Downtown
Wilmington
Riverwalk, restaurants, and historic blocks.
NORTH CAROLINA'S COAST
The Local Guide to
Wilmington & North
Carolina's Coast.
Beaches, small-town charm, family adventures, and the unforgettable coastal moments worth driving for.
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Featured Destinations
Explore the
Best of Our Coast.
From the riverfront in Wilmington to the dunes at Fort Fisher — four towns, fifty miles of barrier islands, and the slow southern coast in between.
Editor's Picks
Inspiration for
Every Kind of Trip.
Field-tested itineraries, local-favorite restaurants, and the kind of unhurried recommendations that don't show up on the first page of search results.
DO
Airlie Gardens: A Day-Visit Guide to Wilmington's Coastal Garden
Plan a visit to Airlie Gardens, the public garden minutes from Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington, NC: tickets, hours, the ancient Airlie Oak, the seasonal butterfly house and Bottle Chapel, and the best time to go.
Read the story
kure beach
The Cape Fear Kite Festival at Fort Fisher: What to Expect on Kite Weekend
The Cape Fear Kite Festival flies November 6-8, 2026 at Fort Fisher, near Carolina Beach. Free admission, 80+ pro flyers, and the parking rule that decides how your day goes.
downtown
The New Cape Fear Museum at Grace Street: A First-Visit Guide
The Cape Fear Museum reopens at 230 Grace Street in downtown Wilmington on August 18, 2026. What's inside, what it costs, hours, and who it's for.
The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher Is Closed: What's Being Built and When It Reopens
Airlie Gardens Summer Concert Series: Tickets, Shuttles, and What to Bring
Ghost Ship at the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA: what Wilmington's haunted-deck Halloween actually is
Local Flavor
Coastal Dining
Done Right.
Fresh seafood, waterfront views, and a short list of places we keep coming back to.
STAY CONNECTED
Plan better
coastal vacations.
Get updates on things to do and the restaurants worth a reservation across Wilmington.