Bleisure Travel in Wilmington, NC

Foodie Favorites and Area Restaurants

A burgeoning culinary scene features fresh sea-and farm-to-table eateries, diners and dives. Wilmington was voted in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice as the "#1 Best Al Fresco Dining Neighborhood." From fresh seafood and waterfront outdoor dining to craft cocktails and the Wilmington Ale Trail, see why foodie travelers rave about our culinary scene. 

Three Island Beaches

Wilmington’s three island beaches – Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville – are all located within an easy 20-30-minute drive of downtown Wilmington. Find your laid-back beach vibe at Carolina Beach. Slip back into simpler times at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, or hike through Carolina Beach State Park to see Venus flytraps in their indigenous environment.

Take a break from meetings and deadlines to experience how life’s a little less hectic at Kure Beach. Fort Fisher State Historic Site, site of the largest land/sea battle of the Civil War, and the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, named one of the top aquariums in the country, are two of the state's largest attractions and both offer family-friendly activities and tours.

Known for its crystal blue waters and spacious beach, surfing and stand up paddleboard (SUP) competitions, and signature kids' programs like pirate-led treasure hunts and surf camps, it's easy to find something to do in Wrightsville Beach. Book a charter cruise or spend the day kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing with Soundside Adventures at Wrightsville Beach. Or, make way to one of Wrightsville Beach's many camps, or end the day with a chartered sunset cruise with Wrightsville Performance Sailing or Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours and Water Taxi.

Family Fun

Turn your business trip into a family vacation with kid-friendly attractions like Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, featuring a waterpark, mini-golf, go-karts, arcade and more. Sign the kids up for a surf lesson or embark on a pirate cruise. Get a history lesson as you step aboard the WWII era Battleship NORTH CAROLINA.

Great Weather

A beautiful day is always in the forecast in Wilmington and our island beaches. Located on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, the area has good weather year-round, with an average daily high of near 60 even in the winter months.

Tours & Cruises

Ride along the brick-lined streets of downtown in a Springbrook Farms Horse-Drawn Carriage. Take a scenic cruise aboard Wilmington Water Tours or the Cape Fear River Tours. See real movie and TV locations on a self-guided tour.

Historic Treasures

Explore the Victorian-era gardens and architecture at the Bellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design Arts. History buffs should head to Burgwin-Wright Museum House & Gardens to see its colonial furnishings, 18th-century kitchen, and an outstanding period garden. Tour the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, former home to almost 11,000 men; she earned 15 battle stars for her distinguished service during World War II.

Arts, Theatre & Museums

The Wilson Center, Thalian Hall and many other venues offer a variety of Broadway shows, live theater and concert performance options. Explore Cameron Art Museum, a collection of fine art, design and crafts. Cape Fear Museum of History & Science features the rich history, science and cultures of NC's southern coast. Children can play and learn at the Wilmington Railroad Museum where a real, century-old locomotive can be explored or at the Children's Museum of Wilmington.

Parks & Gardens

Explore Historic Airlie Gardens, encompassing 67 acres of beautiful Gilded Age gardens, lakes and a 2,700-square foot seasonal butterfly house open May 15 - Oct. 15 providing wonder and enchantment for kids and adults alike. New Hanover County Arboretum features seven-acres of gardens, a coy pond and a tranquility garden.

Festivals & Events

From riverside festivals and family-friendly events to national music acts in waterfront amphitheaters, there's a signature event on the calendar for everyone. Catch a waterside concert, street fair fun and epic fireworks at the NC Azalea Festival or Riverfest, enjoy free fireworks and live music throughout the summer on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk at Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast and fly a kite with the whole family at the Cape Fear Kite Festival.