When your toddler wakes up and packs a bag with all of her swimsuits, you know it’s time for a beach vacation.

Kid Augustine loves vacations. She loves every single part of the travel experience, actually. From packing her bag, to going through security (seriously, how did I get so lucky?), to the actual plane ride and then everything once we’ve arrived at our destination. She loves hotels — and has been known to chant ‘hotel, hotel, hotel’ if we stay out too late — and she loves trying new foods.

While that is a lot of love, her most favorite thing ever is a beach vacation.

This little lady has never met an ocean wave she didn’t need to jump. She has never met sand that didn’t need to be made into an awesome sand castle. She’s never met a fried shrimp she wouldn’t eat. This girl is made for the beach.

When Kid Augustine first met Carolina Beach, it was love at first sight. The boardwalk, donuts and multiple options for ice cream were enough for her to call it home.

Where to stay:

You could definitely rent a vacation home, especially if you’re traveling with a lot of people in your party. We opted for a large suite at the Hampton Inn with two queen beds, a pull-out couch and small kitchen area so we could have ocean views. The best part? We could even walk to the boardwalk.

What to do:

• Spend time at the beach: Within three minutes of hopping into the elevator, we had our toes in the sand. There are 20 lifeguard stands located along the coast, it’s a safe place for beach days with the kiddos.
• Explore Carolina Beach State Park: From kayaking to hiking, the park has a lot to offer for a half or full day worth of fun, including guided and self-guided tour options.
• Shopping: Every toddler’s life will feel complete after they’ve gone into the Mermaid Castle, where there is the perfect mermaid gift for all the Ariels in your household.
• Walk the boardwalk: From specialty ice cream to mini golf to open air restaurants, the boardwalk is a great place to explore when you need a little break from the sun and beach.

Want to take your adventures up a notch? Check out our seven ways to work up a sweat in Carolina Beach- all of them are kid-friendly!

Where to eat:

• Located on the boardwalk, Carolina Smokehouse gets a 10 out of 10 for location and flavor. Their homemade tomato-based BBQ sauce enhances the rich smoky flavors of the hard-wood smoked brisket and pork and will leave you licking your fingers all night.
• Kate’s Pancakes is easy walking distance from the Hampton and Marriott hotels and is known for the wide variety of pancakes and toppings they offer. However, we suggest ordering the pumpkin bread French toast. It’s sweet and very unique. *Travel tip: Kate’s can get busy, especially on the weekends, so arrive early as you’ll be up already with the toddlers.
• Gibby’s Dock and Dine has delicious fresh seafood and is located right on the Intracoastal Waterway. My daughter loved watching all the boats dock out the windows.
• Hang Ten Grill is a laid-back beach bar serving burgers and seafood.
• The Southerly Biscuit & Pie’s ‘made-to-order’ chicken biscuits are the best we’ve ever had. We actually had one person in our group drive up and get all the biscuits and then bring them back to the beach for a morning picnic. *This is great for kids who don’t really want to sit down to eat. The grab and go concept was probably made with kids in mind.
• Michael’s Seafood’s fun atmosphere with huge aquariums (life-sized if you’re a toddler) has some really nice dishes that appeal to the adults in your party, like shrimp and grits or lobster, oysters and crab, and a nice kids and dessert menu.