Carolina Beach Boardwalk

There were rides set up at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk -- the kind of rides that you'd see at a county fair -- but we visited in the morning and they weren't operating. It's all good, though, because we didn't want to ride them anyway! The rides just added a nice festive touch to the atmosphere. We mostly visited the Boardwalk for one thing: Britt's Donuts, which is a Carolina Beach staple. (And which I go into more detail about in my review for Britt's, so go read that, if you want.) When we visited, the shops were just opening (some wouldn't open for a couple of hours), and there was a nice, lazy feeling to the boardwalk. We grabbed a cup of coffee and hot chocolate at Crush and Grind, and walked around with our hot bag of donuts while looking at the murals all around the boardwalk. We parked across the street from Crush and Grind, at a dirt lot that requires you to pay to park. I imagine that parking becomes hard to find when it's busy, but we had the parking lot to ourselves when we visited.

Small but quaint boardwalk. Few shops and eateries. Beach access just few steps away and they have some really nice swing benches to sit on and relax enjoying the day. I didn't see any public restrooms, and all restaurants and bars had signs saying no public restrooms so be prepared to patronize them if you want to use the bathroom. Maybe there are restrooms on another end, but I just didn't see them.

The Carolina Beach Boardwalk in a calm and peaceful place to take in the beach in the off season anyway. I liked how some of the boardwalk went right up to the beach and was accessible for those not to go down to the sand. The shelters with table to eat at were nice as well. The amusement rides were not open but the restaurants and shops still in business all appeared open. Many of the spaces were empty and appeared out of business. I was disappointed with all the trash I saw in the afternoon so the trash cans must not be emptied regularly. Maybe they keep it up better in season.

The best time to go to Carolina Beach is when parking is free and the crowds are gone in the winter. We had a fun time enjoying the warm yet windy January weather on the beach. No crowds, traffic, and tourists. It was very peaceful and fun. We went to Nauti Dogs for lunch and walked on the beach. Most of the stores were closed but we didn't care. Looking forward to revisiting this beach.

End of January and the weather was amazing. Took a stroll on the boardwalk, which is open all year round. Many of the shops and attractions are closed during the off season, but you can still enjoy the boardwalk, especially when the weather is nice. Benefit of being here during the off season is that there are no crowds. It's relaxing and peaceful.

We've been coming here for about 10 years & finally moved locally - we've always loved CB & Kure. I like the addition & length of the boardwalk, they've done a nice job with washing stations & such - also areas leading out to the beach have the 'beach mats' to make walking out there a little easier with carts & such. Lot's of seating areas & places where you can catch shade on the boardwalk - also raised platforms to view the surf better. In the last couple years, IMHO it's getting a little over-run & LESS-CLEAN than it used to be. I once spoke to a 'real' local who said CB used to be an 'armpit' (lol!) and they've built it up for tourism. Soooooo, yes, it's a nice area and I do love the beach here (soft sand). But the wash-stations have become kinda nasty & the drainage isn't good, so I'd rather walk a block to wash off than stand in line or wade through the muck to just get all gross again. The little shops are nice, but the cement/walkway of the boardwalk area is kinda nasty - I feel I have to constantly watch where I'm walking to not step in run-off from an ac unit or 'other' (ew) and the general cleanliness of the boardwalk shop-area is not what it was even a couple years ago. HAVING said all that, we do still like coming here for a beach day since we're only 25 min away. Off-season is much calmer, but much less is open & earlier hours. I love the parking in CB, there are multiple lots (they've done well in this respect) but just be prepared you will likely have to lug your gear a block or two. All-in-all, CB is a really nice vacay spot....pay the extra ($3k-ish/week min) for a nicer rental as we found over 10-ish years that anything under $2k/week in the busy season is usually not as clean and just didn't suit our taste.

Many restaurants closed at lunch. The one we went to that was open had terrible service. The only thing good was the doughnut shop.

I went here with my family and vacation and had a blast! It is the perfect place to go and has things to do for people of all ages! There are certain sections of the area with rides that are for younger and older ages along with some carnival games to play. The best part was that it isn't super crowded during the week days which makes it the perfect place to go during the summer! My only pet peeve it that the ticket prices for rides is a-bit expensive but it is still a great experience!

Carolina Beach Boardwalk is unequivocally American. Families, couples, and friends can unwind and enjoy walking around people watching. If you are hungry there are tons of snacks or meals to be had. Popcorn, ice cream, hot dogs, sodas, and candy are just some of things to be had. Maybe you are with your kid of grandkid and can play some of the boardwalk games to try and win a prize. You probably won't win anything, but kids love to try. There are also some carnival rides to enjoy. There is a large Ferris Wheel or you can go for a ride on the Swing Ride. Lines are hit or miss depending on when you come, but if it is night time and summer prepare to wait some. There are dozens of stores selling all sorts of things. Just this past week we walked by a store selling stuff from India. They had clothes, jewelry, and all sorts of trinkets. Another store had a ton of CBD oil and smoke products. There is of course stores selling shirts, swimwear, and touristy items. During summer the boardwalk has musical acts that perform at night and it can be nice to watch. They have a range of genres so there should be something for most people. They also have bingo. Go ahead and yell bingo too, you won't be the first. The boardwalk is an integral part of the beach and of summer. There is only one constant negative and that is parking. It can be hard to find a spot and parking is darn expensive. Last time I came it was $2.50 an hour. Yuck. But besides that this place is good for a date night, hanging with family, or some laughs with your friends.

