A few weeks ago, David and I made a quick two hour drive down to Wilmington for a little getaway. We love Wilmington and its convenient location from our house makes it a perfect spot when we want to get out of town. You can’t beat the food scene, the laid back atmosphere, and the culture in the area. Here are 10 awesome things to do in Wilmington, NC.
Top 10 Things to Do in Wilmington NC:
Grab a coffee at Bespoke Coffee & Dry Goods before strolling the Riverwalk. Bespoke serves Counter Couture coffee beverages and sells local artisan goods.
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After walking the Riverwalk, head down to Chandler’s Wharf to have lunch at The Pilot House, a Wilmington establishment dating back to 1978. It’s a charming restaurant and I love the outdoor seating options. David ordered the spicy fried chicken sandwich and I had the fried shrimp basket. It was delicious!
Use the Wilmington Tours app to take a self-guided history tour of Downtown Wilmington. It’s an easy process to download the app, and there are a variety of tour options, including a free, 30 minute mini-tour, or full tour options for Civil War Wilmington, Old Wilmington I, Old Wilmington II, and Pub Crawl Wilmington. The full tours take approximately 2 hours. It’s a convenient, creative way to explore Wilmington’s history on your own!
Relax and enjoy the scenery on a cruise with Wilmington Water Tours. David and & went on the Eagles Island Cruise, which is a 50 minute cruise. On the even hours tour, which is the one we did, there is information shared about new growth on the water front, plus a ride past the USS North Carolina and a history lesson on rice plantations, shipwrecks, and the effects on the landscape. I also love the options for special events, like the Mother’s Day Dessert Cruise, a sunset cruise with live music, and a wine tasting tour. It is a must while in Wilmington!
Enjoy happy hour at Board & Barrel in the Hotel Ballast. Board & Barrel has a great vibe and a fun setting. The space boasts an indoor/outdoor riverfront bar with amazing views of the river perfect for a warm afternoon. We very much enjoyed decompressing before supper in Board & Barrel.
Make a reservation for supper at PinPoint Restaurant. PinPoint has received numerous accolades for its experience, including being named one of the best new restaurants in the South in 2016 by Southern Living and one of the top 10 restaurants in the South this year by Southern Living. It is a well deserved honor as well. I enjoyed sampling multiple dishes off the menu, including their raw & baked oysters and the local fish of the day. David isn’t quite as adventurous as I am, so he opted for the fried springer mountain chicken breast. They also serve amazing pimiento cheese and butterbean hummus, two of my favorite southern shareables! It is such a great date night spot and I highly recommend!
Stop for a nightcap at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. They have live music every weekend and a tastefully decorated, but laid back environment. There is a fireplace on their covered patio for cooler evenings, which is a favorite feature of mine!
Stroll the historic Airlie Gardens for a morning adventure. We grabbed a cup of coffee to go and enjoyed a leisurely morning exploring the historic gardens. It is self-guided and has a variety of options, including a bird hike every 2nd Wednesday of the month, live concert series in the summer, a low country oyster roast in October, and an art exhibit July-October. It is a spectacular space and we were in no rush to leave.
Lunch at South Beach Grill in Wrightsville Beach. South Beach Grill has been a Wrightsville establishment since 1997 and we were so glad to see it back open after Hurricane Florence made its mark. David ordered a Nashville hot chicken sandwich, while I had the shrimp po’ boy. We can’t wait to head back down to sample more of this menu in the coming months!
Take a walk down the beach on Wrightsville Beach. Regardless of the temperature outside, a walk on the beach is a must. Wrightsville is one of my favorite beaches in North Carolina and David and I enjoyed taking in the salty air before heading back home.
We can’t wait to head back to the area this spring and summer! If you’re looking for a place to stay while visiting, be sure to stay at the Hotel Ballast. The location is perfect for walking and exploring the downtown area, and its a quick drive over to Wrightsville from the hotel as well.
Thank you to Wilmington Beaches CVB for partnering with I’m Fixin’ To and organizing the itinerary and experiences for this trip. As always, all opinions are my own.
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