Wilmington NC

Things to Do in #WilmingtonNC for the Day to Celebrate #AAPIHeritageMonth in May @WilmingtonNCoast

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Recently my #HeighPartyof3 returned to the city of Wilmington, NC …one of our favorite roadtrips from Raleigh, NC (ICYMI …Check out past blog posts>>here << of our travels to Wilmington NC and Island Beaches). The reason for this visit was to celebrate the diversity, history, beauty, and culture of Asian American and Pacific Islanders during AAPI Heritage Month in May.

South Asians began to arrive in Wilmington sometime in the 1970s and hence they have a relatively short history of living in this area. Over the past three decades their presence has grown. Many of Wilmington’s earliest South Asian residents are physicians in different specialties, ranging from cardiology to geriatrics to dentistry. ( Source: UNCW associate professor Venkat Dhulipala dhulipalav@uncw.edu)

Here are the places we visited during our #SundayFunday Day Trip to Wilmington NC for AAPI Heritage Month:

Attraction| Cameron Art Museum

The work of AAPI artists has long been part of CAM’s history and integral to our permanent collection from the early days of the museum

~Matt Budd, Director of Marketing CAM

Cameron Art Museum is one of the many gems of Wilmington. Built on the grounds of the decisive Civil War Battle Of Forks Road, this facility perfectly balances the past, present and future. My family and I try to visit here once or twice a year as they always have some new exhibit of interest.

May being AAPI Heritage Month meant we visited to see the art on display featuring AAPI artists. Permanently on view on their museum grounds are two site specific art works by two well-known AAPI artists: Mel Chin’s The Structure of Things Given and Held which is installed near the CAM café courtyard and Hiroshi Sueyoshi’s  Harmony which is visible from 17th street.  

ABOUT | Mel Chin (American, b. 1951). The Structure of Things Given and Held, 2008-2009 Bronze

Made of bronze and standing over 18 feet tall, the piece is only eighteen inches wide and has an airiness about it. It includes two girls, one girl with her hand open (“given”) and the other girl with her hand closed (“held”), balancing a partially erased house on their heads. The artist intended this work as “a meditation on the illusiveness of memory.” The artist asked twin sisters Mary Anne Massey and Allen Wright (both share their maiden name Keith) to sketch the house they grew up in and incorporated the similarities and differences in their memory. Mel Chin is a recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship (“genius grant”) and currently lives in Yancey County, NC near Tennessee.

ABOUT | Hiroshi Sueyoshi

(American, b. Japan 1946) “Harmony”

Hiroshi Sueyoshi moved from Tokyo, Japan to Asheboro/Seagrove, North Carolina in 1971 before moving to Wilmington in 1978. He is one of Wilmington, NC’s most accomplished artists and was awarded the NC Living Treasure Award by UNCW in 2006. Harmony is a 17-foot sculpture of red, yellow and blue panels, interlocking steel figures that are abstractions of a man, woman and child. Each figure depends on the other structurally and is perhaps an artistic choice that is symbolic of the emotional bonds of a family. The artist created the piece for a design competition for David Swain of Wilmington developers Swain and Associates. It stood at The Forum Shopping Center in Wilmington NC from 2000- 2020, until it found a permanent home at Cameron Art Museum in 2020. He served as artist in residence at Cameron Art Museum from 2006- 2015.

Read more about this artist & art >> here

📍Cameron Art Museum

3201 S. 17th Street

Wilmington, NC 28412

BRUNCH | Cafe Chinois

Located just near CAM, this restaurant is a personal art gallery of Mrs Niki (who also owns Indochine) where you can enjoy all the flavors of the East! In the mood for some Chinese or maybe Thai or maybe some Vietnamese? Well you are in luck for all of the above in one spot. That spot is called Cafe Chinois in Wilmington.

Asian fusion is what they do and I am here to attest, they do it all well. We dined here for Sunday brunch and it was delightful! Unbelievable Asian inspired decor and ambiance. Stellar service and the food was great. Dumplings, fried rice and some of the best steak I have ever had melted in my mouth. Inventive cocktail menu and great wine choices were also available. Never have to choose between different genres of Asian restaurants again because Cafe Chinois does it all!

📍Cafe Chinois

3710 College Rd Unit #123

Wilmington, NC 28412

Attraction | New Hanover County Arboretum

New Hanover County Arboretum features a Japanese Garden with a Japanese tea house, koi pond, statues, trees and plants indigenous to Japan that grow well in Wilmington’s similar climate. 

