Adventure Brief
Discover the joy of digging for clams on the sandy flats of Carolina Beach. This family-friendly adventure offers hands-on fun, connection to nature, and a refreshing Atlantic ocean dip.
3–6 hours
easy
From $477.00
Family Friendly
For all ages! • A fun family adventure that produces some real “dirty” fun!
Discover the joy of digging for clams on the sandy flats of Carolina Beach. This family-friendly adventure offers hands-on fun, connection to nature, and a refreshing Atlantic ocean dip.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
3–6 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for all ages and fitness levels; requires light walking and standing in shallow water.
Wildlife
History
Carolina Beach has a longstanding fishing and shellfish harvesting heritage dating back to the early 20th century, shaping its coastal culture.
Conservation
Local operators follow sustainable harvesting practices and encourage catch limits to protect the clam populations and coastal ecosystems.
Capt. Charlie’s Adventures
For all ages! • A fun family adventure that produces some real “dirty” fun!
Capt. Charlie’s Adventures is a boat-based tour operator based in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, offering guided shelling trips, eco tours, Shark Tooth Island excursions, sunset cruises, and clamming adventures. The company focuses on small-group, family-friendly outings along the Cape Fear River and nearby beaches, providing opportunities to find shells, hunt for prehistoric shark teeth and fossils, dig for clams, and observe local wildlife such as dolphins, sharks, and coastal birds. Many trips are dog-friendly or allow well-behaved pets, so families can bring furry companions on select excursions.
Trips include a dedicated Shelling Trip to secluded beaches accessible only by boat; customizable Eco Tours that explore mud flats, crab and snail habitat, and coastal wildlife; a three-hour Shark Tooth Island Trip for fossil and tooth hunting with picnic options; a relaxing Sunset Cruise on the Cape Fear River; and a Carolina Beach Clamming Adventure for hands-on clam digging on sandy flats and washing off in Atlantic waters. Each experience emphasizes outdoor exploration, simple hands-on activities, and time on the water.
Capt. Charlie’s Adventures operates from Carolina Beach and serves local visitors and tourists seeking boat access to beaches and tidal flats that are difficult to reach on foot. The operator provides guidance on where to look for shells, shark teeth, and clams, and frames each trip around family participation and nature discovery. Trips are customizable to match participant interests, and bookings depart from Carolina Beach on scheduled outings, offering private-group options when available and suitable for varying experience levels and ages.
Location
Carolina Beach, NC
Operates from Carolina Beach
Family Friendly
All ages
Trips welcome children of all ages
Dog-friendly
Dog-friendly options
Many trips allow well-behaved dogs
Featured Trip Length
3 hours
Shark Tooth Island Trip duration
Select a date for a Shelling Trip, Eco Tour, Shark Tooth Island excursion, Clamming Adventure, or Sunset Cruise; many trips welcome well-behaved dogs and families.
Check the Tide Schedule
Plan your clamming trip during low tide for the best access to clam flats and maximum digging time.
Use Protective Footwear
Wear water shoes or boots to protect your feet from sharp shells and muddy terrain during digging.
Bring Waterproof Containers
Carry a bucket or mesh bag to safely store your clams as you dig and explore.
Rinse Off in Ocean Water
After clamming, rinse mud off in the nearby warm Atlantic waters to stay comfortable and clean.
Water Shoes
Protects feet from shells and rocky surfaces while digging on the clam flats.
summer
Bucket or Mesh Bag
Essential for collecting and carrying your clams safely throughout the adventure.
Sun Protection
Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to shield yourself from the sun during exposed tidal flats digging.
summer
Towel
Helpful for drying off after washing off in the ocean's warm waters.