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Parks and the outdoors in Atlantic Beach

6 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Atlantic Beach.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Parks and the outdoors in Atlantic Beach

  1. See

    Fort Macon State Park

    Fort Macon is a five-sided brick and stone fort with 26 vaulted rooms, which was used during the 18th and 19th centuries to protect the area from naval attacks by pirates or enemy warships. Today the site features exhibits about the fort's history, restored quarters, and occasional re-enactments. Guided tours are available. Visitors can also fish, hike, swim and picnic in the park grounds surrounding the fort.

    Daily 9AM-5:30PM (except Christmas Day)

  2. See

    The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    The aquarium takes visitors on a tour of North Carolina’s amazing aquatic life "from the mountains to the sea." The journey is arranged in five galleries: Mountain, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Tidal Waters and Ocean. Among the 38 innovative exhibits are re-created shipwrecks that showcase the diverse marine life attracted to these sunken vessels. The 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck display in the Ocean Gallery features a three-quarter-size replica of a German U-boat that was sunk off Cape Lookout in World War II. The Queen Anne’s Revenge duplicates the 18th century artifacts in Beaufort Inlet thought to be the wreckage of the pirate Blackbeard’s flagship. Visitors also get a view of a pair of playful river otters, a roaring mountain waterfall, a sea turtle rehabilitation area, and a jellyfish gallery. Touch pools allow personal contact with stingrays, hermit crabs, whelks and other creatures. The Aquarium offers an array of activities and field trips, and has facilities for weddings, celebrations and meetings. Visitors also will find a large gift shop and a snack bar.

  3. Drink Not mapped

    Bahia Beach House & Surf Bar

    Located on the Atlantic Beach circle; events include weekly pool and dart tournaments, video games and more.

  4. Drink Not mapped

    Beach Tavern (BT)

    Right near the center of town, is a bar and restaurant that is an AB tradition. It attracts all kinds of folks, from locals to tourists, and features pool tables and liquor. Cash only, but there is an ATM.

  5. Buy Not mapped

    Bert's Surf Shop

    A local chain (North Carolina plus Myrtle Beach) offering beachwear, surfing gear, skateboards and accessories.

  6. Buy Not mapped

    Kites Unlimited & BirdStuff, etc.

    Atlantic Station Shopping Center. If you want a kite to fly on the beach, this should be your first stop; they also sell banners, flags, windsocks, and games. The shop sponsors a kite-flying group in the area on weekends, and a kite-flying festival in late October.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Atlantic Beach (CC BY-SA 4.0).