Did you know? …There are two traditional-style Japanese teahouses in southeastern North Carolina: one at Ashs Japanese Maple Nursery in Hampstead and the other at the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Arboretum in Wilmington. The design plans were sent back and forth to Japan to ensure accuracy.

Throughout the county there are fine examples of Asian foliage to include Japanese maples, Japanese camellias, Chinese Jasmine, Japanese Plum and persimmon trees, Chinese chestnut trees, Asian pear trees..just to name a few. Visit this attraction for FREE and experience its beauty!

📍New Hanover County Arboretum

6206 Oleander Dr

Wilmington, NC 28403

Explore|Wilmington, NC

Thanks to Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau, there is always helpful information on their website to gather before we visit. Here’s some information and places to explore before your next visit!

Annual Events that celebrate Asian culture include:

Places of Worship:

  • Chua Tung Lam Temple (Gordon Rd.)
  • Wilmington Korean Baptist Church (College Rd.) *also near Cafe Chinois
  • Wilmington Peace Baptist Church (Military Cutoff Dr.)

Specialty Grocers:

DINNER | Tandoori Bites

For authentic Indian food, you can’t go wrong with Tandoori Bites for lunch or dinner! We came for an early dinner and ordered the following from the menu:

  • Garlic Naan
  • Butter Chicken
  • Chicken Tikka Masala
  • Tandoori Lamb Chops

Everything was perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. Order wine or a Rupee beer, which paired well with all the delicious dishes and make a toast to #AAPI #AAPIHeritageMonth!

📍Tandoori Bites

1620 College Rd

Wilmington, NC 28403

Thank you for reading and I hope this inspires you to visit Wilmington NC in May or anytime to celebrate and support #AAPI businesses ❤️

Where to STAY-EAT-PLAY for a Full Moon Getaway in @WilmingtoNCoast @WrightsvilleNC ft. @Blockade_Runner

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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.

Girls Trip Travel Guide @WilmingtoNCoast @CarolinaBeachNC

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If you have been following me for awhile, you know that I love to travel and am very fond of NC’s coast. Specifically Wilmington NC’s Historic River District & Island Beaches. I have visited and enjoyed many of it’s family friendly options, so I was really excited to plan a Girl’s Trip. After reading my prior blog posts about Wilmington, my friend wanted to experience it together. Here is a look at our 24 hour itinerary that I organized via TripIt app.

STAY | Aloft Wilmington Coastline Center

My Top 3 reasons for choosing ALOFT Wilmington are as follows:

1. It’s new (just opened Nov 2021) and modern

2. It’s convenient to the Riverfront, Downtown Wilmington, so could walk to most places

3. Full service– has gym, restaurant, bar, rooftop bistro and a coffee bar onsite

DINE | Sips & Eats

If you are a seafood lover like me, then you must dine at Seabird in Wilmington, NC

My friend and I are both foodies, so we were looking forward to dining out during our trip. Our number one focus for cuisine was seafood. We knew that being on the coast was going to be our opportunity to eat local and enjoy fresh seafood. But first…. coffee. Casa Blanca Coffee Roasters (in addition to their amazing coffee, we loved the avocado toast) , Aloft Coffee Bar, and Bespoke Coffee and Dry Goods are just a few places where you can enjoy a great cup of coffee and more in Wilmington.

Casa Blanca, Aloft Coffee Bar, Bespoke Coffee

Dinner reservations are a must at Seabird in Downtown Wilmington. We enjoyed wine perfectly paired with NC oysters, fresh seafood dishes created by Chef Dean Neff and great service at this restaurant.

Raw & Baked NC Oysters + SoftShell Crab at Seabird

For after dinner cocktails, we headed to Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar. There was live entertainment in addition to a nice atmosphere. If you want a small bite, they have a bar menu also. We could walk back to our hotel from there, which was a plus.

Chilling on Cloud 9

At Carolina Beach, we enjoyed lunch at Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar. With oceanfront views, a fun bar area and delicious coastal fare, this restaurant combines the best of beach eats.

Eat and Drink Local at Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar

PLAY | Things To Do

From strawberry picking, shopping local and having fun at the beach~ there’s so much fun to be had in Wilmington,NC and Carolina Beach

We arrived on National Strawberry Picking Day, so the first thing on our to do list was to visit a pick-your-own strawberry farm just outside the city limits Lewis Nursery and Farms with homemade strawberry ice cream and a plant shop.

