Ah, the beach! There's nothing like taking a walk on a sandy beach, barefoot and gazing out into the ocean. The benefits include exercise and stress relief, not to mention the fact that sand is a natural pumice for the soles of your feet. Did you arrive with weary, calloused feet? Chances are good that they'll be a lot smoother when you leave.

The beach, like any place outdoors, however, has its downsides. Keep your eyes open for strange, mushy-looking dead critters and be sure not to step on or touch them. Definitely don't let the kids play with them! They may well be jellyfish or the infamous Portuguese Man of War, which can still inflict painful, dangerous stings even when they're dead. If by chance, you or someone you're with does get stung, symptoms can range from mild to severe. Treatment for each type of jellyfish is different, so try, if possible, to identify what stung you. Lifeguards are knowledgeable and will assist you in such circumstances. However, if no one is available, seek proper medical attention immediately.

Public access to area beaches is free because North Carolinians are rigid in their belief that the shores belong to the people. Look for the orange and blue signs at frequent intervals along beach roads — they point out easements between homes where you can freely cross over to the beach. Stick to these paths, and don't walk across private property to get to the beach.

You are free to walk the length of all area beaches, including those on private islands such as Bald Head and Figure Eight (although you'll need a private boat or, in the case of Bald Head Island, a passenger ferry to get there). Oceanfront landowners' property lines stop at the high-water mark.

Are you spending the day on Brunswick County beaches? Frequent finds there are whole sand dollars, but make sure you don't take live ones. The all-white skeletal sand dollars are the ones you want. The brown, furry ones may still be alive and should be returned to the water. In addition, if you're lucky or very observant, you may find arrowheads from ancient Native American tribes. Considering the colorful pirate history in the area, who knows what else you might find in your search?

Preparations for a day at the beach should include a blanket or old quilt, towels, a cooler packed with soft drinks, water, iced tea or Gatorade, and beach apparel for the whole family. A beach umbrella gives some much-appreciated shade when old Sol is really hot. No matter what you do, grains of sand are going to creep into everything, but a blanket will at least give you protection from the warm sand. Make sure everyone has a hat, sunglasses and sturdy foot covering. Asphalt, concrete and sand above the high-water mark all get very hot, making it difficult and painful to walk to and from the parking areas.

Remember to bring something for preventing and treating insect bites as well. Sometimes the biting flies can be nasty. Away from the beach, no-see-ums come out late in the afternoon. You can't see the little rascals unless they're in a pack, but they'll think you're a delicious evening snack.

Beach hospitality includes public restrooms, showers and rinse-off spots located conveniently along most beaches. Restaurants that offer everything from hot dogs and barbecue to fresh seafood and even vegetarian dining are an easy walk from the beach in many communities.

Some laws worth noting: Don't take glass containers on the beach; don't let your dog run loose until you check local ordinances (and in all cases clean up your pet's "business" so you or other people don't step in it); don't let your parking meter expire; don't take alcohol to the beach; and don't litter. Take an ashtray with you if you plan to smoke because, as inconsequential as a butt or two may seem, millions of them cause environmental problems. Filters are not biodegradable and can harm sea life. Trash cans are placed on most beaches; please use them.

The most important rule of all: Protect the sand dunes by not disturbing the sea oats or other precious vegetation. Dunes buffer beach-front property and minimize erosion from tropical storms and hurricanes. Dunes also provide sanctuary for fragile turtle nests and a variety of shore birds. Damaging the dunes or disturbing turtle nests and beach vegetation will incur stiff fines, not to mention the wrath of environmentally conscious residents.Crossovers are provided for you to walk from the street or beach-front property. Use them rather than trudging across the dune line.

Speaking of sea turtle nesting, this is an awesome ritual that has captivated locals and tourists all along the North Carolina coast, but especially from Topsail Island to Ocean Isle Beach. Although five species of these gentle giants have been seen, almost all the nesting effort is made by the most common sea turtle in the region, the loggerhead, which weighs from 170 to 500 pounds. Every year in May, loggerheads find their way here from places as far away as the Azores and Canary Islands.

A network of turtle projects with hundreds of volunteers monitors sections of the beaches, identifies the nesting sites and stands guard over them near the end of the approximately 60 days incubation. When the two-inch-long baby turtles emerge from a nest and head down the beach to the sea, excited "nest parents" are there to clear a path and make sure no predator will eat them before they reach the water. At hatching time, lights all along the beach are dimmed or extinguished so as not to confuse these intrepid creatures. It's quite an event to behold. Be sure to read the closeup on Topsail Island's Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in our Attractions chapter.

