Airlie News

A Local’s Guide to the Pleasure Island Lifestyle

Living on Pleasure Island has a way of reshaping your everyday rhythm. It’s relaxed, friendly, and surrounded by some of the most naturally beautiful stretches of coastline in North Carolina.

If you’ve been considering life in or around Carolina Beach or Kure Beach, here’s a local-minded look at what this area is really like and why so many people choose to call it home.

Carolina Beach: Easygoing, Active, and Full of Local Energy

Carolina Beach is known for being welcoming and down-to-earth. It has a year-round feel with plenty of local spots, small businesses, and outdoor routines that shape daily life. Even in the busy season, there’s a familiarity that keeps it feeling like a real community.

Life here often includes:

  • Morning walks around the lake
  • Evenings catching the sunset near the marina
  • Trying “just one more” new spot for dinner
  • Getting to know your neighbors quickly

It’s a lively part of the island without ever losing that approachable coastal charm.

Kure Beach: Peaceful Living With a Close-Knit Feel

Just a little farther south, Kure Beach brings a quieter lifestyle that many locals fall in love with immediately. The streets are walkable, the beach feels calm, and the pace naturally slows down.

People appreciate Kure Beach for:

  • Its peaceful oceanfront
  • The friendly residential feel
  • Quiet early mornings
  • Easy access to the southern end of the island

It’s one of those places where simple routines become the best part of the day.

Fort Fisher & the Southern Tip of Pleasure Island

The very end of Pleasure Island is shaped by the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and surrounding protected land. While this area is known for its natural beauty, historic sites, and open shoreline, there are pockets of residential living along Fort Fisher Boulevard in Kure Beach where people build and live year-round.

That combination creates a lifestyle that feels different from anywhere else on the island. On one side, you have homes tucked along the quiet southern stretch. On the other, you have:

  • Miles of preserved shoreline
  • Maritime forest trails
  • Scenic basin views
  • Access to the Southport ferry
  • Seasonal sea turtle nesting areas
  • One of the calmest, most peaceful atmospheres on the coast

Because part of this area is protected parkland, buyers and builders often check zoning and environmental guidelines before making plans. But for many locals, having this natural landscape close by is one of the biggest benefits of living here.

The Daily Rhythm of Pleasure Island Living

Across Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and the Fort Fisher area, a few things tend to define everyday life:

  • You spend more time outside
  • Community feels genuine
  • The water is part of your routine
  • The pace slows in all the right ways
  • Simple moments carry a little more meaning

There’s a reason so many visitors eventually decide to stay.

Thinking About Making Pleasure Island Home?

If you’re starting to explore the area or planning a future move, Airlie Homes created a free 28-page Pleasure Island Guide to help you learn even more about the lifestyle, local insights, and what it’s like to build or buy in this part of coastal North Carolina.

It’s designed to give you a clear, easy way to understand the island and feel confident as you plan the next steps toward your coastal home.