James & Laura’s guidebook
Beaches
15 minutes from our home, Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful place to spend an hour or a day sunny, swimming, surfing, or just walking. Amazing Sunsets & sunrises. Pictures never do them justice, so its better to see them in person while you're here! You'll have to pay for parking during most daytime hours but there are several public parking lots and spaces on the street, as well.
408 locals recommend
Wrightsville Beach
321 Causeway Dr15 minutes from our home, Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful place to spend an hour or a day sunny, swimming, surfing, or just walking. Amazing Sunsets & sunrises. Pictures never do them justice, so its better to see them in person while you're here! You'll have to pay for parking during most daytime hours but there are several public parking lots and spaces on the street, as well.
About 30 minutes from our home, Carolina Beach is another beautiful place to spend your time. https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/carolina-beach/things-to-do/boardwalk/
266 locals recommend
Carolina Beach
About 30 minutes from our home, Carolina Beach is another beautiful place to spend your time. https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/carolina-beach/things-to-do/boardwalk/
A little further up the road at about 45 minutes from home. https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/kure-beach/things-to-do/
84 locals recommend
Kure Beach
A little further up the road at about 45 minutes from home. https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/kure-beach/things-to-do/
Sightseeing
Book enough nights with us so you get to see the aquarium!
https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/listing/north-carolina-aquarium-at-fort-fisher/385/
And Fort Fisher! https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/fort-fisher
550 locals recommend
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead RdBook enough nights with us so you get to see the aquarium!
https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/listing/north-carolina-aquarium-at-fort-fisher/385/
And Fort Fisher! https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/fort-fisher
The U.S.S. North Carolina is one of the coolest things to see while you're in town. You get to watch footage of history in the museum, as well as tour the battleship - remember to duck! http://www.battleshipnc.com/
435 locals recommend
Battleship North Carolina
1 Battleship Rd NEThe U.S.S. North Carolina is one of the coolest things to see while you're in town. You get to watch footage of history in the museum, as well as tour the battleship - remember to duck! http://www.battleshipnc.com/
The Riverwalk is a boardwalk on the Cape Fear River with lovely scenery, restaurants, and Shopping!!
8 locals recommend
The Riverwalk Landing
2 Ann StThe Riverwalk is a boardwalk on the Cape Fear River with lovely scenery, restaurants, and Shopping!!
Local shops, eateries, and a plethora of choices for those looking for an exciting night out! During the day as you wander around downtown, you'll find all kinds of shopping and a variety of places to eat. At night, you'll hear music coming from almost every direction, and the views from the rooftop bars outstanding!
36 locals recommend
Wilmington Trolley
15 S Water StLocal shops, eateries, and a plethora of choices for those looking for an exciting night out! During the day as you wander around downtown, you'll find all kinds of shopping and a variety of places to eat. At night, you'll hear music coming from almost every direction, and the views from the rooftop bars outstanding!
So much fun stuff happens downtown!
https://www.facebook.com/historicdowntownwilmingtonmarketplace/
15 locals recommend
Historic Downtown Wilmington Marketplace
1 S Front StSo much fun stuff happens downtown!
https://www.facebook.com/historicdowntownwilmingtonmarketplace/
If craft beers are your thing, you'll have plenty of local breweries where you can sample them!
https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/brewery-trails/
Or have some fun peddling: https://trolleypub.com/wilmington/ lets you BYOB and the https://www.facebook.com/portcitybrewbus/ stops at several local bars for you to purchase drinks on the tour!
54 locals recommend
Wilmington Brewing Company
824 S Kerr AveIf craft beers are your thing, you'll have plenty of local breweries where you can sample them!
https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/brewery-trails/
Or have some fun peddling: https://trolleypub.com/wilmington/ lets you BYOB and the https://www.facebook.com/portcitybrewbus/ stops at several local bars for you to purchase drinks on the tour!
Beach, museum, re-enactments, hiking, fishing, swimming...
https://www.ncparks.gov/fort-fisher-state-recreation-area/home
315 locals recommend
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd SBeach, museum, re-enactments, hiking, fishing, swimming...
https://www.ncparks.gov/fort-fisher-state-recreation-area/home
Entertainment
Wonderful productions in this historic theater
http://www.thalianhall.org/
101 locals recommend
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut StWonderful productions in this historic theater
http://www.thalianhall.org/
Live music by famous artists! https://wilsoncentertickets.com/
41 locals recommend
Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
703 N 3rd StLive music by famous artists! https://wilsoncentertickets.com/
Opera House Theatre Company
2011 Carolina Beach RoadMore live theater? Yes!! http://www.operahousetheatrecompany.org/
So much to do! So many places to hike and learn and have fun! https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/parks-recreation/parks-old
Wilmington Parks & Recreation
302 Willard StreetSo much to do! So many places to hike and learn and have fun! https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/parks-recreation/parks-old
One of the things Wilmington is famous for!
