Sightsee

 

Sightsee in Wilmington’s National Register Historic District via a horse-drawn carriage, Segue, trolley or walking tour. Spanning more than 230 blocks, it features churches, classic architecture, moss-draped live oaks, brick-lined streets and antebellum homes. Include one of Wilmington’s historic houses, such as the Burgwin-Wright House (colonial era), Latimer House (Victorian era) or Bellamy Mansion (antebellum mansion). Check out the antique shops in Downtown’s central business district and along the Castle Street Arts & Antique district.

 

Tour Hollywood East. N.C. ranks among the top states for U.S. film production, and one of the largest production facilities east of L.A. is located right in Wilmington. See real locations for some of Wilmington’s biggest movies and TV shows during a Hollywood Location Walk. Or take a weekend tour of EUE/Screen Gems Studios (in the spring/summer) to get a behind-the-scenes look at well-known productions like the CBS series, “Under the Dome.http://hollywoodnc.com/hollywood_location_walk.html

 

Walk the Decks of History. Tread along the decks of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, one of the state’s most visited attractions, and imagine being at sea in 1942. Discover how this heroic ship and brave crew fought in every major naval offensive in the Pacific of WWII, earning 15 battle stars for their valiant efforts.  http://www.battleshipnc.com

 

Take a Ghost Walk. Wilmington is considered to be among the most haunted cities in the world. Recommended by USA Today and Southern Living, the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington guides traverse 275-year-old alleyways while telling stories of poor lost souls that still linger in Port City each night. For a double dose of spirits, try a haunted pub-crawl.  http://www.hollywoodnc.com/ghost_walk.html

 

Discover Natural Beauty.  Start the day by getting outdoors. Walkers, joggers and off-road cyclists will want to spend some time on Wilmington’s Gary Shell Cross-City Trail. Yogis and Pilates-enthusiasts will want to check out classes at Halyburton Memorial Park, a 58-acre nature preserve. Golfers will want to tee off at the newly renovated, Donald Ross-designed Wilmington Municipal Golf Course.

 

Celebrate a Century of Gardens. Historic Airlie Gardens encompasses 67 acres of formal gardens, wildlife, historic structures, walking trails, sculptures, and its legendary landscape of azaleas and 467-year-old Airlie Oak. Birders should bring binoculars, as this is a site on the North Carolina Birding Trail. http://airliegardens.org/

 

Cruises, Tours & Excursions

The Wilmington offers a variety of scheduled cruises and customizable private charters. Cruises and tours are offered mornings, afternoons and evenings throughout the year. Schedules and specific cruises vary by season. Choose between historic eco-tours, sunset cruises or narrated tours of the beautiful Cape Fear waterways. The Wilmington offers a full bar including beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Our Calendar is updated often as new tours and adventures are added.   Sunday's are our favorite Captain's Lazy Day Cruise and Thursday through Saturday feature Acoustic Spotlight on our Sunset Cruises with local musicians. Call 910-338-3134 to buy tickets.

 

Blackwater Cruises:   A relaxing, scenic 2 hour cruise from downtown Wilmington up the Northeast Cape Fear River.  The ideal way to spend an unforgettable morning.  This has become our signature cruise & Captain Doug's favorite. Join us as we head up the Northeast Cape Fear River to the upper reaches of the black water system of this mysterious river. The Northeast Cape Fear River is still largely unpopulated and looks much as it did when Wilmington was colonized in the late 1600's. We will cruise through the Castle Hayne Aquifer and by the bluffs of the Rose Hill Plantation. This journey is comfortable, relaxing and inspirational.  Photographers, birders and nature buffs will love the variety of wildlife & native plants that adorn the river banks. Your time with us will present  you with the opportunity to see osprey, alligators,sea turtles & river otters, just to name a few. Bring your camera so you won't forget the untouched beauty of this Black Water Adventure.  Regular price is $33, book online or at our shop for only $27.

 

​Eagle Island Cruises:  Join us on a scenic 50 minute narrated eco-history cruise featuring views of unspoiled nature and a variety of wildlife daily.  Only $10.On the even hours we cruise north along the Historic Downtown and Eagles Island where you will see the past come alive.  Capture unique views of the Battleship, learn about rice plantations, and view shipwrecks, flora and fauna. On the odd hours we head south under the Memorial Bridge to the State Ports, learn the history of the WWII Wilmington Ship Yard along with current facts while watching tug boats, container ships, pleasure boats... bring your camera along, there are photo ops in every direction! Now we offer two Eagles Island Cruises for only $17!  Every other hour we will cruise in a different direction, one will get you up close to the State Ports and the other a great view of downtown and the Battleship.  So stay on board and enjoy both cruises for one low price. http://www.wilmingtonwatertours.net/all-tours-cruises.html

 

Beaches

 

Wrightsville Beach is North Carolina’s most accessible beach and known for its clear blue waters and spacious, clean beach. With an abundance of water sports and outdoor activities and a vibrant social scene, there’s never a shortage of something happening year-round.  Kayak or paddle board, tame the area’s world-class surf, reel in a prize-worthy fish, or just enjoy the spectacular views during an evening harbor cruise.  This walkable, village-like town evokes a comfortable sense of place and is known for its welcoming, social community.

