FALLING IN LOVE WITH WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
A few years ago my family had the privilege of visiting Holden Beach, North Carolina. We LOVED Holden Beach; but that is another story for another day. While we were there we decided to drive on over to see what was hiding in the old city of Wilmington, North Carolina. We discovered quite a bit.
I admit I was guilty of thinking this would just be another cozy little town similar to a million others we had visited before; I had no idea this was going to be love at first sight for me!
Wilmington is absolutely beautiful and oozing with charm and character.
I don’t think I could ever tire of discovering the unique pleasures of Wilmington, North Carolina. What a charming coastal city; with interesting boundaries running from the riverbank all the way to the ocean.
There were perfect pleasures and enjoyment peeking out from every path we took.
If you are a beach lover, there are three beaches to explore in Wilmington. Each beach has its own special charm.
CAROLINA BEACH
Carolina Beach is a bit like stepping back in time. It is not just about the beach; you will love the famous boardwalk.
If you go there remember to stop for one of the famous donuts at Britt’s. Harvey L. Britt opened Britt’s Donut Shop way back in 1939. The place has never lacked for a customer. They sell one flavor – glazed.
Britt’s Donuts has become a standard tradition for the many people who love to return year after year to this charming boardwalk. Even the locals love these delicious donuts!
Better save room for one more high-calorie treat when you visit the Boardwalk at Carolina Beach. The Fudgeboat is always busy, serving up the delicious fudge right from the hub of a 38-foot boat which is docked right in the middle of their store.
The fudge is to die for; and the story of how they came to own the boat is very interesting. I will not give it away; just ask any one of the Hagestrom Family who manage the place to tell you the story of how a boat came to be lodged inside their store.
The Hagestorm’s aren’t the only ones with a story to tell though. Almost everyone in Wilmington has a story to share!
This Boardwalk which is located in the Pleasure Island area is the host for the Annual Carolina Beach Music Festival.
The festival always offers a stunning fireworks display on Thursday nights. (As a matter of fact; almost all Thursday nights seem to be magic here at Carolina Beach with lots of local activities.)
Be sure to visit the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park. Maybe you can watch the fireworks from the Farris Wheel. This is one of those old-fashioned carnival-type amusement parks.
Visiting the amusements here will probably bring back a flood of childhood memories for anyone over 40. The kiddies will love the rides; and you will too!
A lot of things close down in the winter; but if you are seeking a peaceful family place on the beach to gather; that really isn’t too much of a problem.
If you go during the Christmas Season there IS the famous Annual Christmas By the Sea Festival, and it is quite beautiful with holiday lights twinkling everywhere and carolers and special holiday events, including a huge outdoor fire pit for roasting some-mores out on the beach.
Bundle up and enjoy a Christmas vacation from a different seaside perspective. I think you will love it!
If you just want to hang out and listen to some real surfing music, you can dance on the pier like when you were a teen in high school! All of this happens at the Tiki Pier on Thursday nights.
The Tiki Pier is just next to The Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar and both places are operated by Abbie and Dave Sinclair. Their restaurant is great; but the pier is where the action really is.
These two also have stories to tell, each speaking of the local history and the interesting way the unique places in this area came to grow into a happy business with fun-loving and faithful customers who keep coming back year after year to enjoy the beach music and the great food.
The Tiki Band schedule is usually publicly posted for the dates of June – August. Look for your favorite musicians and come join in the fun. They all have loyal and loving fans just waiting to hear their tunes.
KURE BEACH
Many people also love the Kure Beach area.
This is the home of historic Ft. Fisher where you will experience lots of Civil War history. The area has been called “the Gibraltar of the South.” You will uncover many of the secrets of the past from Wilmington’s Port and The Cape Fear River. This estuary where the mouth of the river meets the ocean has even more fascinating stories to tell.
While you are in this area be sure to visit the amazing North Carolina Aquarium.
The long pier at Kure Beach is great for fishing and bike riding. There is also a cute little gift shop to visit which offers hand-dipped ice cream for sale.
A fun Kite Festival is held at Kure Beach every year, and the beautiful kites add their majestic glory to the already gorgeous views.
In the summertime at this beach you will find a thriving farmer’s market and on many nights there will be opportunities for open-air concerts.
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH
Just east of Wilmington is the beautiful Wrightsville Beach.
The beach at Wrightsville has a pristine, private feeling about it. Beautiful and peaceful, it seems the perfect place for a family to play.
Here at Wrightsville you will find Johnnie Mercer’s pier; the only concrete pier in North Carolina.
Johnnie Mercer’s pier is very nice, but my favorite pier in this area is the old Crystal pier. It is an old wooden pier that was built back in 1939.
The Oceanic Restaurant is located right at the base of this pier, another feature of its charm. This restaurant is three stories high with beautiful ocean views and covered outdoor dining.
You will find a small bar at the end of the dining area where you can watch the fishermen come in at sunset while listening to some music. Don’t tell anyone, but this cozy little place is a great spot to perch during the annual 4th of July fireworks display. The view is awesome.
Wrightsville is a four-mile-long beach/island, with an interior island called Harbor Island.
The town incorporates pockets of commercial properties all along the mainland. It is known for being a great place to charter a deep-sea fishing trip.
When you have enjoyed the beach for a long time, and you are ready for a change of pace; you will find a lovely little cottage/museum that showcases the history of the beach from days gone by.
These three fabulous beaches are enough reasons to go visit Wilmington; but there is so much more!
THE HISTORIC DISTRICT
The historic section of the city is fascinating.
Scattered through the cityscape are little micro-breweries, boutiques, sweet shops, restaurants of all types and plenty of antique shops.
