Wilmington, North Carolina, a historic port city located on the Cape Fear coast in the southeastern part of the state 120 mi/195 km southeast of Raleigh, offers great shopping, restaurants and beach access to North Carolina's Cape Fear Coast.
Attractions in Wilmington include a picturesque riverfront full of great eateries, quaint shops, and Victorian and antebellum-style homes.
Wilmington also is the heart of North Carolina's film industry, which is third in U.S. film production, behind California and New York. You can occasionally see film shoots on the streets, so keep your eyes peeled for famous actors in town.
Sightseeing
Wilmington has a grand Historic District: more than 230 blocks of beautiful homes and buildings that have been included on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a guided walking tour to get a good look at some of the homes (available April-October).
Other attractions in Wilmington include the USS North Carolina battleship (a World War II warhorse that's open for tours) and Chandler's Wharf (a restored waterfront from the 1800s with shops and restaurants).
The Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum was designed by Charles Gwathmey. It showcases North Carolina artists and has one of the world's most extensive collections of prints by Mary Cassatt. The museum also has an impressive collection of pottery from Seagrove.
Try to see a play or concert at Thalian Hall, a beautiful antebellum theater. (The theater's "thunder roll," which creates a rumbling sound by rolling cannonballs down a wooden trough, is thought to be the only one still in use, though it's rarely used.)
Northeast of Wilmington is Moores Creek National Battlefield, site of one of the first patriot victories in the Revolutionary War.
At nearby Kure Beach, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is across the street from the Fort Fisher State Historic Site, where one of the largest land-sea battles was fought during the Civil War.
The early-1700s Orton Plantation (15 mi/25 km south of town) includes an impressive colonial-style residence. The interior isn't open to the public, but the exterior of the house and the gardens are worth seeing.
For More Information
For more information on Wilmington and the nearby beaches, visit http://www.gocapefearcoast.com.
Calendar
Annual events in Wilmington include the North Carolina Azalea Festival in April (parade, entertainment, and home and garden tours; Riverfest in October with arts, crafts, entertainment, fireworks, exhibits, races and food (http://www.wilmingtonriverfest.com); the Model Railroad Show & Sale in January; and the North Carolina Jazz Festival in late January/early February.
Wilmington also is host to the annual Cucalorus Film Festival, a celebration of independent filmmaking. Held since 1994, the festival spans four days and screens films from around the globe. http://www.cucalorus.org.
In June, nearby Carolina Beach hosts the annual Beach Music Festival. The event features a number of live bands and a shag contest. http://www.pleasureislandnc.org/beachmusicfestival.asp.
Carolina Beach also hosts a Film and Fireworks Series in the summer beginning in late May. Family-friendly movies are shown at Carolina Beach Lake Park every Sunday, weather permitting.
Kure Beach is the site of the annual Southern Coastal Bluegrass Festival in September. The festival features bluegrass music, clogging, square dancing and storytelling, as well as local artists and craftspeople. http://www.coastalbluegrassfestival.org.
The U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament is held each October in Southport. http://www.usopenkmt.com.