That evening we checked out a comedy show at Dead Crow Comedy Room and the next day got our steps in along the Riverwalk.

Downtown Wilmington~ Dead Crow Comedy Room & Riverwalk

What’s a girls trip without shopping?! We both love to shop local and picked up some artisan goods at the Riverfront Farmers Market on Saturday morning.

Shop jewelry, teas,candles and more at the Riverfront Farmers Market

No trip to the coast is complete without spending some time near the water. As we made our way to the sand, we stopped at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk to take in the sights and have a classic glazed donut from Britts Donuts.

B is for Boardwalk and Britts Donuts

Spending a relaxing day at the beach was just what we needed. No chairs, no problem. Being able to rent an umbrella and chairs from Tony Silvagni Surf Schools was such a convenience for us. They provided great customer service and made our time at the beach very comfortable.

Getting some Vitamin Sea at Carolina Beach

Grateful for the memories made and the opportunity to share this trip guide with you! I hope you are inspired to make your way to Wilmington,NC & Carolina Beach soon. For more ideas be sure to visit https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/

Spring Over To @WilmingtoNCoast and Follow This Family Friendly List Of Things To Do

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Spring has sprung in Wilmington,NC and I thought it would be a great idea to hop over during Easter weekend for a chance to explore the many things to do with my Heigh Party of 3 crew. It’s an easy two hour drive from Raleigh,NC, so for us we truly enjoy the chance to visit the Wilmington River District & Island Beaches.

Get your Official Visitors Guide at WilmingtonNCVisitorGuide.com

If you are traveling to Wilmington soon, check out my list of family friendly things to do in the springtime or anytime!

1. Airlie Gardens

Get outside and enjoy nature
Airlie Gardens

These expansive gardens are truly a jewel of this region. Acres upon acres of blooming flowers, ponds and wildlife are all here. Our daughter had fun using her ‘plant app’ to snap photos of flowers/plants and in return it would identify it. Make sure you check out The Bottle Chapel during your visit. It is a one of a kind structure designed with over 4,000 colorful glass bottles!

2. Fish House Grill

Lunch with water views is always a good idea
FISH HOUSE GRILL

Located on the intracoastal, this seafood restaurant doesn’t disappoint. Their food pairs well with the view. Great drinks, mahi tacos and their soft shell crab sandwich was fresh and delicious!

Soft Shell Crab Sandwich at Fish House Grill

3. Practical Magic Store

Candle Shopping
Practical Magic Store

With the full moon happening on the day of our arrival, I thought it would be cool to get some ritual tools. This store had more than I could ever imagine! From candles, clothing, teas,herbs, all types of gems, books, crystals and more. It is one of the most interesting stores to be found in Wilmington.

Crystals and Gemstones Galore can be found at the Practical Magic Store!

4. Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront

Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront

Embassy Suites By Hilton Wilmington Riverfront is a great base camp for families when visiting the area. It’s an all suite property with indoor pool and a mini Starbucks in the lobby! Besides great views of the Cape Fear River/ marina, this property provides spacious rooms and a comfortable sofa bed for our kid. For us parents, we enjoyed the manager’s reception,where we each received 2 complimentary cocktails!

Cheers to a wonderful stay at Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront

5. Wilmington Riverwalk

Stroll the scenic Riverwalk
Wilmington Riverwalk

One of our favorite reasons for staying on the riverfront means that we can enjoy scenic walks along the two- mile Riverwalk. We always take a leisurely morning stroll or jog on the river when we visit. You get a front row seat to history, Battleship North Carolina, leisure boats, bird wildlife and all the shops, restaurants and hotels that line this iconic waterway walk. There are informative markers and seats along the way if you want to take a break and watch the river flow by.

Let’s Stroll along The Wilmington Riverwalk

6. Carolina Candy Company & Gifts

The dark chocolate almond toffee is my fave
Carolina Candy Company

Looking for a sweet local treat? Stop by Carolina Candy company where toffee rules the day. They make small batch toffee on the premise and only use all natural ingredients (no fructose here) Milk Chocolate , Caramel, Dark Chocolate Toffee and more are here to satisfy your sweet toffee tooth. Super friendly service and MAYBE if you ask nicely they may let you sample a few before deciding which one to purchase!

