Summer Trip Ideas

CONCERTS AT THE COAST

Pack a picnic and bring your kids and a blanket to enchanting Airlie Gardens for the Summer Concert Series on the first and third Fridays of each month from May through September. Follow the sound of music to discover Wilmington’s free signature Downtown Sundown Concert Series featuring both local performers and touring bands of various genres, taking place every Friday from Memorial Day to Labor Day in the heart of historic downtown. Find your rhythm at the Cape Fear Blues Festival in June, featuring live concerts from world-class artists, a blues workshop, all-day jam sessions and more. Visit the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, one of the most important battleships that served in World War II, for its annual Memorial Day Observance. Celebrate America’s birthday in historic downtown at the City of Wilmington July 4th Family Fireworks with live entertainment, food vendors and a fireworks show on the river. Visitors are advised to check event websites or social media pages to determine if events have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

FAMILY FUN

Visit the Children’s Museum of Wilmington where kids and their parents can participate in daily educational programs and interactive exhibits like the Art Room, Toddler Treehouse and Animal Alley. Say hello to the replica of a 20-foot-tall giant ground sloth, Wilmington’s oldest resident, and find other historical artifacts and remnants at the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science. The little ones will love exploring exhibits like a life-size caboose, retired boxcar, a century-old steam locomotive and more at the Wilmington Railroad Museum. Play laser tag or mini golf at Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, or make a splash at the water park, featuring a wave pool, lazy river, speed slides and more.

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 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 from Memorial Day through Labor Day, or dance the day away at the Carolina Beach Music Festival, one of the longest-running music festivals in the country, held each June. For classic seaside family fun, leave time to stroll along the Boardwalk where you’ll find shops, restaurants and sweet treats.

Boogie on down to Kure Beach for the Boogie in the Park Concert Series held on Sundays from June through September at Ocean Front Park & Pavilion. Get on your feet as you enjoy musical acts ranging in style from bluegrass and country-rock to big band swing. While you’re there, visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, one of North Carolina’s most popular attractions. 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.

Relax in the sand or play with the kids at Wrightsville Beach, known for its crystal blue waters and spacious beach. Or, 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.

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. Enjoy Southern coastal cuisine along with river views or savor the fresh catch of the day at an oyster bar or seafood grill. Sip on local brews and craft cocktails at one of the area’s unique bars and breweries, from rustic speakeasies to rooftop terraces.