Throughout my life when I’d think of travel in North Carolina, my mind would take me to the Outer Banks, mountainous Asheville, or a hip and growing city like Raleigh. I’d never even heard of Wilmington until a southern road trip revealed to me this coastal city with a mild climate – perfect for a spring retreat. With so much to offer, this city truly has something for everyone.
+You have your number of beaches to choose from nearby: Fort Fisher, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach (my favorite).
March was just fine for a dip if you’re a hardy northerner – the water is chilly, but on a sunny day laying on the sand is warm.
+Downtown has a one-mile-long Riverwalk oozing with charm along the Cape Fear River.
It’s a great gateway for restaurants and shops, to learn some history through informational plaques, and to admire the sculptures along the way.
+The city is proud of the fact that they are home to venus flytraps, which only grow in the Carolina subtropical wetlands. You can find them hiking about in one of the many local preserves. In the springtime they are also known for their colorful azalea blooms, they even have a festival held, this year (2018) from April 11th-15th.
+From Colonial forts to World War II battleship and everything in between (also before and after!), history buffs will be quite busy.
+Tour the many breweries of the city and test out all of the various donuts. Grab your fruits and veggies locally at the farm stand Port City Produce, where you can also sample boiled peanuts and local meats to cook at home.
+Shoppers won’t want to miss the Cotton Exchange – a building which once sold cotton in the early 1900s and is now filled with local stores.
Walking around it is fun to read the historical plaques and check out the art that fills the historic building.
My favorite spot was Heart of Carolina which sells crafts and goods from native NC artisans. Don’t miss the bookstore if you’re looking for some new literature, or if you want to pet the bookstore cat.
Next time!! I love Carolina Beach SP too, so much wildlife I almost stepped on a worm snake there.
Our favorite place when we visited was Carolina Beach State Park for hiking. I do wish we had more time to see the other beaches.