Pair it with wine, cheese or enjoy it on its own

7. The Veggie Wagon

Welcome to The Veggie Wagon

Headed to the Carolina Beach and looking for a quick snack to eat? Make sure you stop by The Veggie Wagon for all sorts of grab n go goodness. Fresh sandwiches, salads and even locally made soaps can be found at The Veggie Wagon. Plus the hand spun milkshakes are a kid pleaser!

8. Fort Fisher State Recreation Park

We drove down to Fort Fisher State Recreation Park as dusk approached. The weather was not the best but the ocean breeze is always a welcome sensation. This beach is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike because it is separate from the busier beach areas. My husband is a history buff and he read all the historical
markers as this area was active during the Civil War. Whether you go for the sea, sand or history, there’s something for everyone at Fort Fisher State Recreation Park.

Get some Vitamin Sea at Fort Fisher State Recreation Park

9. STEAM Restaurant and Bar

We enjoyed Easter Brunch at STEAM

Easter Brunch at STEAM, located inside the Embassy Suites )where we stayed), was not only convenient but it was very memorable in a great way. Their bright and airy atmosphere is always inviting and their food is always delicious. NC oysters, fresh local seafood and a juicy burger for our kid, left us all satisfied. But I am so happy we saved room for dessert because the bananas foster bread pudding was soooooo amazing! A sweet ending to a fantastic meal.

10. Cameron Art Museum

Support the Arts at Cameron Art Museum

Cameron Art Museum is another gem of the area. This museum always has some interesting art show/installations and this visit was no different. They have two new exhibits called “20 Years” , which features pieces of work by artists who have all had their work featured at the museum since it’s opening 20 years ago. Make sure you also check out “State Of The Art” which showcases artist either native or living in North Carolina. Watch my Cam Art Museum IG Reel to get a glimpse as to why you should at it to your trip itinerary the next time you and your family visit Wilmington.

All you need to know before you go can be found on this website : https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/

There is so much to see and do, that I am already planning to return for a girls trip in May. Be sure to follow me on IG/Twitter/Facebook @SobeSavvy as I’m always happy to share and inspire your next adventure!

Want a change of scenery? Here’s where to STAY, EAT, EXPLORE in @WilmingtonNCoast! #travel #familytravel #WilmingtonNC #CarolinaBeachNC #SobeSavvy

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2020 has been a unique year to say the least. Challenges that none of us could have guessed a year ago have filled all of our lives since March. Like many of you, home school and working from home has become a mainstay. My #HeighPartyof3 family were in need of a change of scenery, so we opted for a roadtrip to Wilmington, NC over this past Thanksgiving Day weekend. If you are not familiar with Wilmington, it’s an iconic coastal city that is both urban and beachy at the same time with a down home friendliness and great food and hospitality scene. We have visited this destination a few times (read about past visits: here) and our familiarity made the choice that much easier. If you are in need of a change of scenery, here’s where to STAY, EAT, EXPLORE in Wilmington, NC!

STAY

Social distancing is a invented term due to COVID-19 and picking a place that takes that seriously led us to Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront. They have instituted a industry leading room cleaning sanitation program called Clean Stay. They have partnered with Lysol to ensure the highest level of cleanliness at the property.

This hotel’s proximity to the riverwalk and historic downtown makes this a awesome choice for those wanting to explore this part of Wilmington on foot. Hubby took a jogging map the hotel has and went for a birthday morning 3 mile run! We had a spacious modern suite with a enviable Cape Fear River view. Great stay at a nice property!

STEAM Restaurant & Bar, located inside the Embassy Suites Wilmington Riverfront had a special Thanksgiving Brunch. The STEAM staff served the buffet with socially distanced tables and sanitized protocols in place. We had a table with no one in our immediate area so we got a chance to relax and enjoy a turkey dinner along with some locally sourced oysters and shrimp! Great service and wine/cocktail list made this a great choice.

EAT

In addition to STEAM , there are amazing family dining options in the area that offer takeout as well as dining in with Covid safety measures in place. Here are some places we enjoyed:

Hops Supply Co.: We had eaten a heavy “thanksgiving” at lunch time and didn’t quite think about the fact that almost NOTHING is open after 3 or 4 on Thanksgiving and needed a place to get something light. Enter Hops Supply Co. A restaurant that happens to be THE place in Wilmington for craft beer, wine on tap and food of course !We opted for curbside pickup of their Bistro Salad and a side order of asparagus. The.salad.was.everything !! Enough for two and incredibly good. The candied walnuts and blue cheese crumble combined with their incredible balsamic vinaigrette equaled perfection. When times get more back to normal I look forward to returning to try their beer and other food selections.

