The Wilmington
coast, covered.
Your guide to beaches, local-favorite restaurants, and fun-filled itineraries, all in one place.
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The Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Regatta: A Free Race Day on the Yacht Basin
The Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Regatta races Saturday, September 19, 2026 in the yacht basin. Free to watch, plus where to park and how the race day runs.
The Cape Fear Fair Is Gone: Where to Find a County Fair Near Wilmington
The Cape Fear Fair & Expo hasn't run since 2021. The closest county fair to Wilmington is now in Brunswick County, October 21-25, 2026. Dates, hours, and cost.
Parking at Wilmington's beaches and downtown: rates, seasons, and rules by town
Parking rates and paid seasons for Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure Beach, plus downtown Wilmington, with the official pages to confirm your dates.
Sea turtle nesting season on Wilmington's beaches: dates and light rules by town
Sea turtle nesting season dates for Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure Beach, each town's beachfront lighting rule, which ones are law, and the nest counts.
Where to stay in Carolina Beach: oceanfront hotels, boardwalk inns, and the cottage stretch
Carolina Beach lodging: which oceanfront hotel fits your trip, what the boardwalk-era inns are actually like, and how to find your spot on the island.
Where to eat in Kure Beach: the classics worth the drive
Where to eat in Kure Beach: the institutions worth the drive, plus the casual oceanfront spots that handle sandy feet, kids, and a Fort Fisher day trip.
Take the Ferry to Southport: Wilmington's Easiest Day Trip
Ride the Fort Fisher-Southport car ferry across the Cape Fear: about $7 a car, 35 minutes each way, and a waterfront town to walk. Fares, schedule, and timing tips.
Where to Eat in Downtown Wilmington
A downtown Wilmington dining guide organized by occasion: date night, Riverwalk outdoor dining, the Cargo District food hall, and the fine-dining spots worth a reservation.
See Venus Flytraps in the Wild at Carolina Beach State Park
Carolina Beach State Park's Flytrap Trail is one of the few places to see Venus flytraps growing wild. What to look for, when to go, and why you never pick one.
What a Wilmington Beach Trip Actually Costs in 2026
What a Wilmington beach trip costs in 2026, line by line: lodging, food, gas, parking, and activities, with 2026 figures and budgets for a couple and a family.
Where to stay near Wilmington's beaches: a guide to Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure (and when downtown wins)
A practical guide to where to stay near Wilmington's beaches: how Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure differ, when downtown wins, and how to pick a hotel or rental.
Atlanta to Wilmington: How the Cape Fear Beaches Stack Up Against Tybee and St. Simons
Wilmington is about 415 miles from Atlanta, roughly 3 to 4 hours further than Tybee or St. Simons. Here's how the food, things to do, and vibe differ, plus the drive.
Wilmington beaches: how Wrightsville fits the three-island lineup
How Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach compare on pace, crowds, and logistics, so you can pick the right island for your Wilmington trip.
Wilmington to Myrtle Beach: The Drive, the Differences, and Which Beach Trip Fits You
Wilmington to Myrtle Beach runs about 70 miles on US 17, usually 90 minutes to two hours. Here's the drive, the traffic, and how the two beach trips differ.
Where to walk on Wrightsville Beach: the Loop, the pier, and the museum
Plan a walking day at Wrightsville Beach: the Loop, Johnnie Mercer's Pier, and the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. Confirm hours and pier pricing at official sites before you go.
Camping at Carolina Beach State Park: sites, cabins, and how to book
Carolina Beach State Park has the only public campground on Pleasure Island: 69 wooded sites, full-hookup spots, and six cabins. How to pick a site and book it.
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.
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.
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
The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, in Kure Beach, closed in May 2026 for a roughly $65 million expansion. Why it closed, what's being built, and when it reopens.
Airlie Gardens Summer Concert Series: Tickets, Shuttles, and What to Bring
Plan a Friday concert at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC: the 2026 lineup and remaining dates, advance-only tickets, the Northeast Library shuttle, and what you can bring.
Ghost Ship at the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA: what Wilmington's haunted-deck Halloween actually is
What Ghost Ship at the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA actually is: a below-decks Halloween walk-through, how Batty Battleship Bash differs, and where ghost hunts fit.
Why the Battleship's parking lot became a marsh
The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA turned a flood-prone parking lot into a tidal marsh. Here's what the Living with Water project did, and what it means for your visit.
Visiting the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA: what to know before you go
Plan a calm visit to the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA in Wilmington: how it got here, what the self-guided tour is really like, and when Ghost Ship or the race rolls in.
Taking kids to the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA: age-by-age planning
Taking kids to the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA in Wilmington? A practical, age-by-age guide to the stairs, summer heat, what to skip, and what kids actually enjoy.
The Best Time to Visit Wilmington's Beaches, Month by Month
A month-by-month guide to Wilmington's beaches: water temperature, crowds, hurricane season, events, and cost, so you can pick the right week to go.
