Bear Island is a State Park in Swansboro, North Carolina. Close to Atlantic Beach. You can make it a day trip if you don't like camping, just make sure you get back to the ferry dock before the last one goes back to the mainland. Yes, I said a ferry. You have to get on a ferry that takes about 20 minutes and is about a mile away.
Before loading everything up if you plan on camping, you will need to go to the office there and make sure there is an available spot open, advance reservations are best if you already have decided that you want to stay there. The cost is minimal. Parking is free.
What you need to know:
1. Once the last ferry leaves for the night you can't get back to the mainland unless there is an emergency, like a storm coming and then there will be an evacuation notice given and you can leave.
2. You can't wander around off of the trails, it is all protected lands and wandering around where you aren't supposed to be causes destruction that takes years for mother nature to replace.
3. You have to carry anything you want to take with you for a mile, back packing is most likely your best option.
4. Wild life is the last thing I thought I would see but there are little critters all over, raccoons there aren't afraid to come right up to your campsite and try to steal food out of your cooler or garbage.
5. If you pay attention to the water, you'll see dolphins playing out there. Make sure if you take a camera you have plenty of batteries for it!
6. My cell phone worked out there but I kept in in a zip lock bag to keep the sand and water out of it and shut it off when I wasn't using it so I didn't end up with a dead battery.
7. Bug repellents are really helpful! The biggest complaint there were the sand fleas. OUCH!
8. If you spend the night there, you can't have a traditional lantern with white lights because of the turtles. Lights have to have a red covering over them. If you use white lights out on the beach, be prepared to pay big fines!
9. There is the possibility of the concession stand being open during the day but the options of what you can get there are limited so you'll want to bring your own food and drinks in case they are closed or you're staying there for the night.
10. Sun lotion is a must! Not a lot of shady spots to stay in while here, you will mostly be in the sun unless you bring an umbrella or a tent.
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