Slice of Life Pizzeria & Pub: Everyone likes pizza but my husband and daughter LOVE pizza. Lucky for them {and me} that one of the best pizza places ever at Slice Of Life. Voted Best Pizza and Best Late Nite Eatery in Wilmington for several years in a row, Slice Of Life got the unofficial stamp of approval from a 9 year old. You can customize a pizza with their myriad of toppings. We opted for half cheese and half Pineapple ham and mushroom. Simple perfection. We will definitely return!

The Basics: Located in the heart of everything downtown on Front street is The Basics. This mainstay has been a dining favorite for years. Everything from a casual breakfast to a dress up for dinner party can be had in this one restaurant. We had celebrated my birthday here a few years ago abd returned for breakfast this time. Shrimp and Grits, Chicken Biscuit and pancakes for the not so little one were ordered up this time. A few daytime cocktails included a Tequila Sunrise that was simply perfect.Yum Yum Yum. Just look at these pics and they say it all. There is nothing Basic about The Basics!

EXPLORE

Wilmington Riverwalk: Wilmington’s iconic riverwalk has been under construction for a few years now. It’s popularity had taken a toll and they are now renovating and expanding this wonderful walkway that doubles as a jogging route. We enjoyed taking walks during our stay here and made a fun IG reels video (that you can watch: here) to take you along the Riverwalk with us! Hugging the Cape Fear River this walkway gives visitors a great way to experience what I call the “backside” of downtown. Restaurants, shops and hotels line the riverwalk as well and you can see some of the most beautiful sunsets from here. You could also book a cruise tour aboard The Henrietta riverboat to learn more about Wilmington.

Carolina Beach: One of the best features of Wilmington is it’s proximity to many beach areas within a 30 min drive from downtown. Carolina Beach is one of them. We took a stroll along the boardwalk, enjoyed gelato while sitting in one of the swings and simply enjoyed being outside with nature. A walk on the beach is all that we needed to get some relaxing time together and a change of scenery.

Wilmington Tours: History is everywhere in Wilmington and sometimes it can be hard to figure out where to start when it comes to exploring historic Wilmington. Enter the Wilmington Tours App. Located in the Google Play store, this app features 5 full length city tours that include: African-American History, Pub Crawl Wilmington, Civil War Wilmington, 2nd Street to the River, and 3rd Street & East. We downloaded the African American Tour and since it was raining we drove to some of the historic sites that included the home of one of Wilmington’s most prominent black families, a rare intact urban slave quarters and different street corners of significance. This interactive tour is highly informative and literally made history come to life. I highly recommend this app for any visitor to learn about the history of Wilmington. Next time we will choose another tour from this amazing app!

Airlie Gardens: These public gardens are 67 acres of natural historic beauty. Airlie Gardens are a treasure not just of Wilmington or Hanover County but a treasure of all of North Carolina. While these gardens are beautiful any day of the year, we went for their annual “Enchanted Airlie” Holiday light spectacular. This is the hot ticket since 2005 and this year, while a little different still was as popular as ever. Timed tickets ensured it was not too crowded. Over a million lights adorned natural and man made things throughout. Different themes could be found everywhere. We all loved “Swan Lake” and the butterfly house exhbit. So many colors and with Holiday tunes playing, everyone was into kicking off the Christmas season! It even “snowed”. My daughter simply loved the whimsical atmosphere of it all and it will be a treasured memory.

👀Watch my full recap of opening night at Enchanted Airlie>> here.

We are thankful and grateful to be able to spend some quality time together and get a change of scenery in a neighboring city that we love to explore. This was our first time going to Wilmington,NC as a kick off to the holiday season and we may just make this a new family tradition! Before you go, be sure to check in with Wilmington and Beaches to plan your vacation. We hope that you are inspired to visit soon!

