Fantastic day for the beach with family

Hurricane Irene spared the North Carolina coast near Wilmington from severe damage. The more inland area where I am merely got some gusty winds and less than two inches of rain.

The family came down for the Labor Day weekend and we headed out to the beach on Saturday. We had a beautifully sunny day, with temperatures in the mid-80s.

Kure Beach is south of Wrightsville Beach, N.C. and seems to be a little off the beaten path. We went to the Ft. Fisher Air Force Recreation Area, where we parked, had the use of the bathhouse, and walked a short distance to the beach. For military folks -- active, reserve, or retired -- I highly recommend this area. The facility is not fancy, but you don't have to worry about crowds and traffic. Here's the link to check it out: http://ftfishermilrec.com/

We spent several hours playing in the waves and relaxing on the sand. When we went back to the Rec Area to change, we asked a lady who worked at the facility where the best seafood restaurant was in the area. She directed us Bowman's Seafood Restaurant in nearby Carolina Beach.

It was exactly what we were looking for. The food was delicious, the service fast, the staff friendly, and the price was a great value for the serving size. I highly recommend the clam strips and scallops. Here a link to the restaurant: http://bowmansseafoodrestaurant.com/