Summer Trip Ideas

SUMMER CONCERTS & EVENTS

Have a star-spangled vacation with fireworks, baseball and more during Fourth of July in Wilmington and Island Beaches. Kick off summer by attending an outdoor concert with national artists at downtown Wilmington's newest amphitheater at Riverfront Park, managed by Live Nation. Visit the new urban greenspace with a playground and splash pad, shade trees and lush gardens along the Wilmington Riverwalk. Spring blossom scents remain with the rescheduled North Carolina Azalea Festival, bringing live music, a parade and a street fair to Wilmington's downtown riverfront, August 19 through 21. Pack a picnic and blanket, and bring your kids to enchanting Airlie Gardens for the Summer Concert Series July through September on the first and third Fridays, or visit July 8 through December 31 to discover larger-than-life owls decorated by local artists and hidden throughout the gardens during It's Owl Good.

FAMILY FUN

Make a splash at the water park, featuring a wave pool, lazy river, speed slides and more at Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park and take a break from fun in the sun to play laser tag or mini golf. Visit the Children’s Museum of Wilmington where kids can interact with exhibits like the Art Room, Toddler Treehouse and Animal Alley. Parents and kids alike will enjoy exploring the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition H2o Today at the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science to learn about how water shapes our lives or meeting a 20-foot-tall giant ground sloth replica, Wilmington’s oldest resident. The little ones will love touring exhibits like a life-size caboose, a century-old steam locomotive and exploring more than 20 operating scale model trains at the Wilmington Railroad Museum, which received the Guinness World Records(TM) certificate for the world’s longest model train.

A DAY ON THE WATER

Explore the Cape Fear River, Intracoastal Waterway and surrounding island waters aboard a daily cruise or private charter. Learn about the area’s history and wildlife on a historic, sightseeing or eco-tour, or relax in the evenings on a sunset cruise. Get on board at our island beaches with a surfing, kayak or stand up paddleboard lesson or guided adventure with one of the area’s local outfitters. Or, dive a little deeper on a scuba diving adventure with a nearby charter. Explore the area’s best dive spots like historic shipwrecks, reefs and fossil ledges.

ISLANDS IN THE SUN

Make your way to one of Wilmington’s three island beaches for double the summer fun. Enjoy live music and fireworks on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk every Thursday night July through Labor Day, or dance the day away on August 14 at the Carolina Beach Music Festival, one of the longest-running music festivals in the country. For classic seaside family fun, leave time to stroll along the Boardwalk where you’ll find amusement rides,  fresh steamed seafood, Carolina barbecue and sweet treats, like the famous Britt's Donuts. Plan to watch a family-friendly movie outdoors at Carolina Beach Lake Park during Summer Movies at the Lake, Sunday nights July 11 through September 25.

Rock out to the sounds of summer on the first and third Fridays, July through September, at Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area during the free and family-friendly Summer Concerts at Fort Fisher. Attend the weekly Kure Beach Market to browse artisan booths filled with handmade seaside gifts, custom-made jewelry, local eco-friendly products and more at Ocean Front Park & Pavilion, each Tuesday, June 15 through August 31, or settle in for Turtle Talks at the Pavillion each Monday at 7 p.m. Visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, one of North Carolina’s most popular attractions to meet the new otter family in the Otters on the Edge habitat. Discover the island’s rich history at Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Museum, the site of the Civil War’s largest land and sea battle and explore the newest exhibit: “From Slave to Soldier: the African American Experience at Fort Fisher,” which highlights African Americans’ role in Fort Fisher’s story.

Enjoy weekly waterside live music series while dining on fresh-from-the-sea meals at Oceanic Restaurant and Bluewater Waterfront Grill. Sign the little ones up for kids' programs at resort hotels. Blockade Runner Beach Resort's Sandcampers half-day camps include kayaking, touch tank experiences, island hopper excursions and dock fishing. Or, enjoy resort activities at Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach, like poolside games, karaoke and weekly dive-in movies at the pool. Get active and embrace the island lifestyle with plenty of watersports activities. Take a family stand up paddleboard lesson or try your hand at sailing with a local outfitter. Hang ten in the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina with a surf lesson or surf camp. Learn to sail at island sailing schools offering ASA courses or take a one-hour fun sail with Blockade Runner Surf to Sound Adventure's Sailing School. Kids love to play pirate for a day aboard a themed cruise with Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours, complete with a treasure hunt.

SERVING UP SUMMER FARE

There’s nothing like fresh cuisine on a summer vacation, and Wilmington has a variety of options for outdoor dining, seafood and more. The downtown River District alone offers more than 40 locally-owned dining options, with restaurants, pubs and cafés lining the Riverwalk, Front Street and beyond. James Beard Best Chef nominee Dean Neff recently opened Seabird, a restaurant that celebrates the seasonality of the area's diverse local seafood. Head to the Brooklyn Arts District to catch the burger buzz at the newly-opened Angus Grill, with 30 different burger creations served in single-, double- and triple-patty form. Or grab lunch at the Mess Hall at the Outpost in the emerging Cargo District, then wonder about the local shops housed in re-used cargo shipping containers. Transport your taste buds to Spain at the new Mariposa Tapas Bar in South Front District for brunch, lunch and dinner.  

SUMMER SIPS

Vibrant nightlife makes those long summer nights complete. Cool down with a crafted cocktail on a rooftop and watch the sunset over the Cape Fear River at Cloud 9, or feel refined with cocktails made from the freshest juices, herbs and ingredients at manna ave. 123. Head to island beaches to hear live music in colorful settings like Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar with 360 beach views, Lazy Pirate Island Sports Grill where tiki huts and volleyball add to the fun and Seawitch Cafe & Tiki Bar just steps from the ocean. Soak in beach vibes while enjoying craft cocktails at The Palm Room, cool down with an adult slushie at Jimmy's at Red Dogs and order a local craft brew on tap to complement your gourmet burger at Poes Tavern. Grab an afternoon beer at Satellite Bar and Lounge, or head to recent additions to the brew scene, Hi-Wire Brewing or Catawba Brewing Co. Sip on local brews at Wilmington's oldest craft brewery, Front Street Brewery, or grab to-go regional beers or global wines at one of the many local bottle shops.