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#TRAVEL | Visit #WilmingtonNC & Island Beaches to Enjoy Nature and Discover What’s In Bloom🌹

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TRAVEL | Visit Wilmington NC & Island Beaches to Enjoy Nature and Discover What’s In Bloom! Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

You all know the saying ..”April Showers Bring May Flowers“,well my #HeighPartyof3 decided to put the theory to the test and headed to Wilmington NC & Island Beaches to discover What’s In Bloom! In the past, we have visited during the summer as a fun, “Family Travel” destination and also spent a “Daycation” in Wilmington NC & Island Beaches because for us it’s just a 2 hour roadtrip from Raleigh, NC.

This was our first time traveling to Wilmington NC in the Spring and I thought instead of flowers as a gift for Mother’s Day, why not experience botanical gardens and more in this beautiful city! With just 24 hours to explore, there is so much to get outside and do here. Take a look at our weekend itinerary filled with nature-theme activities the whole family can enjoy!

DAY 1 Arrive Saturday

Wilmington + Wrightsville Beach

Before you explore, make your first stop at the main Visitor Information Center, located at 505 Nutt Street in Downtown Wilmington. It opens on Saturday at 9am and is open daily except for Thanksgiving/Christmas. You can get any questions answered by staff, pick up maps, guides and vacation coupons!

Pick up an Official Visitors Guide and more at the main Visitor Information Center | SobeSavvy.com

Take a self-guided walking tour at Airlie Gardens , a 67 acre historical garden in Wilmington. We took advantage of the complimentary tram ride and learned so much about the lush gardens and its rich history. Go and see a 468 yr old Airlie Oak, Azaleas, and the Butterfly House. Learn about Minnie Evans, an African American woman who was a domestic who sold her artwork at Airlie. She once said ” God has some 600 shades of green, and He dressed the world with them.” She died in 1987 and local artists created the Bottle Chapel, a memorial sculpture garden, in 2004 in her honor. It was such an amazing sight to see!

Walk thru Airlie Gardens and learn about history while enjoying nature | SobeSavvy.com

All that walking will surely work up an appetite! Sweet & Savory Café is close by and offers a Saturday Brunch. This farm to fork restaurant in Wilmington is known for its variety of menu choices and fresh baked goods at their bakery.

Dine at Sweet and Savory for Saturday Brunch for a variety of Farm to Fork dishes | SobeSavvy.com

SobeSavvy Tip: Short on time or rather have a quick bite to go? Grab something at Port City Java. I enjoyed an iced coffee for a caffeine boost before our next activity!

Port City Java uses the Japanese Iced Coffee method for a more flavorful,bright,complex brew and its oh so good| SobeSavvy.com

We checked in at the Hampton Inn Wilmington/Downtown and got changed into our bathing suits for some fun in the sun at Wrightsville Beach, located just 15 mins away from Downtown Wilmington. It’s a spacious, clean beach with clear blue waters and is one of the most environmentally friendly beaches in the state. We collected shells to take home as a souvenir and our daughter played by the shore until it was time for dinner at Oceanic Restaurant attached to Crystal Pier. *Be sure to check back here for my #FoodieFriday review of our dining experience at this restaurant. Wrightsville Beach is a walkable beach town with the beauty of nature all around!

Play, Relax and Start a Seashell Collection at Wrightsville Beach | SobeSavvy.com

The Arboretum at New Hanover County closes at 8pm which made it a great last stop of our day. It happened to be prom night and many people were there to capture the perfect photo. Visit the 7 acres of nature trails and gardens, which include a Japanese tea house, gazebo, children’s cottage, ability garden and water garden for FREE!

See the beauty of blooms for free at The Arboretum at New Hanover County | SobeSavvy.com

DAY 2 Depart Sunday

Kure Beach+ Carolina Beach

Sunday,Mother’s Day..all I want to do is sleep in but when you have a six year old daughter who’s motto is ‘Carpe Diem’, you get up early and seize the day! We enjoyed brunch with a view in Wrightsville Beach at Bluewater Waterfront Grill (which you can see a few of my photos here + stay tuned for my #FoodieFriday feature) before our visit to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach. It’s worth the short drive from Wilmington to see more than 2500 animals and the 2 special exhibits: Dinosaurs! and Butterfly Bungalow. The cherry on top of our Sunday Funday at the Aquarium was when one of the butterflies landed right on my husband’s hand! My whole family had a fin-tastic time at this attraction learning just how much animals and nature are connected to each other.