Nighttime on the beach can be magical, and a quiet stroll in the moonlight is nearly irresistible. In the fall, your walk might kick up a strange phosphorescent phenomenon as you move across the water's edge. A night swim may tempt you as well, but be careful. Currents can push you away from your wading-in spot, and the darkness can disorient you. Remember that the law requires that swimming attire be worn while frolicking in the waves.

Beach accesses are available and clearly marked. Some offer public parking, others have metered spaces. Please use these access points, not someone's front yard, to reach the beach. Property owners will appreciate your consideration.

Parking is free on the street in the off-season (from November through February). All other times, be prepared to pay.  The metered spaces are usually good for several hours, so you don't have to race back and forth to stay legal. If you're heading to Carolina Beach, bring a pocketful of quarters. At the Wrightsville Beach pay stations, you can eliminate the quarters and pay for a block of time with bills or a credit card. Do take seriously restaurant and business lots that have signs warning against unauthorized parking. In some cases, towing is strictly enforced.

On Wrightsville Beach, a public access with restrooms, metered parking and a shower is across S. Lumina Avenue from the Oceanic Restaurant and Crystal Pier near Nathan Avenue. Restrooms and a shower are at the foot of Salisbury Street near Johnny Mercer's Pier. To the north, metered parking is also available adjacent to the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort and on either side of the Duneridge Resort, about 1 mile north of Salisbury Street. One of the Duneridge lots has restrooms. On summer weekends, unless you're parking a bicycle, arrive before 10 AM or after 2 PM to find a space.

In Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Fort Fisher, clearly marked public beach access points with limited parking are situated at regular intervals; spaces in Carolina Beach are metered. Public restrooms and showers are available at Kure Beach Pier and Fort Fisher State Park; in Carolina Beach they are located at the Boardwalk, on Hamlet Avenue, Sandpiper Lane and Alabama Avenue; restrooms are the only facility at Carolina Beach Lake. Carolina Beach also has pay parking lots requiring dollar bills all year long. Parking spaces in Carolina Beach's public pay lots are plentiful most of the time. Several large lots are located on Canal Drive near the Boardwalk and marina where the cruise and head boats are docked; others are on Hamlet, Atlanta Avenue and Lake Park Boulevard, U.S. 421 South and Sandpiper Lane.

Although most beaches in our region prohibit vehicles, there are two areas where beach drivers (especially those who fish) are allowed. But driving out on the sand is a double-edged sword: vehicles that access these beautiful areas also erode and damage them. Beach drivers are urged to observe regulations closely, drive responsibly and use common sense.

Unless you have a four-wheel drive vehicle with suitable tires, don't try driving on the beach, even if the sand seems packed hard. You'd be surprised how easy (and embarrassing) it is to get stuck with a "regular" car, or even a 4WD lacking sufficient clearance or wide tires.

The Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, an undeveloped 4-mile beach strand and tidal marsh, located 5 miles south of Carolina Beach, off U.S. 421, permits four-wheel-drive vehicles beyond the public bathing areas. A $10 per day vehicle access fee is charged; an annual permit that allows unlimited visits is $40. The recreation area allows vehicles to drive on this stretch of beach only during normal park operating hours.

Vehicle beach access permits are available for sale at the park's visitors center from 8 AM to 5 PM payable by cash, money orders or personal checks with proper identification. These permits are not transferable to other vehicles. Violation of park rules may result in revocation of the vehicle beach access permit without refund. The beach vehicle access road is closed and locked 30 minutes prior to the park's scheduled closing, and all vehicles are required to exit the four-wheel-drive access area at this time.

Passage onto the beach is through marked crossovers only, and vehicles must follow designated routes, avoiding dunes, vegetation and marked nesting areas. The sand here is loose and deep, and sharp drop-offs are common. At high tide, the strand becomes very narrow and may even prevent you from turning around; also, the marshy areas tend to flood. Plan accordingly. Please, please respect this beautiful natural area and all of its precious wildlife, birds and sea creatures.

There is no admission fee to the other Fort Fisher park facilities, including parking, visitors center, restroom facilities, trails and beach areas that are accessible to foot traffic. Fort Fisher State Park's operating hours are: November through February 8 AM to 6 PM; March 8 AM to 8 PM; April, May and September 8 AM to 8 PM; June through August 8 AM to 9 PM; closed Christmas Day. The operating hours for four-wheel-drive beach access are: March 15 through 31 8 AM to 7:30 PM; April and May 8 AM to 7:30 PM; June through August 6 AM to 8:30 PM; September 1 through 14 8 AM to 7:30 PM; and September 15 to March 14 24-hour access.

The park office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. The park office is open on most state holidays.

