Wilmington, North Carolina Weekend Guide

 

Wilmington, North Carolina, will always have a special place in my heart. It was the perfect beach town to escape to when I was missing South Florida during my time in Charlotte. I also had one of my wonderful Atlanta neighbors relocate there, so it became a place to vacation and visit. This guide is a mix-and-match of things you can do for a weekend or even longer. Whether you’re looking for trendy neighborhoods, serene beaches, or mouthwatering cuisine, Wilmington has something for everyone.

 

Explore the Cargo District

Acai bowl topped with raspberries, blackberries, coconut, and strawberries. Shop Local Cargo District sign done in the style of American Traditional tattoo. Cacti in planters outside the plant store inside a shipping container.

The Cargo District features a bevvy of shops and restaurants all packed inside repurposed shipping containers. They have everything from a plant shop to acai bowls and tasty drinks. It is definitely a great spot to take friends and family on a nice day.

Farmers Markets in Wilmington

Coffee cart with a fringe tassel umberella. Flower bouquets at the farmers market.

There are plenty of places to get local produce in Wilmington. For the latest events you can check out the Wilmington Events Calendar.

  • Wilmington Farmers Market: Held every Saturday at Tidal Creek Co-op, offering fresh fruits, vegetables, handmade goods, and live music.
  • Poplar Grove Farmers Market: Seasonal, running from April to October, with a great mix of produce, local honey, crafts, and food trucks.

Places to Relax in Wilmington

Tip of yellow kayak overlooking the water and marsh.

View of the entry to the beach with an overcast sky.Water crashing into the shore at the beach.View of the dunes at the beach.

Wilmington is such a peaceful place to relax. At least that’s how I felt when I have worked remotely or vacationed there. What I recommend for total peace is to get a kayak and experience one of the many waterways around Wilmington. There’s the ocean but also the Cape Fear River and places like Eagles Island.

Places to Eat in Wilmington

Brick building exterior of the half restaurant. View of roast beef sandwich. 

The Half is a tasty little beer and sandwich shop. They are located in the Brooklyn arts district and are housed in a 1000 square foot brick building. They make homemade pickles in-house and have a standard always on menu plus usually a special or two! Everything is super tasty and I felt welcomed by everyone working there.

Pina colada with views of the boats and water from Dockside restaurant.

Dockside is a great spot to grab a drink like a piña colada or an appetizer like some wings or fried clams. It is casual and relaxed with views of the water and it literally being right on the water.

 

Pepperoni Pizza close up.

 

If you’re craving Pizza then Pizzeria Don Luca is a great spot. It’s located downtown. I will caveat that they can sell out, so I would not show up too late in the evenings.

Soft hot pretzel with salt.

For a unique snack you have to go to Crofton’s Pretzels. I was lucky enough to go when they first opened their store in Wilmington. If you’re a pretzel lover then this is a go-to.

Six oysters and crackers with hot sauce and lemon.

For a place to grab a nice meal and some fresh oysters downtown, I would recommend Sea Bird. They have a cute aesthetic and fresh, tasty seafood. They also have some great wine, cocktails and mocktails.

Red and blue snow cone at Pelicans

For a quick treat to warm up in the Wilmington heat, it’s gotta be Pelican’s snoballs. I love this little snoball stand and usually always get the kids’ flavor combos since there is an overwhelming amount of flavors to choose from.

Places to Explore in Wilmington

Column adorned front of a historic home. View of an old church. 

View of the courthouse building with a cloud filled sky.

View of Garden fountain at historic home in Downtown Wilmington. Shops along Wilmington Riverwalk and sign that says "We Love You!"NC Flag hanging from a front porch.I believe in Wilmington Sign.

Wilmington has so much to explore. The historic homes downtown as well as the waterfront can fill a whole day. There are museums, historic home tours, and a performing arts center to name a few.

Places to Grab Coffee in Wilmington

3 friends drive through coffee shop.Bespoke coffee t-shirts.Iced mocha latte in a cup. Death before Decaf wall art. Casa Blanca Coffee Cup in hand.

Perhaps one of my favorite things to do on vacation is to find cute, quality, local coffee shops. I checked out several. All of which are located in different parts of town. A couple ones worth checking out:

Day Trips From Wilmington

Kure Beach Pier.View of beach from Kure Beach Pier.

Kure Beach and its iconic pier are just 18 miles from Wilmington. That makes this less of a day trip and something you could easily just do for part of your day. I love this peir and driving along all the colorful homes along the way.

For a little bit further, at around 45 minutes to an hour you can get to Oak Island. This is one of the most perfect spots to watch the sunset. I swear the colors you get are just unreal over here.

Oak Island LighthouseSunsetting over water at the beach.Sunset over the beach.

The next spot requires a ferry or a boat to get there and that is Bald Head Island. There are no cars on the island so you can expect to golf cart, walk, or bike while on it. I was mainly there to check out its lighthouse, The Old Baldy.

Old Baldy LighthouseView from a boat heading back to shore.View of flowers and boats in the background at dock. View of marsh from Old Baldy Lighthouse Old Baldy Lighthouse.

Last on my list is Carolina Beach, which is close to Wilmington, but has more of a tourist feel with its traditional boardwalk. While here, make sure to bring cash to grab one of the famous donuts from Britts Donut shop.

Glazed donut in front of the boardwalk sign.

Wilmington, North Carolina, offers a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and charm. Whether you’re kayaking along the Cape Fear River, sampling fresh seafood, or wandering the historic downtown streets, this coastal gem has something for everyone. It is the best for when you want to get your coastal grandma vibes on.

Happy Adventuring!

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