About Wilmington & Beaches
Heed the Call of the Water
From the River District and Riverwalk that winds around the storied Cape Fear River to three colorful island beaches, there’s something about the water here in Wilmington, NC and our beach towns — Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach — that speaks, surrounds and transforms visitors. As North Carolina’s most accessible coastal destination via interstates and an international airport, the area’s location, natural beauty, culture and history all charm visitors and residents alike making it the ideal place to get away for a vacation or weekend.
One destination and four unique settings . . . from the river to sea . . . create a bounty of extraordinary experiences. Jump to view Fast Facts.
Let the River Guide You
Start your explorations with the Cape Fear River as your guide on the pedestrian-friendly Riverwalk. The banks of the river embrace a variety of architectural styles, and moss-draped live oaks line the 230-block National Register Historic District, one of the largest in the South.
Tours & Cruises
See the city on a guided walking tour, or by horse-drawn carriage or trolley ride. Take in the city’s breathtaking River District from the water’s point of view on a scenic cruise. Let the water guide you across the river and aboard the World War II Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, where the distinguished services and sacrifices of sailors live on. From the click of horses’ hooves on the old brick streets to the rhythm of jazz, blues and beach music festivals, Wilmington embraces a combination of influences from both the past and present.
History Meets the Future
As history moves forward with each exciting new addition, the city mingles Victorian and other period architecture with modern design and new attractions like a waterfront park and amphitheater, hotels and restaurants — all connected by the scenic pedestrian-friendly Riverwalk making it easy to move around.
Parks, Art & Culture
Enrich your artistic spirit through dynamic art, excite your imagination with science exhibitions or surround yourself in a collection of more than 75,000 azaleas under the enchanting live oak branches at Airlie Gardens. With the favorable mild climate, varied landscapes and spectacular architecture, it’s easy to see why Hollywood filmmakers have logged more than 400 film-related credits in the area.
Dine Downtown
Sit down at the water's edge, where your palate will be fed - and thirst, quenched - with fresh local seafood and regional specialties at over 40 locally-owned restaurants, pubs and breweries highlighting craft beer in downtown Wilmington's River District, many featuring live music long after the sun goes down.
Island Beaches
Soak up some island time at Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach – all no more than 25 minutes apart. Find a fresh catch of things to do from beach to boardwalk with exhilarating deep-sea fishing and new aquarium exhibits, as well as birding trails and interactive adventures at renowned Civil War sites to action-packed watersports and stand up paddleboard tournaments. With so many options for outdoor play both on and off the water and one-of-a-kind festivals and events, each beach offers signature things to see and do and quality time spent with family and friends.
Family-Friendly Attractions
Discover top family-friendly attractions and programs from surf lessons at one of the world’s nationally recognized surf destinations to a superhero kid’s camp at area resorts. Fly down the 40-foot-tall waterslide or float the lazy river at Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park. Spend the day at a beachside boardwalk, nationally-recognized as one of the most awesome boardwalks in the country. Discover under-the-sea animals at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, voted one of the best aquariums in the U.S. by the Travel Channel. Kids cherish story time and the playground at the Ocean Front Park.
Fast Facts
New Hanover County, a.k.a. Wilmington, NC’s River District & Island Beaches, encompasses the City of Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach, as well as a number of unincorporated communities, including Figure 8 Island. Wilmington is situated along NC's southeastern coast, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway to its east and the Cape Fear River to its west, making for beautiful ocean sunrises and river sunsets. Discover more fun facts about the area.
- Three island beaches (Carolina, Kure, Wrightsville) are just minutes away from Wilmington
- More than 50 diverse attractions from the river to sea
- More than 15 marinas
- Nearly 8,000 guest rooms and suites
- 400+ dining establishments
- More than a dozen bed & breakfast inns
- Over 50 area championship golf courses / year-round play
- More than 150 annual festivals and events
- 230 block National Register Historic District
- Over 30 charter boats and fishing guides
- Headquarters for the NC State Ports Authority
- Wilmington is one of the most haunted cities in the South, with ghost walks and haunted pub crawls
- Referred to as "Hollywood East," the region boasts nearly 400 film/TV credits and its own movie studio
- The rare Venus flytrap only grows naturally within a 100-mile radius of Wilmington
- Among the most historically significant African-American regions in the United States
- Committed to preservation efforts; architecture includes Victorian, Italianate, Georgian and Gothic
- Home to the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) & Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
- Early explorers named the Cape Fear River for its foreboding waters and rough currents where the river meets the sea
- Sports teams include UNCW Seahawks, Wilmington Sharks Baseball and the Cape Fear Community College Sea Devils