On the north side of Carolina Beach, there's an area affectionately known to locals as "the north end," where four-wheel-drive vehicles may be driven on the beach. However, this is not Daytona-style beach driving. Here, the speed limit is 15 miles per hour and vehicles without four-wheel drive and proper tires will become stuck in the loose sand. Popular for many years with fishermen in particular, along with swimmers and campers, the area, now called Freeman Park, is under the control of and policed by the Town of Carolina Beach. Portable restrooms are available and fencing is in place to protect private property, turtle nesting areas and dunes. The admission fee is $10 per day; an annual pass costs $50. For more information or to apply for a pass, contact the parking office at (910) 458-4614.
 

The ocean and waterways of North Carolina's beautiful southern coast satisfy a wide range of interests. Whether your passion is swimming, boating, surfing, fishing or simply watching waves, the sea offers endless possibilities for exploration, education and contemplation.

Binoculars are great for spotting ships at sea, watching the playful dolphins and whales, and keeping an eye on pelicans as they dive for fish. As ships enter Wilmington, be sure to wave to the sailors on deck because inbound ships have probably been at sea for months and the guys seem eager for a friendly greeting.

A truly fun activity is to ride the Fort Fisher-Southport ferry across the wide mouth of the Cape Fear River from Fort Fisher at the southern tip of Pleasure Island to the charming village of Southport (or vice versa).

If swimming is your watersport or relaxation of choice, you've come to the right place. The ocean offers numerous possibilities for everyone from the wader to the long-distance swimmer. For your safety in late spring and summer, lifeguards are posted at many of the beaches in the area. You can be called closer to shore if the lifeguard thinks you're getting too far out for your own safety. Follow their instructions — these trained professionals are looking out for your best interests.

Rip currents are unseen dangers lurking in the water — dangers that Insiders respect. If you are swimming and are suddenly pulled in a frightening way by the currents, the most important thing to remember is to stay calm. Panic leads to exertion, which leads to dangerous fatigue. If you find yourself in a rip current, relax and let it carry you on its natural course toward the sea. Within a few minutes, it will dissipate. Then you can swim parallel to the shoreline to get out of the rip current area and back to shore. Do not try to swim straight back into shore against the rip current; you'll only tire yourself out.

Remember: Don't swim in inlets because you may not be seen by a speeding boat; don't swim alone; and don't swim in the Cape Fear River at and below Wilmington unless you can tolerate the company of alligators and big ships. Although the river is not particularly wide, it is deep — up to 42 feet — and has fast currents that have to be experienced to be believed. If it looks like the river is flowing upstream (northward), it is, during high tide.

Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Topsail Island are popular places for surfing, but there are some regulations that must be followed. Surfers must wear a leash and will be immediately chastised if they are not attached to their boards. Lifeguards are fastidious about enforcing this rule. (See our Watersports chapter for more complete information on surfing.).

The tides are such an important factor in coastal communities that their comings and goings are part of the daily weather forecast. Be aware of them if you splash out to sandbars or islands at low tide. Changing tides could make the trip back to shore a daunting swim.

Storms and threatening weather are taken seriously on the coast. Get out of the water and off the beach when these often-spectacular weather events take place. Lightning on the beach is very dangerous, and you should seek immediate shelter inside a building or in your car. Small-craft advisories are to be heeded without fail.

If a hurricane watch is announced, it's a good idea to make plans to leave the area. Should the watch upgrade to a hurricane warning, area beaches are often evacuated. Recent major hurricanes have demonstrated the need to take official recommendations or mandates extremely seriously. Emergency management professionals have their hands full in these events so avoid adding to the confusion by sight-seeing on the beach.

On the positive side, most of the storms in this area are simple summer thunder-showers that pass quickly. Take your cue from the lifeguards as to when it's safe to return to the water.

Ready to go boating? If you trailer your own boat, there are ample public boat ramps throughout the entire area (see our Fishing chapter). If you choose to leave your boat at the water, the area's marinas offer a variety of services, including dry-dockage, wet slips and storage (see our Marinas and the Intracoastal Waterway chapter). Boating possibilities include the Cape Fear River and its adjacent branches, the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and area lakes.

Fuel and other amenities are available in many places, generally on the ICW. If you don't have a boat of your own, you can take advantage of one of the charter services for sailing craft and, of course, tour and deep-sea fishing boats that cater to all cruising needs (see our Watersports and Fishing chapters for listings). Boaters should understand the rules of the water when operating their own boats or chartering someone else's. Many waterways, especially the ICW at Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach, can become heavily congested. Educate yourself on boating safety and navigation rules before going out on the waterways (see our Watersports chapter for information about safety, resources, regulations and other topics of importance to boaters).