Cities in the South excel at reaching into the future while preserving their proud past—Wilmington, North Carolina, included. The result is an eclectic mix of attractions that makes advance planning a must if you want to hit the highlights of this vibrant, southeastern coastal town. Just be sure to take it slow on the Riverfront, voted America's best by USA Today—you won't want to miss a thing.
Out and About
Creativity is alive and well in a city widely known for its rich arts scene and close relationship with Hollywood. Plan a walkabout along downtown streets lined with galleries, and then let Hollywood Location Walk take your family on a tour of TV and movie filming spots. Chartered sailing excursions proliferate in Wilmington, but herding the kids onto the Henrietta III steamboat to cruise the Cape Fear River will give them a truly memorable adventure. For sun, sand and splashing, choose from the area's stellar barrier island beaches: Wrightsville, Kure and Carolina.
Somewhere in Time
In downtown Wilmington, you can admire the 18th-century, Georgian-style Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens; and you can stroll beneath magnolia trees as you take in the magnificent Bellamy Mansion, which was built on the eve of the Civil War. Explore more recent history on a self-guided tour along the Cape Fear River, where you’ll spot the WWII USS North Carolina battleship moored just across from downtown. Learn about the city’s railroad history at the Wilmington Railroad Museum, where children can explore a life-size caboose, boxcar and 100-year-old steam locomotive.
Animals Everywhere
Some of the best family fun in Wilmington puts you up close with creatures great and small. Water and wonders are featured at the North Carolina Aquarium, where you can visit 2,500 sea creatures and look in on the inhabitants of a two-story tank filled with sharks, stingrays, moray eels and chatty scuba divers. Things get creepy and crawly downtown at the Cape Fear Serpentarium, which features some of the world’s most dangerous and rare venomous reptile species (think: king cobras and black mambas), along with exotic dragons, lizards, crocodiles and constrictors. You can also see sloths, a white Bengal tiger and snow macaques at the family-owned Tregembo Animal Park, which is southeastern North Carolina’s oldest zoo.
Fresh Is Best
Foodies love Wilmington, where the local fishermen and farmers keep things fresh in the town's eateries. Hit the family-friendly Shuckin’ Shack for oysters and shrimp, and for breakfast, pop into Betsy’s Crepes to savor sweet crepes made with fruits, ice-cream and brownies; or such savory crepes as the Le Popeye creation, which has spinach, eggs, bacon, onions, garlic cream sauce, mushroom and mozzarella. You may not be in Philly, but Port City Cheesesteak adds shrimp to the classic sandwich. Enjoy!
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