Weekend Getaway Guide | Wilmington, NC

Wilmington, NC is home to beautiful beaches, boardwalks, many local galleries and shops and holds significant historical, Southern treasures. The seaside town is perfect for a weekend getaway for two or the entire family. From activities to divine, local food & drinks, this town has a wide variety of choices. The following recommendations were shared with me by one of my best friends, a local in Wilmington.

FOOD:

A newer addition to the eateries in Wilmington is Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria. If you order pizza, it will be one of the most delicious pizza pies you’ll ever eat. The restaurant environment is exquisite and is located downtown where there are many drink and dessert spots close by. While downtown, if you’re not in the mood for Italian, Copper Penny is another great spot that has fabulous burgers. The Live.Eat.Surf. restaurants offer Baja Mexican dining around Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. Tower 7, K38, K Bueno and Cruz all fall under Live.Eat.Surf. The Baja-style food is deliciously fresh and is perfect for a quick, sit-down bite. Poe’s Tavern and Dockside are a couple other options in Wrightsville Beach that are fun, casual spots. Dockside overlooks the Intercoastal  Waterway – an amazing view. Several dressier, date-night options are Boca Bay, The Bridge Tender, Manna, Pinpoint and RX. I would recommend getting reservations at these places, some require it. Finally, for breakfast, Drift Coffee and Kitchen has artisan coffee and gourmet pastries that will kick off your day in Wilmington in some kind of way!

DRINKS:

Cloud9, a premier open-air rooftop venue in downtown Wilmington, overlooks the historic harbor. It is a fun and relaxing place to go with friends. Satellite Bar is an indoor/outdoor venue that has live music frequently and outdoor games such as corn hole. The Reel Café is one block from the river and has indoor tables as well as patio with a view of Front Street.

ACTIVITIES:

Wilmington is known for being next to one of the most pristine beaches in North Carolina. Wrightsville Beach is well-known for its wide and sandy beaches. There are 44 public beach access points that stretch along its shoreline. The deep blue waters attract kite-boarders and surfers, who are entertaining to watch while in the water or sitting on the beach. Walking around “the loop” in Wrightsville is one of the best ways to start off the day while the temperatures are still mild. You can also rent bikes at the bike shop right over the bridge to cruise down the beach. On a warm summer day, a smoothie or something cold from SUNdays Café, The Workshop, and Surfberry makes for the perfect treat. South Harbor and Wrightsville Beach offer numerous locations to sit and watch the sunrise or sunset. Mayfaire, Lumina Station and The Forum have great local shops and galleries. A trip to Wilmington is not complete until you head to Boombalatties in The Forum shopping center for homemade ice cream as an afternoon cool-off or after dinner treat!

Needless to say, Wilmington has plenty of local spots to try when visiting. And this only scratches the surface of places to eat and things to do. Please comment with additional recommendations to help build the collection!

XOXO | Riley