Historic Wilmington Has Something for Everyone

Known as the Port City, historic Wilmington has something for everyone. Located in southeast North Carolina, the city is set between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. Residents enjoy a mild climate, making outdoor activities possible year round and with water nearby, it’s hard to ignore the call of the ocean. While Wilmington is a popular tourist destination thanks to the many beaches and the historic downtown, it’s those same lures that turn many a tourist into a city dweller.

Within the area, the most popular beaches are Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, with each offering a diverse array of restaurants and shops. Wrightsville Beach was recently named one of the top 20 surf towns by National Geographic, and even if surfing isn’t on your bucket list, the attitude that comes with that designation gives Wrightsville the casual, laid back feel many of those looking for a slower pace of life hope to find. If you want to head farther south, Kure Beach houses the Fort Fisher museum and aquarium, which is perfect for a day trip when you want to venture outside of the city, but don’t worry. Wilmington offers plenty of attractions just minutes from your doorstep.

Some call Wilmington a big city with a small town feel. Maybe you feel like dining out instead of cooking. There are endless options for a palate of any type. You can never go wrong with seafood in the Port City, and restaurants like Catch and Dock Street Oyster Bar might just become your regular Friday night spots. If you’re looking for something a little more exotic, Indochine repeatedly delivers with its authentic Asian cuisine and the ambiance it possesses. Of course, there are many more restaurants than we could list here so take your time and enjoy the culinary offerings throughout the city. But what to do once lunch is finished?

You can take a tour of the NC Battleship, which was part of the World War II pacific effort. You might also be surprised to learn that Wilmington is a huge film town, with many television series and movies filmed right in the area. Imagine going to brunch and seeing your favorite movie star in action! You can even take a tour of the Screen Gems Studios to get a behind the camera look.

Wilmington also has a variety of family friendly parks, making it easy to take a leisurely Sunday stroll or have an impromptu picnic. And what to do on rainy days? The arts and cultural scene is alive and well throughout the city, so filling your days with concerts, gallery walks and lectures is easy to do. The campus of UNCW offers a variety of musical and theatre productions and downtown venues like Thalian Hall and the Cameron Art Museum have revolving shows. If you’re interested in historical venues, take a carriage ride through downtown or visit the Bellamy Mansion. No matter what you want to do, you’ll find it in Wilmington, NC.