like it for take-out, but we always eat in, sometimes on the balcony overlooking the street.
Glazed donuts that are really scrumptious! Should be only about a dollar each. Wait in line sometimes, or avoid the line by eating them inside the small diner-like open air room.
277 locals recommend
Britts Donuts
13 Carolina Beach Ave NGlazed donuts that are really scrumptious! Should be only about a dollar each. Wait in line sometimes, or avoid the line by eating them inside the small diner-like open air room.
Food is always really good. It's a large bar, with booths and plenty of seating (usually) around bar or outside under umbrellas. Outside this establishment is the place to be to watch the fireworks display on Thursdays at dusk in the summer!
10 locals recommend
Buzz's Roost at the Beach
8 Pavilion Ave SFood is always really good. It's a large bar, with booths and plenty of seating (usually) around bar or outside under umbrellas. Outside this establishment is the place to be to watch the fireworks display on Thursdays at dusk in the summer!
Small and intimate casual Italian restaurant in Kure Beach, a couple miles away. Pork chops are one of their specialties, but we like their red sauce dishes.
109 locals recommend
Freddie's Restaurant
105 K AvenueSmall and intimate casual Italian restaurant in Kure Beach, a couple miles away. Pork chops are one of their specialties, but we like their red sauce dishes.
Intimate booths for two, or small groups of 4. Small restaurant. Steaks are amazing! Salads are custom made to your order by using a white board where you mark off selections that you want. Great service.
30 locals recommend
Lake Park Steakhouse
12 Lake Park Boulevard SouthIntimate booths for two, or small groups of 4. Small restaurant. Steaks are amazing! Salads are custom made to your order by using a white board where you mark off selections that you want. Great service.
Local ingredients and seafood used to create amazingly delicious Caribbean flare dishes. Casual but intimate. Good for up to groups of four, and you make reservations by going to the website cbsaltfish.com and requesting a day and time. Diablo shrimp, fish of the day, and Saigon Style Noodles recommended as some of our faves.
52 locals recommend
Salt Fish Restaurant and Tiki Bar
718 N Lake Park BlvdLocal ingredients and seafood used to create amazingly delicious Caribbean flare dishes. Casual but intimate. Good for up to groups of four, and you make reservations by going to the website cbsaltfish.com and requesting a day and time. Diablo shrimp, fish of the day, and Saigon Style Noodles recommended as some of our faves.
Neighborhoods
Carolina Beach
Sightseeing and Relaxing
Supposedly a number one dive bar, and it is pretty original. Walk straight back into the "cool" refrigerator to pick out what you want, then the bartender will open it for you as you pay (credit card for over $10 only). Explore. The building and grounds are a hodge-podge of memorabilia, fun decor, signs, and lights. The floor is sand, mostly. Outside in their fenced area you will find nooks for sitting, chatting and sipping, or play a game of corn hole.
165 locals recommend
The Fat Pelican
8 S Lake Park BlvdSupposedly a number one dive bar, and it is pretty original. Walk straight back into the "cool" refrigerator to pick out what you want, then the bartender will open it for you as you pay (credit card for over $10 only). Explore. The building and grounds are a hodge-podge of memorabilia, fun decor, signs, and lights. The floor is sand, mostly. Outside in their fenced area you will find nooks for sitting, chatting and sipping, or play a game of corn hole.
Large, modern aquarium with a variety of sea creatures and a bird sanctuary-exhibit nearby. Maybe see this place before you head by ferry to Southport one day.
550 locals recommend
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead RdLarge, modern aquarium with a variety of sea creatures and a bird sanctuary-exhibit nearby. Maybe see this place before you head by ferry to Southport one day.
A great place to watch the sand when it's not too breezy. The pier with tiki bar serves really good drinks (in plastic cups) and bar food. Inside is a bigger restaurant.
163 locals recommend
Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar
1211 S Lake Park BlvdA great place to watch the sand when it's not too breezy. The pier with tiki bar serves really good drinks (in plastic cups) and bar food. Inside is a bigger restaurant.
Spacious brewery with nice open outside seating under umbrellas. Disk golf on premises with some disks to use (first come first served). Sometimes you see pets, dogs of course, and once we saw a rabbit.
71 locals recommend
Good Hops Brewing
811 Harper AveSpacious brewery with nice open outside seating under umbrellas. Disk golf on premises with some disks to use (first come first served). Sometimes you see pets, dogs of course, and once we saw a rabbit.
Trails. A great place to get your exercise while enjoying the scenery.
245 locals recommend
Carolina Beach State Park
1010 State Park RdTrails. A great place to get your exercise while enjoying the scenery.
Serves both specialty wines and delicious brewed coffee. Small snack trays available. See if seating on the balcony is still available.
43 locals recommend
Crush & Grind
7 Harper AvenueServes both specialty wines and delicious brewed coffee. Small snack trays available. See if seating on the balcony is still available.
Traveler advice
Customs and culture
Alcohol prohibited on the beach.
A patrol truck will sometimes make rounds. If alcohol is spotted, an officer will approach, question you, and write you a ticket.
Don't miss
Thursday fireworks between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Go to the boardwalk and watch the most spectacular fireworks display on Thursday evenings in the summer, or head up to the crows nest and look south where you can see them in the distance.
Don't miss
Saturday's Farmer's Market at the Carolina Beach Lake
Things to see and buy. Food and crafts. Ends about noon.
What to pack
Maybe Bring Cash before Heading to the Sand
Bring a few dollars in case you want to buy a cold treat from the guy with the Italian Ice cart, usually on weekends or around holidays. Also, you might decide to walk to the coffee shop two blocks away for something to eat or drink.
Don't miss
Walking on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk is Wonderful
The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is a long, wide, wooden walkway that borders the sand in town. It is lighted, and has occasional seats for resting. From it, you can see the water, and also see restaurants, shops, and bars inland. Among other places near the boardwalk are ice cream shops, a fudge shop, a pizza shop, a donut shop, a wine and coffee bar, rentals, and an arcade. It is only .8 mile away from Ocean Oasis and you can also get there by walking along the beach.
What to pack
We have games!
Here are the names of the games at the house (please remember to put back in the 3rd floor bedroom shelves):
Ticket to Ride
The Worst Case Scenario Survival Game
Quirkle
Fact or Crap
Code Names
Play Nine
Imaginiff
Pass the Pigs
Monopoly - US Air Force edition
Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary Edition
Farkle
Mancala
UpWords
Cards
Scrabble
Backgammon