Ever wanted to see the full moon rise over the NC Coast? It is indeed a sight to see and something to add to your to do list! The stars and the moon aligned for me to make this happen recently in October for the “Hunter’s Moon”. Being a Selenophile, I was excited that this moon cycle fell on a Saturday and close to Halloween, making it an extra celestial event! So I set out to make plans to visit Wilmington and Beaches. Here’s a look at some recommendations of where to STAY * EAT * PLAY for your next Full Moon Getaway!
STAY | Blockade Runner Beach Resort
Located in Wrightsville Beach, Blockade Runner Beach Resort has been welcoming families and friends, travelers and locals for almost 60 years. They are currently in the middle of a multi-million dollar renovation but you can still book a great stay at this iconic resort. We had a recently renovated ocean front spacious suite with a large balcony (where you can enjoy a cup of coffee made right in the room via a Keurig machine). The modern decor and comfortable bedding made for a relaxing stay. This resort has beautiful gardens and large expanses of green lawn to run and play on. Between playing cornhole and my daughter doing cartwheels, we made great use of the outdoor spaces. The pool area has its own bar and a cute walkway that leads directly to the sand. Not only were we able to see the moon from this oceanfront property but we even managed to catch the sunrise the next morning by just walking to the shore via easy access from the resort.
This resort has plenty of amenities to chose from like oceanfront dining at their onsite restaurant EAST and taking a sunset cruise with Soundside. The 90 min sunset cruise gave a unique view from the water of Wrightsville Beach. It was actually where we saw the moonrise..perfect timing! Afterwards, we had dinner at East, which offers delicious oceanfront dining with unique Southern Fare while putting fresh ingredients first. Great service from both made for memorable memories which added to a wonderful stay!
EAT | Sips and Bites
I’m always delighted to share EATS & SIPS suggestions after a weekend getaway to Wilmington and Beaches. Each place proudly supports local and offers amazingly good drinks/food that will leave you in a good mood! Add the following places to your list the next time you visit #WilmingtonNC #WrightsvilleBeach
☕️ Fuel up your morning with coffee & 🥐 Breakfast bites from Port City Java
🦪 Enjoy coastal delicacies like oysters
🍻 and #drinklocal craft beer paired w/
🍕 pizza at Wrightsville Beach Brewery
🍹 Sip Signature Cocktails with ocean views at Solstice Kitchen + Cocktails, located inside Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach, an IHG Hotel (read about our previous stay >>>>>here)
🍽️ EAST Oceanfront Dining located inside the Blockade Runner Beach Resort offers a premier dining experience for breakfast, lunch and dinner
😋 Weekend Brunch at SEABIRD is a must! A coastal getaway isn’t complete without experiencing quality seafood, cocktails, coffee and more from James Beard nominated, Chef Dean Neff!
PLAY | To Do Activities
On this visit I had some shopping fun at a couple of farmer’s markets and local shops:
The Wilmington Farmer’s Market at Tidal Creek (located on Oleander Drive, which is also where a location for Port City Java can be found) is known for having some of the best fresh produce year around. Every Saturday from 8am-1pm you can visit this producer only market and shop local. I got some honey and rosemary and they were having a Fall Festival with a live demo with Chef Dean Neff of Seabird + activities for the kids.
Also on Saturday, we went to The Wave Market (they were having a Fall Festival as well at Wrightsville Beach Brewery where we had lunch). Known for “Makin’ Waves for Small Businesses!” , The Wave Market is a vendor market that believes in supporting small businesses and bringing community together. Their Fall Vibes Event was from 11-4pm and we got to explore 20 local vendors, indulge in delicious food and beer, and groove to live music! I love to shop local and was happy to get some jewelry from Lyn and Lou Boutique and a lovely candle from Hawthorn and Oak just to name a few!
The Practical Magic Store (also located on Oleander Drive) is your one stop shop for whatever Full Moon rituals you want to do. They have crystals and candles, incense and perfumes, and so much more! It’s fun to go in this store and explore anytime (it doesn’t have to be for a full moon). They have gift sets and a knowledgeable staff that will help you find whatever you need as well as make suggestions. I got a heart shaped Rhodonite stone, some incense and a few other things in this magical store!
For a Sunday Funday family outing, we went to Trask Family Farms (they are closed now for the Fall season and will reopen in the Spring). We had so much fun at the farm making unforgettable memories together in their corn maze which featured two games hidden inside.
The highlight (and purpose) of this visit was to see the Full Moon 🌕 rise over the ocean, along the shores of the beautiful beaches we have here in NC. Thanks to Soundside at Blockade Runner for providing services that allows you to see such beauty from their sailing tours.
Wrightsville Beach is only 20 mins from Downtown Wilmington and just 2.5 hours from Raleigh,NC making it the perfect getaway to make my selenophile dreams come true! I hope you are inspired to do so too.
SobeSavvy 