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Our family just got back from our yearly North Carolina beach vacation. This time, we visited Atlantic Beach, which is part of the southern Outer Banks known as the Crystal Coast. We love our North Carolina beaches, and the abundance of cheap and free things to do in Atlantic Beach, NC, makes it an affordable vacation for our family. If you have small children, there are plenty of activities to keep them entertained, including, but not limited to, spending hours and hours on the beach!
Where to Stay
Before we get started on all of the fun cheap and free things to do in Atlantic Beach, NC, you’ll need a good place to stay for your trip. Now that we have a family of five and two of our kids are older, we find it more comfortable to have two or more bedrooms and a kitchen to make some of our meals. We also sometimes bring grandparents with us on these trips. We have had great success with rentals using Vrbo and have stayed in both houses and condos using this. Also note that a lot of lodging in Atlantic Beach consists of condos instead of hotels. Vrbo is the best way to find these rooms.
If you do decide to go the hotel route, know that there are not a lot of hotels in Atlantic Beach, and most of the ones that are there are fairly modest. You can use Expedia to see what is available. If you are not thrilled with your options, you can always look in Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, Salter Path, or Pine Knoll Shores, which are all close by and on the ocean.
NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
If there is a must-do activity with small children while visiting Atlantic Beach, it has to be making the fifteen-minute drive to the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The aquarium is divided into the three geographic regions of North Carolina, the mountains, Piedmont, and coast, with various exhibits in each. My personal favorite is the jellyfish, but the Living Shipwreck, the largest manmade ocean habitat in NC, is the real showstopper. In addition, there is an area where you can touch marine creatures, an outdoor boardwalk area through marshes, a fantastic otter exhibit, a toddler play area, and a gift shop. Various demonstrations occur throughout the day.
The NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is open daily from 9-5. Admission prices are as follows:
Adults: $12.95
Seniors (62+): $11.95
Military: $11.95
Children (3-12): $10.95
Children 2 and Under: Free
They also had an amazing membership deal, which we weren’t planning on getting, but it was too good to pass up. Our entire family got a year-round membership for $89. This works at the three aquariums in NC, the NC Zoo, and Jennette’s pier. It also gives gift shop and program discounts as well as 50% off at over 150 other zoos and aquariums throughout the United States. We’re going to be visiting lots of zoos this year! 🙂 You can find information on memberships here. (Note that you do have to reserve your spot ahead of time if you are planning on using your membership, and some places only accept four family members for free.)
In addition, those who are registered homeschoolers in NC receive free admission one time per year.
There is a Dairy Queen and picnic tables on site if you need a snack after your visit.
Fort Macon State Park
If you love history, you’re going to want to visit Fort Macon State Park. You can explore the fully-restored fort along with museum exhibits, hiking trails, and the beach.
Beyond looking at the architecture of the fort itself, there are exhibits inside of its rooms. You can learn about the history of the fort throughout different time periods and see what life at the fort was like. Kids will love exploring the different rooms of the fort and looking at the cannons. However, you will have to be careful on the second level (or just not take your kids up there). There are signs everywhere stating that the fort was made for war, not safety. There are no guard rails and some really steep drops.
While small children probably do not want to go on a guided history tour, they are available for a small fee for older members of your party who might love history. They also have frequent cannon firing demonstrations. Once again, these might be too loud for small children, but other family members might enjoy them.
After finishing your fort tour, you can head into the Visitors Center, which has more information on the fort itself and the ecology of the Crystal Coast. There is also a gift shop.
Fort Macon State Park encompasses 389 acres, so your exploration doesn’t have to stop at the fort and Visitors Center. There are two hiking trails, Elliott Coues Nature Trail (3.2 mile loop) and Yarrow’s Loop (.25 mile loop). Both trails include Kids in Parks Adventures, which are basically scavenger hunts for kids to complete as they hike. There are physical brochures at the beginning of the trails, or you can download them on your phone.
Lastly, Fort Macon State Park has beach access for swimming, hiking, and fishing. Currents can be rough here, so there are lifeguards on duty from June through Labor Day, and there is a limited designated swimming area.
Hours for Fort Macon State Park are 9-5 and admission is free. Guided tours happen daily at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. and last 45 minutes.
Hoop Pole Creek Nature Preserve
If you love nature trails, Hoop Pole Creek Nature Preserve is not to be missed. The entrance to this is right beside the Atlantic Station Shopping Center and could easily be overlooked. This 1-mile round-trip trail through a maritime forest is stunning. You will see salt marshes, dune ridges, and estuaries on your walk. The primary path of this trail is stroller accessible with a combination of boardwalks, paved areas, and natural paths. However, you will not be able to take a stroller down some of the secondary side paths. If you decide to do this trail, make sure that you bring lots of bug spray, especially in summer. This is a marshy region, which means that it is a hotspot for bugs!
Hoop Pole Creek Nature Preserve is open year-round during daylight hours.
Atlantic Beach Town Park
Ellie loves a splash pad, so we had to stop by Atlantic Beach Town Park to let her play in the fountains. The facility also has a small playground, a half basketball court, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a skate park, a concession stand, and a picnic shelter. Everything is free except for the mini-golf and concession stand. Mini-golf is $6 per person, and ages 6 and under are free.
During the summer, they show movies every other Friday for free. Movie nights have bounce houses starting at 7:30 and the film starting at 8:30. The concession stand is open during this time.
Hours vary per activity and season. More information can be found here.
Beaufort
Beaufort, home of Blackbeard, is one of our most charming North Carolina small towns, and it is only about a 15 minute drive from Atlantic Beach. You could easily spend a good portion of a day just browsing the cute shops up and down Front Street, grabbing a bite to eat, and walking along the boardwalk by Taylor’s Creek.
If you’re into history (or pirates), you will love the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Exhibit highlights include a 33.5 foot hanging whale skeleton and artifacts from Queen Anne’s Revenge. Kids will love the scavenger hunt that they can get at the front desk (and they get a little prize at the end for completion). Admission is free, but they do suggest a $5 per person donation.
Since you are in the home of Blackbeard, it is only fitting that Beaufort would be home to Beaufort Pirates Revenge, a pirate treasure cruise! Admittedly, this is not cheap or free, but it’s such a fun activity for small kids that I couldn’t leave it off the list. The cruise is 90 minutes, and kids will get to sword fight, shoot cannons, and fight for treasure. They will receive a bandanna and a small bit of the treasure. Adult tickets are $24.95 and child tickets (3-11) are $19.95. Kids 2 and under are free. (Note: There are no bathrooms on the ship, so make sure everyone goes before boarding.) You can find more information here.
A Day at the Beach
The whole point of a trip to Atlantic Beach, NC, is to enjoy our beautiful NC beaches, so a day at the beach is the best free item on your itinerary! You might want to check out “10 Must-Have Beach Items for Babies and Toddlers” to help plan your perfect day!
Free Movie Series
This definitely isn’t a must-do, but if you find yourself at the beach during a rainy week in the summer, you might need some indoor activities. Atlantic Station Cinema shows free kids’ movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They follow the Regal Summer Movie Express schedule.
What are your other favorite cheap and free things to do in Atlantic Beach, NC?
(Bonus: If you are looking for other beaches in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, you might want to read “One Week in Corolla, NC.”)
