Summer Things to Do

Beat The Heat In Wrightsville Beach

Elevate your summer vacation with an island getaway to one of the “South’s Best Beaches,” as voted by Southern Living readers. Embrace Wrightsville Beach’s active island lifestyle with watersports on crystal blue waters or kick back and relax on the shore. Kids can hit the waves on surfboards or stand up paddleboards at a day camp, while adults toast to the sunshine poolside with surf-inspired specialty cocktails. Book your summer getaway to Wrightsville Beach to enjoy our little slice of paradise.

O'Neill Sweetwater Pro-Am Surfer

SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS

Sign up to participate in the annual Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament held each May, or head to the Wrightsville Beach Marina to watch the anglers weigh in their catch. In August, the O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest attracts surfers from around the globe or attend one of the only all-female surfing competitions on the East Coast, the Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic. Head to nearby Airlie Gardens to relax under the tall live oaks while listening to live music during the Airlie Gardens Concert Series, every first and third Thursday from May through September. Visitors are advised to check event websites or social media pages to determine if events have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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Wrightsville Beach Pirate Cruise

FAMILY ACTIVITIES ON THE ISLAND

Check into one of our full-service hotels and resorts to sign up for kids’ camps, featuring daily activities including kayak or SUP lessons, arts and crafts or beach treasure walks. Get a firsthand look at the ecosystem surrounding Wrightsville Beach during Touch Tank Tuesdays at the Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center, where you can hold a purple sea urchin or feel a blue crab crawl in your palm. Board a pirate treasure hunt or eco-tour with local cruise companies. Hop aboard to head to Masonboro Island Reserve in search of buried treasure. Or, set sail on one of the island’s many charter boats to cast a line with an experienced boat captain in hopes of reeling in a flounder, king mackerel or black sea bass.

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South End Surf Shop

SURF, SUN AND SEASIDE FUN

Beginners can sign up for a group surf lesson with the experienced instructors at local surf camps to spend a day on the water with family or friends. For more advanced instruction, take a private surf lesson. Try your hand at stand up paddleboarding as you embark on a guided tour, or paddle out under the stars during an LED tour with local outfitters. Sail the day away with a sailing lesson or guided adventure from area sailing schools. Wrightsville Beach has one of the few ASA Certified Sailing Schools in North Carolina, where you can earn your US Sailing Basic Keelboat and Coastal Cruising Certifications.

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Yoga on The Wrightsville Beach Pier

WELLNESS BY THE WATER

With a variety of outdoor activities to experience, Wrightsville Beach is the perfect place to recharge and reconnect with yourself. Find your Zen at Harbor Way Gardens while the kids splash in the Children’s Fountain, or take your yoga practice to the Crystal Pier or the beach with drop-in classes from yoga instructors. Bring the kids along to Wrightsville Beach Park to swing, slide and play on the playground while adults practice their serve at the tennis or pickleball courts. Or, take in scenic marsh and Intracoastal Waterway views during a jog or stroll along the island’s popular 2.5-mile Loop.

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Oceanic Crystal Pier Couple with Drinks

SUMMER NIGHTS

Sip on surf-inspired cocktails and margarita pitchers paired with scenic views at an oceanfront bar or lounge in lush poolside gardens with an ice-cold coastal cocktail in hand. Watch the boats cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway as you dine on the catch-of-the-day and take in sunset scenes from one of our waterfront eateries. Dance the night away to live music every weekend and party with the locals at beach bars, then end the evening with a late-night snack and local brew.

Live the Nightlife