Sometimes the best vacation spots are a short journey from home.
Wilmington, North Carolina is less than a two-hour flight from here, an historic coastal city on the Cape Fear River. Enjoy its riverwalk lined with more than 200 cafes, shops and bars, plus coastal charm and year-round appeal.
This is a very walkable city.
Do you love history? Tour beautiful downtown Wilmington in a fun and leisurely way in a horse-drawn carriage. See the sights, hear the stories and learn interesting facts dating back centuries. Depending on when you visit, the city offers ghost tours, Christmas Caroling, Valentine’s Sweetheart Rides and more.
We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the historic homes district, rich with centuries of history. At the Bellamy Mansion – built from 1859 to 1861 by skilled enslaved workers and local free artisans under the guidance of two Northern-born architects – visitors can step back into the Civil War era.
The stunning Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens is another highlight. It's hard to imagine this beautiful site was once Wilmington’s first jail. In fact, the stone walls from the 1744 jail now serve as the foundation for the elegant town home John Burgwin constructed in 1770.
Stroll the tree-lined streets between Grace Street and Ann Street, as well as Sixth Street and Water Street, to admire stately, renovated mansions dating back to the Civil War era and beyond, including the Latimer House, constructed in 1852 and open for tours. Visiting these historic homes will make you feel as if you've stepped back 160 years in time.
The USS North Carolina, moored near downtown Wilmington, is America’s most decorated WWII battleship and now a memorial for 11,000 fallen service members. Tour its nine levels, check out the engine room, gun turrets, mess hall and barracks, and learn about naval life during the war.
After sampling Wilmington’s award-winning barbeque, fried chicken and fresh seafood (try the soft-shelled crab, shrimp and grouper), we headed for the beach. While Wilmington offers three nearby island beaches – Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach – each with their own unique charm, we opted to visit North Topsail Beach, just 38 miles away.
Debbie Johnston Miller and I became roommates while studying Journalism at the State University of New York at Morrisville. Now living in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Debbie and her husband Craig also own a condo in North Topsail Beach, making it an ideal getaway from the winter chill – and the perfect place for us to visit.
North Topsail Beach, a modest yet expanding residential beach community located at the northern end of Topsail Island, is accessible via a bridge near Sneads Ferry. The area features a tranquil natural environment with expansive, uncrowded beaches and remarkable sunrises over the Atlantic Ocean. It's oriented towards families and offers a variety of water-related activities, such as surf fishing, kayaking, kite flying, beach relaxation, swimming and seashell collecting. You should see the assortment I collected!
North Topsail Beach is a destination where nature leads the way. It’s known for its seasonal sea turtle nests, often safeguarded by local volunteers. This makes it an ideal spot to unwind, watch dolphins from the shore and enjoy a peaceful, slower-paced vacation.
Visit WilmingtonAndBeaches.com to start planning your Wilmington getaway.
Do you love history? Tour beautiful downtown Wilmington, North Carolina in a fun and leisurely way in a horse-drawn carriage. See the sights, hear the stories and learn interesting facts dating back centuries.