What it was like vacationing with my family at Carolina Beach | Madison Lipe

Although I’m originally from North Carolina and have been coming to the coast since I was little, one of the beaches my family never went to when I was growing up was Carolina Beach. From what I can remember, we went to Nags Head and Avon in the Outer Banks, Brunswick County beaches, specifically Holden Beach, and Wrightsville Beach maybe once or twice.

When I moved to Wilmington in January and wanted to go to the beach, I went to Wrightsville because that’s what I was familiar with, but then I started branching out to Carolina and Kure beaches because I made a friend who was renting a house in Kure.  

My family, who lives about four hours away, northwest of Charlotte, decided that for vacation, they wanted to come to me, which I was incredibly thankful for because I get scared driving through Charlotte, even though I bravely drove on Interstate 85 as a 16-year-old when I worked at my dad’s work in the summers. I have to admit, it felt weird packing my suitcase to go just 25 minutes down the road to Carolina Beach, but it felt like a blessing at the same time.

Here’s a look at how our vacation went.

A trip to the aquarium

Although I already went to the Aquarium at Fort Fisher before, we decided to go again.  

Every time I have been, I’ve left without regret. Even though I remembered most of what was in there from my last trip, it still didn’t change the cuteness overload of the otters when we walked into the first room. Last time I went, they were busy swimming around and doing flips in the water. This time, they were cuddled up on a log, snoozing. 

Hunting for shells

Inspired by our trip to the aquarium, where I got to learn more about the shells that can be found along the coast of North Carolina, I searched up and down the beach and found so many cool shells. I even found a piece of sea glass the day after my dad was talking about how he had never found any before and that he wanted to. I still don’t think that was a coincidence. 

I found a ton of beautiful calico scallop shells with so many unique markings and colors. I also found a bunch of thin pearlescent shells that look like mermaid scales, and they reminded me of the Aquamarine movie, which was my favorite when I was little. Aquamarine’s nails were pearly and changed colors depending on her mood. 

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Fishing traditions

Growing up, my dad took us out on his fishing boat in Lake Norman, so whether it was casting a line out at Lake Norman State Park or putting our waders on to trout fish in the streams of Avery of Watauga counties, my dad raised both my brother and I to never forget the basics. 

Although my brother knows a lot more than I do these days as fishing has been a continuous hobby of his, I am getting back into it. My dad brought down my rod that he bought for me years ago and we fished out at Fort Fisher’s Recreation Area where you can buy a pass to drive out on the beach. 

It reminded me a lot of the Outer Banks. I think most of the fish I caught were used for bait, but my dad fried up some of the croakers when he cooked our low country boil one night. My brother also caught a shark for the first time. It was a baby and my dad unhooked it and watched it swim back out. Of course, my mom, who is always cautious about getting in the water, was a little spooked after she realized that a shark was swimming that close to shore. 

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Made with love

One thing about my family, we know how to cook. My dad, who cooked us breakfast every morning we were on vacation, got teary-eyed after we ate the first morning and said that cooking breakfast for us was his favorite thing because with me moving away from home, it made him feel like we were all at home together again. 

I think it probably goes without saying, but I think I live in a pretty special place and I’m thankful I got to share it with my family.