Repeat Business

It's been 5 years since I pitched my tent at Carolina Beach State Park the first time and fond memories brought me back.  While development and traffic continue to increase, this lovely Park is holding its own.  Known as one of the few natural habitats in North America for Venus flytraps,  the park has sustained 420 acres along the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway.  You can walk 9 miles of trails, put a boat in at the marina, and hop on the bike trail at the gate to the southern point of the island. 

Just 10 of 79 campsites at this Park have hookups so it's gloriously low-key, and the sites remain private and tree-lined. They haven't paved over paradise here yet! It was very busy all week long, but you could hear a pin drop by 9pm and the ranger presence is notable.  I never left my little greenspace except on two wheels, and was continually pondering, "How can I live outside?" permanently. Why can't I? 

The town of Carolina Beach is busy with a mishmash of chains and small businesses. Happily, I biked south on the Greenway toward Kure Beach (built but mostly residential) and to Fort Fisher -- a cautiously bike-friendly environment.  It was an enjoyable transition week toward God-only-knows-what for the final quarter of 2021.  Next stop, the other Carolina.