Visit the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher to be inspired by nature and all its wonder | SobeSavvy.com

We did not plan to have another beach day but our daughter’s pleas and the call of the ocean breeze encouraged us to stop at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. It is right down the road from the Aquarium so it really was a convenient stop. This public beach is great for bird watchers because alot of nature is unspoiled here.

Kure Beach is a pure and natural playground for beach goers, bird watchers and nature lovers | SobeSavvy.com

Did you know that one of the only places in the world where you can see the Venus flytrap growing in its native environment is at Carolina Beach State Park? See the rare Venus Flytraps for FREE and learn about one of the world’s most unique carnivorous plants!

Head to the Carolina Beach State Park for a tour along the Flytrap Trail | SobeSavvy.com

SobeSavvy Tip: Ranger-Guided tours of the park’s Venus flytrap trail are available Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10am. I recommend the guided tour, as the flytraps can be hard to find on your own. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes with socks for this guided tour. Insect repellent is highly recommended as are long pants. You can always change back into shorts and sandals in the park’s visitor center bathrooms. The hikes meet at the flytrap trail head and depart promptly at 10am so be sure to arrive in time to park and meet. If you gey hungry after hiking the nature trails, go a half a mile to dine at Michael’s Seafood and enjoy fresh seafood dishes like loaded oysters and snow crab legs!

Dine at Michael’s Seafood, conveniently close to Carolina Beach State Park | SobeSavvy.com

Thank you to Wilmington and Beaches CVB and the attractions who welcomed my family and I to experience nature-theme activities and feature them in my 24 hour itinerary. I hope you and your family will review this travel guide and take the opportunity to visit Wilmington NC & Island Beaches soon to see What’s In Bloom!

#TravelTuesday | Top 4 Reasons to Visit @WilmingtonNCoast for #FamilyTravel #WilmingtonNC

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Disclosure: Thank you to Wilmington and Beaches CVB for your assistance with itinerary and attractions to facilitate this review. 

Leslie Heigh, Raleigh-based freelance lifetyle/travel writer/blogger at Wilmington and Beaches CVB Visitor Center’s main office~505 Nutt Street

I planned to visit Wilmington, NC for my 44th birthday this year and met up with family & friends to enjoy my birthday themed weekend: #44bytheshore. Why Wilmington? It is an easy 2 hour drive from where I live in Raleigh, NC plus I love the city and all it has to offer. From the beautiful beaches and shores, variety of attractions, restaurants and tours, Wilmington, NC has alot to explore!

Welcome Bag courtesy of Wilmington and Beaches CVB

My family did a daycation here last year (see travel guide here) and we had so much fun! Now that our daughter is older, we looked forward to an extended stay and having her revisit some places we went to before while also discovering new family friendly activities to do. 

STAY |The Hilton Wilmington Riverside, located on the Cape Fear River in historic downtown Wilmington, was our hotel for our two night stay. We loved how convenient it was to restaurants (such as The Basics, located in The Cotton Exchange across from the hotel) as well as attractions (like the Wilmington Railroad Museum). Stay there for enjoyable river views from their renovated rooms, the pool /tiki bar and access to the 1.75 mile Riverwalk! For more of a look inside the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, click here.

Inside the Hilton Wilmington Riverside

If you are planning a visit to Wilmington and not sure if it is a good fit for your family, I’d like to share with you my         Top 4 Reasons to Visit Wilmington,NC for Family Travel 

  1. BEACHES

    #outandaboutAva & her Mom at Kure Beach   

    Did you know that Wilmington, North Carolina has 31 miles of pristine shoreline with luminous sandy beaches? During our visit, we enjoyed 2 out of 3 island beaches: Carolina Beach & Kure Beach. The sun played hide and seek during our 2 nt stay but we still found time to play in the area known as, Pleasure Island . 

    Carolina Beach Boardwalk                            

    Since we arrived on Thursday, we got to check out the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Blast concert with fireworks and also the seasonal amusement park. There’s plenty of sweet treats on the boardwalk but if you love donuts save room for Britt’s Donut Shop!

    Britts Donut Shop

    Kure Beach Pier                                                  

    Kure Beach, North Carolina is known for its Kure Beach Pier , oceanfront park and four miles of uninhabited beach. The award winning aquarium is there also so this beach is kid-friendly. To get here was an easy 20 minute drive from our downtown Wilmington hotel. Check out more photos from our visit to both of the beautiful beaches >>>> here.