 

Make a break with your family to Wrightsville Beach this spring. Visitors can take a lesson in surfing, standup paddleboarding, sailing or kayaking at “North Carolina’s most naturally gifted watersports hub” as named by Men’s Journal.  Family-friendly adventures include treasure hunts, plus hotels and resorts with programs for kids of all ages.  Fill your days with walks on the beach or the 2.5-mile scenic loop and your nights with fun in the beach’s thriving social scene at waterfront restaurants and nightlife spots.  - See more at: http://www.visitwrightsvillebeachnc.com/#sthash.HheWakEZ.dpuf  http://www.visitwrightsvillebeachnc.com/LIVE SURF CAMERA:  http://www.wblivesurf.com/livecams.asp

 

Events at Pleasure Island are renowned for great fun, great food, and a great experience of our local culture - all year round!  Residents, neighbors, and visitors attend Kure Beach and Carolina Beach events year after year, planning their calendars around big festivals including the Seafood Blues and Jazz Festival, the Beach Music Festival, or the Chowder Cook-Off. Be sure to check out Where to Stay, Where to Eat, Where to Play, and Local Businesses during your visit.  Hope to see you at an event soon!  http://www.pleasureislandnc.org/events-list.php

 

Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina Beach Avenue S & Harper Avenue Carolina Beach, NC, 28428  Local: (910) 458-843  Email: visitor@pleasureislandnc.org Ranked one of the top 10 boardwalks in the country by Food & Wine magazine, a stroll on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk features classic seaside family fun with shops, restaurants and nightlife entertainment. During the summer months, the Boardwalk is bustling with the sound of music, laughter and the squeals of kids of all ages as they whoosh and whirl past on the assortment of rides at the seaside amusement park and at extraordinary events like the weekly fireworks and concert series. Annual off-season events that include Boardwalk activities are Christmas by the Sea and the Island of Lights Festival. One of the last remaining beach boardwalks on the East Coast, you can get your fill of famous homemade donuts, ice cream, and fudge, play in the arcade, see the ocean from the Ferris wheel, or dance the night away to live music. - See more at: http://www.visitcarolinabeachnc.com/things-to-do/carolina-beach-boardwalk-1/#sthash.JmqnAKIW.dpufCAROLINA BEACH LIVE WEBCAM  http://www.surfchex.com/carolina-beach-web-cam.php

 

Fort Fisher:  Civil War Site – National Historic Landmark.  Until the last few months of the Civil War, Fort Fisher kept North Carolina's port of Wilmington open to blockade-runners supplying necessary goods to Confederate armies inland. By 1865, the supply line through Wilmington was the last remaining supply route open to Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. When Ft. Fisher fell after a massive Federal amphibious assault on January 15, 1865, its defeat helped seal the fate of the Confederacy.  http://www.nchistoricsites.org/fisher/

 

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 900 Loggerhead Road , Kure Beach, NC, 28449 Local: (910) 772-050 Toll Free: (800) 832-3474Visitors to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher discover more than they imagine. Stunning exhibits showcase a variety of aquatic environments and wildlife. Take a journey down the Cape Fear River to the coastal waters. Begin an Aquarium adventure along winding garden walkways experiencing waterfalls, bays and swamps. Explore marine environments from salt marshes and tidal pools to a two-story open ocean exhibit featuring sharks, rays and eels. Expect close encounters with wildlife along the way! Meet Luna, a rare albino alligator. Take a virtual journey with right whales, Calvin and Delilah. Match wits with Holly, a life-like bottlenose dolphin. Talk with divers swimming among sharks and eels. Come face-to-face with a loggerhead sea turtle. Climb and play on Adventure Reef. Find fossils in Shark Tooth Creek and enjoy Lorikeet Landing - an aviary situated in a natural area adjacent to the main Aquarium - where free-flying birds land on arms and hands.  Touch sea stars, horseshoe crabs and even a live shark! Visit one of North Carolina's most popular attractions located 15 miles south of Wilmington on U.S. 421, south of Kure Beach and less than a mile from the Fort Fisher Ferry terminal.  HOURS: Daily 9am-5pm, Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day ADMISSIONS: Adults 13-61: $10.95, Seniors 62+ & Military: $9.95, Children 3-12: $8.95, Ages 2 and under & NC Aquarium Society Members: FREE.  http://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher

 

Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry:  The North Carolina Department of Transportation operates a vehicle and passenger ferry between Southport and Fort Fisher. This is a year-round ferry. For more information please see below or call the ferry service directly at 1-800-BY-FERRY. Ferry Rates (One Way): Pedestrian - $1.00Bicycle Rider - $2.00Motorcycles - $3.00Vehicle Less Than 20' - $5.00Vehicle 20' Through 40' - $10.00Vehicle 40' Through 65' - $15.00

NCDOT FERRY SCHEDULE  http://www.ncdot.gov/download/transit/ferry/ferryschedule.pdf

 

Sporting

DefyGravity Wilmington

​1. OPEN JUMP- Open to the general public. Discounts can NOT be processed online. This includes Family Night, College Discount, Military Discount, and any monthly or weekly specials we may be offering.

2. CLUBGRAVITY- Every Friday and Saturday from 9pm-11pm. Lights out, lasers on! *Not recommended for small children.All sales are final. Tickets are only valid for the date and time you select. Space is based on availability. Discounts can NOT be processed online.If you are having trouble purchasing tickets, feel free to call us at 910-444-1002.Open to the general public. Discounts can NOT be processed online. This includes Family Night, College Discount, Military Discount, and any monthly or weekly specials we may be offering. Each jumper AND observer must have a valid waiver to enter. Select "Sign a Waiver" on the menu to the left.6431 Market StreetWilmington, NC 28405  910.444.1002 wilmington@defygravity.us  http://www.defygravity.us/wilmington