There is a lot to do on the Riverfront side of the city.
The RIVERWALK
Definitely take in the Riverwalk.
This is a long wooden walkway following the Cape Fear River.
Along the way you will bump into a view of The USS North Carolina Battleship, The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, and lots of interesting little unique places in the heart of the waterfront downtown area.
The Riverwalk is open 24/7.
It takes in about 1 mile of walking space along the waterfront. It is lighted for after-hours strolls in the evenings.
There are lots of pleasant little nooks for resting and stopping along the way.
So go visit the old battleship and hear all of its stories, then; go explore the restaurants and shops on the Cape Fear River side of town.
My family took a fun shopping excursion through a large, interesting antique mall before we enjoyed a nice lunch at the Front Street Brewery.
We loved everything about this quaint little spot in Wilmington that was such a blend of art and culture, old and new, antique and a little modern here and there.
Another great place to eat would be The George on The Riverwalk. Fun and tasty and right on your way as you take that evening stroll!
There are lots of fabulous seafood restaurants here, and the little cafes are quaint and romantic. Breweries abound. There are just too many delicious places to name in one article.
After you’ve walked the Riverfront, take a horse-drawn carriage ride and see it all again from a different point of view.
Then add some more perspective and go view it all from a steamboat dinner cruise right at sunset.
Just let me know which one you liked the best; it will be a hard decision.
Looking for an old charming Bed and Breakfast in this area?
Why not try the French House Bed and Breakfast which resides right in the heart of the historic district. They are the only establishment I know that advertises sounds; the sound of the steam boat’s whistle, the sounds of the church bells ringing, and the sounds of the horses hooves clopping down the cobblestone streets.
What a lovely and charming step back into a quieter, gentler era of time.
WILLMYWOOD
Another fascinating side to Wilmington is the fact that Hollywood has loved making films of all types here.
The weather is great and the scenery is breathtaking, so the city makes a perfect backdrop for movies and television, and there are many production titles to prove this fact.
This fact has made Wilmington some different and interesting history and these activities have given certain sections of town the nickname of “Wilmywood.”
A blog called “The Wilmywood Daily” keeps people up-to-date on the latest Hollywood happenings around Wilmington. They are many and exciting!
To name a few of the shows and movies produced: Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill (I love that one!), Sleepy Hollow, Under the Dome, Stephen King’s Firestarter, Iron Man 3, The Conjuring, Revolution, Tammy, East Bound and Down, Safe Haven, SIX, Productions of The History Channel, The Choice, Max Steel, The Longest Ride, Good Behavior, Secrets and Lies. I could go on; but you get the “picture.”
It is fun to find a good tour guide who knows all about these productions who can take you through a detailed tour of the movie-making/production side of Wilmington. Such people do exist. You will be shocked at how much this subject can encompass.
NATURE AT ITS BEST
So all of this is great information; but you are really just a nature lover?
Well the beaches and the river are about as close as you can get to the good old earth, but I get your drift. Let’s talk about some of the gardens and nature trails. Wilmington is FULL of these types of activities.
Why not start out at Airlie Gardens at 300 Airlie Road?
These are beautiful and formal botanical gardens, full of wildlife, history and interesting structures with walking trails that will surprise and delight you.
You will find breathtaking views of Bradley Creek, 10 acres of freshwater lakes, more than 100,000 azaleas, and the most interesting sight for most people is the 467 year old Airlie Oak.
In this beautiful area you can take a walk, take a tram tour, or take a bird hike.
Maybe you will spot a Painted Bunting Bird! This pretty bird was once abundant to North Carolina but now it seems to be decreasing in abundance. They look like flying-rainbows with their colorful blue heads, green backs and bright yellow shoulders.
Don’t worry if you can’t find the bird though; there are 200 more species that are lovely and popular to this area. Wilmington has some of the best birding around. There are also over 100,000 different azaleas here serving as another type of feast to your eyes.
You can enjoy concerts on the lawn in the summers, and you can even witness the release of many, many butterflies from this place in June through August. Such a pretty sight to behold! The gardens are lovely and well worth exploring.
If you are in Wilmington between Thanksgiving and Christmas be sure to see the Enchanted Airlie light show.
Want a not so formal more of a wilderness trail to tackle?
There are nature preserves and natural hiking trails and parks everywhere you turn. You will not be disappointed; and you can always bike, surf, sail and run on the beach. Take your choice.
ANTIQUE LOVERS PARADISE
Okay – so you’re into historic homes and antiques? This is the place.
Be sure to tour the Bellamy Mansion.
If you love railroad history you would enjoy the Wilmington Railroad Museum.
THE ARTS
Into art museums?
Tour the Cameron Art Museum. They showcase both modern and historic works.
You would also enjoy visiting The Artworks Studios at 200 Willard Street which is open to the public on Friday and Saturday, and often features special events and festivals.
This is an art village showcasing the visual, literary and performing arts of Wilmington for all the world to see, hear and enjoy
ANNUAL FESTIVALS ABOUND
Into local festivals?
There are more than I can name here; but the favorite is always The North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington.
This festival was founded way back in 1948 and has become the largest annual festival of its kind in the state. It lasts for a week every April and features big-name entertainment and galas along with fun family events and pageants.
This festival is a huge fun-filled display of pure southern hospitality for the whole city to enjoy. It is usually attended by over 200,000 people.
Southern belles and their escorts promenade through the lush gardens at many famous annual garden party events. (Hmmm, reminds me of an old Ricky Nelson song.)
The freshly bloomed azaleas act as a lovely and colorful backdrop to the enchanting festival. The rich heritage of coastal Carolina brings out its best for this event.