    Enjoying a Mommy and Me moment

  2. FOOD 

    Visit Wilmington, NC aka ‘Foodie Paradise’

    See more food pics from this trip>>here. Wilmington, NC has alot of great restaurants and notable chefs making this city a foodie paradise. During our visit to Carolina Beach, we enjoyed Kate’s Pancake House for breakfast. This restaurant is popular because it serves some of the most original pancakes and waffles. It’s only open until 1pm but this is a great place to fuel up for the day on the way to the beach or Aquarium.

    Breakfast Time at Kate’s Pancake House

    Looking for a quick lunch in Downtown Wilmington ? Chop’s Deli: a Boar’s Head Delicatessen would be that destination. They offer made to order salads and classic deli sandwiches, as well as soups and spectacular paninis. Their walk up window serves the hungry masses from 11pm to 3am on summer weekends. We decided to sit outside for some sunshine and people watching as we enjoyed a salad, some soup and a sandwich. Don’t forget to wash it down with their homemade lemonade. Everything was fresh and delicious! 

    Chop’s Deli, Downtown Wilmington                    

    No trip to the coast would be complete without a visit to a quintessential seaside seafood restaurant. Michael’s Seafood, founded by it’s namesake, the late chef Michael Mcgowan and his wife Shelly in 1998, is that place. We had a bowl {2 bowls actually} of it’s international award winning seafood chowder. My 6 yr old basically inhaled the first bowl! This restaurant is not only family-friendly but a perfect dinner option if you are looking for amazing seafood and great service. 

    Michael’s Seafood Restaurant ~Seafood Chowder

    Since we were in Wilmington to celebrate my #44bytheShore birthday, we were delighted to dine at The Basics. They serve simple dishes made with basic ingredients, however, they still manage to elevate our tastesbuds with amazing flavors. Our server took good care of the table and we never felt rushed as we lingered over great food, wine and conversation. If you are staying at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, this restaurant is conveniently located across the street in The Cotton Exchange. Take a look at this drool-worthy pic I shared on IG of the Filet Mignon w/goat cheese at The Basics : 

    The Basics, Filet Mignon Entree, IG@SobeSavvy

  3. Historic River District

    The majestic Battleship NORTH CAROLINA

    Travel to Wilmington, the biggest city on North Carolina’s coast, to learn about its unique history, which predates the civil war. There is no better way to learn about it than to take one of their myriad of tours. This visit we took a Wilmington Trolley Tour, which for over 19 years has been providing visitors with a colorful tour of the city. This 8 mile tour highlights architecture, civil war history and also speaks honestly about the racial strife that was a part of Wilmington’s history. Our driver was excellent. He was informative and entertaining at the same time. I highly recommend this family-friendly tour! 

    All smiles after the Wilmington Trolley Tour

    We also went on self-guided tours and walked along Riverwalk Downtown Wilmington and Cape Fear River. We made many discoveries on foot, like the City Market, a great Saturday morning Riverfront Farmers’ Market and many more shops and stores Downtown. See more photos of where our feet led us>>>here. 

    Taking a walk along the historic Riverwalk, Downtown Wilmington

  4. Family Fun Attractions

#outandaboutAva gets ready for some family fun at the Fort Fisher/NC Aquarium

When it comes to family fun, we let our daughter, #outandaboutAva lead the way to places where she can imagine, learn, explore and play! Wilmington, NC has some great options that everyone would love to visit such as the Fort Fisher NC Aquarium…

SobeSavvy.com at Fort Fisher NC Aquarium

…The Wilmington Railroad Museum , a great place to explore family-friendly activities in Wilmington’s River District. 

SobeSavvy.com at the Wilmington Railroad Museum

…and the Children’s Museum of Wilmington, which served as a perfect place to play indoors on a rainy day. 

#outandaboutAva #CMoW #PlayToLearn at The Children’s Museum of Wilmington

Visit & Follow my Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/soBEsavvy as I will continue to give you an inside look and share more details plus photos from these 3 family fun attractions. 
Those are just some of the great reasons to visit Wilmington, NC’s Historic River District & Island Beaches. Check out http://www.gowilmingtonandbeaches.com before you go and see the many ways to explore and to get information for your next family getaway. My family & friends enjoyed our short but sweet 48 hours here and are already making plans to return next year. Hope you are inspired to make memories there soon!

#44bytheShore Family & Friends Getaway to Wilmington, NC Historic River Distict & Island Beaches