Discover Atlantic Beach: Nature, Fort Macon and the Pier

Atlantic Beach offers several distinct points of interest to consider when planning your trip: a protected woodland in the town center, Fort Macon State Park with its historic structure, nature trails and beach, and recreational amenities at AB Town Park and Oceanana Pier. When looking for a hotel in Atlantic Beach, you can start by considering which of these themes you want to shape your stay. Options range from nature and coastal scenery to history, mini golf, a skate park and fishing, with each place offering a different focus.

Nature and coastal scenery

In the center of Atlantic Beach is Hoop Pole Creek Preserve, a 31-acre protected maritime forest. Its size and protected status give this natural area a clearly defined scale; as a maritime forest, it differs in character from the beach and dune settings at the other places mentioned. The trails at Fort Macon State Park pass through salt marshes and dune fields. Comparing the landscapes reveals two specifically defined settings: woodland in the town center on the one hand, and marsh and dunes along the State Park trails on the other. This can help you decide whether to focus on the protected woodland or on trails through marsh and dune landscapes during your stay.

History, trails and beach at Fort Macon State Park

Fort Macon State Park is built around a superbly restored fort dating from before the American Civil War. The historic structure defines the park’s focus, and guided tours are offered daily. If you are interested in the fort’s history, a tour is a specific way to focus on that aspect. The park’s trails also pass through salt marshes and dune fields. The beach within the same state park is suitable for swimming and beachcombing. Several different interests come together here: the historic fort, guided tours, nature trails and beach activities. When planning your day, you can weigh these attractions separately and decide whether history, nature or time by the water matters most to you.

Recreational amenities at AB Town Park

AB Town Park has a splash pad, a large skate park and an 18-hole mini golf course. The three amenities offer different kinds of recreation: mini golf is a clearly specified game option with a stated number of holes, while the skate park and splash pad each offer other forms of recreation. All three facilities are part of AB Town Park. When planning your stay, you can consider whether any of these specific activities match your interests. Comparing the park with Fort Macon highlights two different focuses in Atlantic Beach: the restored fort, trails through salt marshes and dune fields, and the beach at Fort Macon; the recreational facilities mentioned above at Town Park.

Oceanana Pier and Fishing Center

Oceanana Pier extends nearly 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. Its length is a specific feature of the pier and a different point of reference from the parks and woodland areas. The Fishing Center at the pier sells bait, fishing tackle and refreshments; it also rents fishing rods and reels. If you want to fish, it is useful to distinguish between the items for sale and those available for rent when preparing: bait and tackle are sold, while rods and reels can be rented. This makes it easy to match the items available at the pier with your plans. Compared with the other places, the focus here is on the pier on the Atlantic and the Fishing Center, while Hoop Pole Creek is a maritime forest and Fort Macon combines history, trails and beach.

Discover more destinations: Sealevel, Emerald Isle, Newport, Harkers Island, Beaufort, Morehead City, Cape Carteret, Indian Beach

Go to the main travel overview: Carteret County.