A Sunset Cruise on the Cape Fear: Riding the Henrietta from Downtown Wilmington
The Henrietta sunset cruise is a 90-minute Saturday-evening ride on the Cape Fear River from downtown Wilmington. What you see, which deck to pick, and how to board.
Carolina Beach when the kitchens close: late-night and breakfast picks
Where to eat late and early in Carolina Beach: the late-night diner that stays open when kitchens close, plus the breakfast institutions worth the early beach-morning alarm.
A Night Out in Downtown Wilmington: A Walkable Bar Crawl
A walkable 21+ bar crawl through downtown Wilmington: Front Street first rounds, speakeasy cocktails, a rooftop finish, plus parking and last call.
Where to Hear Live Music in Downtown Wilmington
A guide to live music in downtown Wilmington: the venues worth your night, from Bourgie Nights and The Reel Cafe to jazz and comedy, plus who's playing this weekend.
How to Eat Well in Wilmington Without Blowing Your Beach Budget
Eat well across the Wilmington beaches without overspending: which meals to cook in a rental, where the value is in each area, and which splurges earn it.
Front Street Brewery: A Visitor's Guide to Wilmington's Oldest Brewpub
Front Street Brewery is Wilmington's oldest brewpub, in an 1865 building downtown. What to drink and order, which floor to sit on, plus hours and parking.
The Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington: What to Expect on Downtown's Haunted History Tour
Wilmington's Ghost Walk is a 90-minute, mile-long night tour from the riverfront through the historic district. What to expect, the stops, and who it suits.
Kid-Friendly Lunch Near Wrightsville Beach: Picks That Survive a Toddler
Practical lunch picks near Wrightsville Beach for families with young kids. We focus on speed, seating, and food kids will actually eat.
Movies at the Lake: Carolina Beach's Free Summer Movie Nights
Carolina Beach's free Movies at the Lake brings films to Carolina Beach Lake on summer evenings. What to bring, where to park, and how to plan your night.
A First-Timer's Guide to the Riverfront Farmers Market in Downtown Wilmington
Wilmington's Riverfront Farmers Market fills the downtown riverfront with local farmers and makers on Saturday mornings. Hours, parking, and what to buy.
Where to Stay With Young Kids Near Wrightsville Beach: Vacation Rental, Hotel, or Condo
How to compare vacation rentals, condos, and hotels near Wrightsville Beach for families with young kids, with notes on kitchens, laundry, and walk-to-sand.
Hotel, vacation rental, condo, or B&B in Wilmington beach country? A decision guide
Deciding where to stay near Wilmington's beaches? Compare hotels, vacation rentals, condos, and B&Bs by space, cost, service, and fine print so you book the right fit.
Wilmington Coffee Fest: A Cargo District Weekend, Plus the City's Year-Round Coffee Scene
Your 2026 guide to Wilmington Coffee Fest in the Cargo District: the latte art throwdown, the Saturday street fair, tickets, and the city's year-round coffee scene.
Touring 'Hollywood East': Wilmington's Movie and TV Filming Locations
Tour Wilmington's film and TV locations: the guided Wilmywood walk, self-guided One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek stops downtown, TRIC's set, and the Screen Gems studio truth.
Fourth of July Fireworks in Wilmington: Where to Watch and Whether You Can Light Your Own
Where to watch July 4 fireworks around Wilmington and its beaches in 2026, plus which personal fireworks are legal on the sand and what breaking the rules costs.
Ten Margaritas, One Afternoon: Your Guide to the Wilmington Margarita Festival
A 2026 guide to the Wilmington Margarita Festival at ChowTown on July 18: what general admission and VIP tickets include, the ten-sample tasting, parking, and planning your day.
Wilmington Riverfest: A First-Timer's Guide to the Riverfront's Biggest Fall Festival
A 2026 guide to Wilmington Riverfest on the downtown riverfront, October 3-4: what fills the street fair, the main-stage music, the Saturday-night drone show, parking, and planning your day.
Conservation and community at Wrightsville Beach
Sea turtles, community gardeners, and town-backed stewardship at Wrightsville Beach. Respectful visitor habits with official nonprofit and municipal sources.
Wrightsville Beach rules for your first beach day
Parking kiosks, strand bike windows, and surf-zone rules at Wrightsville Beach, with links to the official town pages that stay current.
Fishing at Wrightsville Beach: pier walk-on vs. charters
Pier fishing vs charters by Wrightsville: licenses, gear, weather. Confirm NC rules, pier fees, and charter cancel terms on official pages before booking.
Where to eat with a view on Wrightsville Beach
A view-first dining guide to Wrightsville Beach. Pick the right table by what you're looking at: Banks Channel sunset, Atlantic pier, or working marina.
Rooftop and Waterfront Bars in Downtown Wilmington
Where to drink with a Cape Fear River view in downtown Wilmington: rooftop bars at aView and the Reel Cafe, plus waterfront patios along the Riverwalk.
Rainy-Day Things to Do With Kids Near Wrightsville Beach
A practical guide for parents staying near Wrightsville Beach with kid-friendly indoor activities in Wilmington and nearby.