The Hollar adventures this summer began early - in April - with a trip to Carolina Beach where we planned to spend our 1st wedding anniversary in the cool breezes of the Atlantic. Visions of camping on the beach, enjoying a gorgeous sunrise and staying up late howling at the moon were soon vexed however, by the fact that the state campground closes at 8, and our arrival was just 20 minutes too late to get our truck full of goodies through the main gate. No worries, we said to ourselves, and ventured up the road to the Karolina Beach Kampground. Note here, any campground that changes out a "c" for a "K" should be regarded with reticence. This was not the relaxing beachy campground of our dreams, but rather a part abandoned trailer lot/part active trailer park that could terrify even the bravest of souls. As we wandered towards our camping spot which had been overpromised as "the best spot on the whole lot!" we noticed yellow crime scene tape encircling nearby trees. An online review warned of the dangers of the bathroom and the ruffians that wander shirtless, smoking, after dark. We made a brief dinner before a full blown thunderstorm drove us inside the tent and straight through a bottle of vodka. We packed up and headed out for the State Campground before light even broke on the horizon the next morning. That place was terrifying. It's hard to get romantic when you're wondering if you'll survive the night, or whether a crystal meth tweeker is going to explode the trailer less than 20 yards from your tent.
The state campground was lovely, thank god, and we enjoyed a Saturday full of cooking fried seafood delicacies and smoking a whole pork butt. You can pick up fresh shrimp and oysters at any of the road side spots on your ride in. We began with bacon and eggs for breakfast, panko breaded fried shrimp for lunch, then had a few steamed oysters and some pork for dinner. It was not a "light" eating day, but hell it was our anniversary.
The state campground at Carolina Beach is not on the beach, which is important to note for those dreaming as I was of a breezy, sandy locale. Instead, you are hidden in the woods among pine trees and there is plenty of shade. The campground is impeccably maintained.