https://ncazaleafestival.org/visitors-guide/
6 locals recommend
North Carolina Azalea Festival
5725 Oleander DrOne of the things Wilmington is famous for!
https://ncazaleafestival.org/visitors-guide/
Museums
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
814 Market Sthttps://www.capefearmuseum.com/
Cameron Art Museum
3201 S 17th Sthttps://cameronartmuseum.org/
Wilmington Railroad Museum
505 Nutt Sthttp://www.wrrm.org/
My favorite breakfast places
Best of everything! Best food, best service, best prices for the serving size, best Mimosas! There's usually a wait but it's worth it! https://www.mimosasmademedoit.com/
16 locals recommend
Brunches
6800 Parker Farm DrBest of everything! Best food, best service, best prices for the serving size, best Mimosas! There's usually a wait but it's worth it! https://www.mimosasmademedoit.com/
This place is so cool! GREAT food, good service. Ecclectic decor, yet personal - its like sitting in a dining room in someone's house, but with a bar LOL I've never had a bad meal here. https://www.theeternalsunshinecafe.com/
25 locals recommend
Eternal Sunshine Cafe
420 Eastwood RdThis place is so cool! GREAT food, good service. Ecclectic decor, yet personal - its like sitting in a dining room in someone's house, but with a bar LOL I've never had a bad meal here. https://www.theeternalsunshinecafe.com/
Its Small but good! They're open for breakfast and lunch only - worth a try for a bagels or a sandwich! http://www.empiredeliandbagel.com/
Empire Deli & Bagel
7419 Market StIts Small but good! They're open for breakfast and lunch only - worth a try for a bagels or a sandwich! http://www.empiredeliandbagel.com/
Food scene
I actually don't love this place, but lots of other people do, and Guy Fieri was there a few years ago. Its close to our house so if you're here for more than a day, try it on day 2. Brunches should be #1 place for breakfast.
If you're interested in chain restaurants, there's also a Denny's 5 minutes up the street, a Starbucks 3 minutes from home across from the BoJangles, and you'll find Waffle Houses almost everywhere.
25 locals recommend
Cast Iron Kitchen
8024 Market StI actually don't love this place, but lots of other people do, and Guy Fieri was there a few years ago. Its close to our house so if you're here for more than a day, try it on day 2. Brunches should be #1 place for breakfast.
If you're interested in chain restaurants, there's also a Denny's 5 minutes up the street, a Starbucks 3 minutes from home across from the BoJangles, and you'll find Waffle Houses almost everywhere.
Also made famous by Guy Fieri. There's usually a wait but its a good place to eat downtown.
http://www.copperpennync.com/
123 locals recommend
The Copper Penny
109 Chestnut StAlso made famous by Guy Fieri. There's usually a wait but its a good place to eat downtown.
http://www.copperpennync.com/
Do try this place while you're in town. Its fancy yet casual, indoor & outdoor seating (dog friendly outside), great view of the Cape Fear River https://thegeorgerestaurant.com/
55 locals recommend
The George on the Riverwalk
128 S Water StDo try this place while you're in town. Its fancy yet casual, indoor & outdoor seating (dog friendly outside), great view of the Cape Fear River https://thegeorgerestaurant.com/
I've been here for brunch, dinner & drinks, and to see bands play on summer nights. Its good food and good entertainment, but the parking isn't great. Worth a try if you're out on Carolina Beach. Just pay attention so you'll know its time to leave before the locals get too drunk
175 locals recommend
SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar
227 Carolina Beach Ave NI've been here for brunch, dinner & drinks, and to see bands play on summer nights. Its good food and good entertainment, but the parking isn't great. Worth a try if you're out on Carolina Beach. Just pay attention so you'll know its time to leave before the locals get too drunk
UNCW
At just 15 minutes from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, our home is a perfect place to stay for Moms & Dads who are in town to visit their college students! Moving them in or out, or just here to visit/tour the campus - you'll be close - but not too close :)
32 locals recommend
University of North Carolina Wilmington
601 S College RdAt just 15 minutes from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, our home is a perfect place to stay for Moms & Dads who are in town to visit their college students! Moving them in or out, or just here to visit/tour the campus - you'll be close - but not too close :)