Surf: General: Quieter and more rugged, the community of Carolina Beach is one that puts rural simplicity over urban prosperity. Motels, beach shops and condos continue to line the rough, narrow streets as the impending signs of beach erosion become ever more visible since the artificial opening of the Carolina Beach Inlet in 1952. To get to Carolina Beach, follow 421 south off 17 a mile or so after you cross the bridge and you'll see a harbor and a BP station on the left. Go left and follow it to the beach road, then take another left and head north. Take a right on Sandfiddler Road, and you'll end up on the south side of the Carolina Beach Pier.

CB is the Rodanthe of the Cape Fear area, more of a crusty fishing village than a resort town. And although the water is significantly dirtier (the Cape Fear River empties a lot of its nastiness right north of here through the Inlet), the waves are generally hollower and more powerful than those produced by the same swells in Wrightsville. Thus, Carolina Beach serves as the backup chute for surfers frustrated with the C Street crowds or the piddly shorebreak at the South End. For others, it's just a better wave, and worth looking at over and over again, particularly during hurricane swells. Either way, crowds can get thick during good swells at the pier and near Sunskipper, so be mellow. Fortunately, you can find just as good a wave down the beach without the pack, especially if you have four-wheel drive. Just scoot north and get a little privacy, as well as some of the better waves. Tides: Mid tide Size: Chest high-overhead Wind: West Swell: S, SE Bottom: Sand and whatever they dredge from the river. Paddling: Normally not bad but south swells can sometimes have some current to contend with. Spot Rating: Sand changes with each replenishment but can get good on the right swells. Access: Parking spots are few and far between in Carolina Beach. You can, however, drive north on the beach, provided you have four-wheel drive. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Normally not too bad. Local Vibe: Not as heavy as it once was but don't test it. Environment: Depends on what's coming out of the Cape Fear River. Hazards: Submerged pilings, aggro locals, heavier barrels than can be expected, cops, the rocks at high tide and growling fishermen. Season: Storm dependent: tropical cyclones in the late summer and fall with frontal activity from late fall through winter into spring.