Eco-Adventures, Parks & Gardens

Eco-Adventures

Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours and Soundside Adventures offer a wide variety of tours and excursions showcasing the beach’s surrounding treasures. Partake in an educational eco-tour, a history-focused harbor tour, a pirate-themed cruise or the shuttle service to Masonboro Island Reserve, which can only be accessed via kayak or boat. Masonboro’s unique positioning on the southern end of the island makes it the perfect spot to take in both sunrise and sunset views, which are equally spectacular. Additionally, Epic Excursions offers an array of nature experiences, from oystering excursions to stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) charters exploring the surrounding marshes and waterways. From an all-day birding trip on a pristine barrier island to a shell-finding or dolphin-spotting adventure, there are water tours and cruises perfectly suited to a variety of interests.

Bird and nature lovers should trek to the south end of Wrightsville Beach to discover the unspoiled North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. This far-south end of the beach is a favorite among many beach-nesting birds. Each summer, nesting shorebirds arrive to raise the next generation of chicks safely in a protected habitat. Join Soundside Adventures for a guided eco-tour on the Carolina Runner to discover local nesting birds. This area of the beach is also home to the jetty at Masonboro Inlet. Lounge on the beach as you watch sailboats, yachts and fishing vessels coast in and out of the Intracoastal Waterway and Banks Channel. Gaze across the inlet to see the uninhabited Masonboro Island Reserve.

Island Parks & Gardens

Take a break from the beach and head to the park. Wrightsville Beach Park is home to a large playground with plenty of space for children to climb, swing, spin and slide. The playground is equipped with a wheelchair swing and a variety of inclusive playground equipment, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all. The park comes to life in the summer months with weekly free concerts, a farmers' market and family-friendly activities such as the annual Bark in the Park event. Visitors will also find fitness equipment, basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts, picnic shelters and sports fields.

Situated on the west end of Wrightsville Beach Park is the tranquil Harbor Way Gardens, where visitors can rest in the shade on benches set among paved paths, surrounded by large trees and seasonal flowers in bloom. Children can cool off and play in the Children's Fountain, while adults can appreciate the only public garden in the state to have Witherspoon Roses.

Nearby Airlie Gardens is home to more than 67 acres of formal gardens and walking trails, 10 acres of lakes, the majestic nearly 500-year-old Airlie Oak and hundreds of species of flora and fauna. Open year-round, Airlie Gardens hosts several special and seasonal events, including monthly bird hikes, a summer concert series and winter’s “Enchanted Airlie,” featuring over a million holiday lights.

A Scenic Fitness Trail

The island’s 2.5-mile Loop promises an active experience that’s a far cry from a typical treadmill workout. Jog or walk alongside the Intracoastal Waterway, Banks Channel and beautiful salt marshes as you make your way around this scenic path. You can start your loop at various locations along the path, including Wrightsville Beach Park. Prefer cycling to jogging? Visitors can also bike the scenic route on the road that runs alongside The Loop. View a map of The Loop here.