Come visit where the river meets the sea...

It's good for the soul

One destination. And four unique settings act as the backdrop for a boundless bounty of experiences in the historic downtown river district of Wilmington, N.C., and on our three colorful island beaches - Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach. With roots stretching back nearly three centuries, Wilmington wells up a proud past with the steady current of a lively vacation destination.

Jump start summer with a trip to Wilmington and our island beaches. From historic sites and natural wonders to kid-friendly activities and ocean-side adventures, there’s more than enough here for every age, every taste and every budget. There's plenty of family-friendly fun at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, like the June 11 opening of Adventure Reef, a new outdoor play area with climbing, jumping, crawling and balancing features for children from 2 to 12.

From coastal fishing tournaments and surf competitions to weekly fireworks by the sea and movies under the stars, you don't have to look far to find the perfect summer family vacation. View our summer highlights for details on special offers and featured events like the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Memorial Day Observance and the 27th Annual Carolina Beach Music Festival.