I'm a local and Honestly, it's a cute little place to go, however they literally straight-up rob you blind, with a great big smile. It costed me $15 to take my 6 year old son on ONE slide ride. Let me repeat ONE slide ride. It's $2.50 a ticket, the ride is 2 tickets which is the cheapest ride there and there is a $5 surcharge to use a CC, whether it's credit or debit. That's legit taking advantage of every single person that walks in. They should 100% be ashamed of themselves and it sucks that not enough people are taking about it. You want to go to the beach, maybe shop? Then This is the place to go but these carnival rides is a perfect example of what is happening to this state, to this country. I hate to see it. In addition, the staff is kind of trashy

During the off season the boardwalk here is so sketchy. Like, actually terrifying. But, we had so much fun as a family walking around and riding rides late into the midnight hour. The people working the rides are your typical carny folks. They are serious about their jobs and funny. The ticket sellers only spoke Spanish so it was very hard to understand what was happening If you speak English. Ticket prices are very high. Basically 6 rides for $65.00. The parking lot we picked we found out was the ONLY one that was a pay one. All the others you don't have to for after 8. Would had been nice to know as we had to pay $7.00/hour. The boardwalk itself is very nice and the view is so beautiful. I recommend riding the Ferris wheel which gives you the immaculate view of the moon over the water. It was truly remarkable. The bars there were kind of sketchy, too. There are some nice places like Fork and Cork and some great ice cream and donut spots. All in all still worth a night coming here. Watch out for the bathrooms, too

Cool rides but pricey tickets. BRITT's donuts is a MUST!! The pirate ship was fun (the guy gave us 2 rides) but the Ferris wheel was a jip, only went around twice)

Who doesn't love a beach town boardwalk? It's nostalgic, brings you back to when times were simple, and has you appreciate the sight of wide eyed kids wanting everything! From ice cream stores, candy stores, beach supplies, carnival rides and games, an arcade, and fudge shops! Carolina Beach Boardwalk has a little of yesterday...today!

I am only giving so few stars because of the dumpster fire of an amusement area. We have been coming to CB for over a decade and this area has changed soooo drastically since last year. $40 plus a $5 card fee, so $45 for 18 tickets. 12 tickets for three to ride the Ferris wheel. So we passed on that because we just wanted our son to enjoy some rides. Next ride attendant was on his phone and had to be asked if the ride was open. Then we had to pay 6 tickets, the 3 tickets times two because he made one of us ride with. Next ride one of the attendants was sweating profusely and fidgeting like he was on drugs. The music was insanely loud. We had another bit of confusion with the next ride because it didn't look like the attendant was going to check that our son was secured. Only 3 rides and a trip down the slide for $40 and another $8 for one bag of cotton candy. Plus the $10 parking fee. Big

A peaceful spot to come early in the morning to watch the sunrise and socially distant before it gets crowded later on in the day

Enjoyed being on the boardwalk twice during our vacation. Once we visited a restaurant, let the kids play games at the nearby arcade while we waited for our table, and then enjoyed sweet treats afterwards. The next visit included another trip the arcade, fair rides and ice-cream. We were pleasantly surprised to experience live music as well as fireworks! Fun memories for the kids and we really enjoyed ourselves. Only downside was the fact that the booth that sold tickets for rides required a $5 fee for using a card. That definitely felt unnecessary and just a money grabbing scheme.

I can only speak on my evening there as we didn't have a full meal or do a bunch of activities. However, I love the old school family feel. If you want old arcades, simple little shops, and yummy ice cream with beach access...this is for you. There were also carnival type rides. We came on a Thursday night for their fireworks and band (they do this every Thursday in the summer). The band, the cut, was awesome! Many people dancing and singing along. When the band took a break, raffles were drawn from local businesses that offered prizes. It was very impressive to hear that businesses donate prizes weekly and that the raffle money goes directly back to the weekly show. There are several adorondack chairs in rows in front of the stage but you can also bring you own chairs and blankets. We just sat and enjoyed the music from 7 until they ended at 9:30. We also enjoyed the fireworks show at 9. It was probably my favorite night of my vacation.

Beautiful scenery, but not like the bustling boardwalk of Rehoboth. Definitely fun, but just adding some perspective.

It was kind of small but absolutely beautiful. We loved the swings by the beach. The shops were all nice and a great place to stroll with family.

Terrible customer service, ticket seller was rude and would not answer questions. Upon checking The website; it states they're open 5-11 today, but once arriving you're told they only sell wrist bands for 25$ from 1-4, yet online it says they open at 5. You're forced into paying more for less because they refuse to update a website, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone unless you want to ripped off and lied too.

Pleasant environment with a boardwalk with plenty of entertainment for small children. The boardwalk which leads right onto the beach which is open to the public at night is also a plus. Go there on a nice night for great views and some specialized food choices with restaurants ranging from the 4-5 star review range.

This is a beautiful and well kept boardwalk, it has plenty of seating and some beautiful views in some spots. I love the swinging benches and the fact that there are plenty of trash cans around for people to use. It makes enjoying a beautiful day with an ice cream by the beach convenient and fun.

Great place to take your kids or have a romantic stroll with your mate. There are places to eat, drink, shop, or listen to live music! Great place to go.

Well that was a fun hour or two at this board walk. Ha e to cone back when it's a bit warmer. The line for the donuts were over a hour back I'll come back Maybe mid week. A little for everyone In the family. Recommend

The boardwalk in the summer season offers many activities and wonderful experiences for the whole family off-season Is a little slower but still very welcoming and it's beautiful boardwalk come see for yourself. Thursday free fireworks, bingo nights on the boardwalk, arcades,food carnival and fair type activities, nice wooden swings to enjoy the ocean, and Britts donuts, shopping, friendly people all around.

Best boardwalk in America. Such a family friendly place. Has everything you'd want for a good family fun time. Great eateries and shops. It's has been much improved over the years!