A wise little girl from Kansas once said, "There's no place like home," and "You often find that what you really want is right in your own back yard."  She must have been talking about Wilmington and North Carolina's Southern Coast, for our area is particularly suited to weekend daytrips. We call them local excursions. Beautiful beaches, boating, sunning, surfing and swimming are only the beginning. Forests and inland waterways are teaming with wildlife just waiting for you to bring a picnic, your binoculars and a camera. Spend an afternoon visiting one or more of the area's excellent museums, galleries, or historic homes, and top it off with dinner overlooking the Cape Fear River. You can even visit a state-of-the-art planetarium and learn where to spot the stars, then walk on the beach under the night sky to look for the real things. In truth, you'll never be at a loss for something to do and it's all only only minutes away. So what are you waiting for? The weekend is calling. To get you started, we've offered a few of our favorite excursions. Bon voyage!

A Family Day in the City

If you’re traveling with the family, getting a feel for Wilmington is as easy as walking around the downtown area. Take the family on an extended foot tour of the town starting at the Cape Fear Museum. A brief stroll takes you past the gorgeous fountain on Fifth and Market streets and into the heart of the historic district. Turn left on Third Street and tour the venerable corridors of Thalian Hall, one of the few remaining structures in the United States that serves as both Town Hall and as a gorgeous theater. Keep heading northwest toward the Riverside Hilton and begin your stroll down the Riverwalk, a tour that will take you by the local Coast Guard cutter, Diligence, the Stone Towing building which now houses shops and condos and on down to the romantic cobbled streets of Chandler’s Wharf. There you can relax for a quiet lunch at either the Pilot House or Elijah’s and enjoy your meal in full view of the Cape Fear River. Take advantage of Wilmington’s size and spend your day taking in the city with a casual walk.

 

A Movie Fan's Tour

Movie and television fans make up a huge part of Wilmington’s tourist industry and there are tons of spots filled with stories about famous movie stars. The heart of the local film industry is located on 23^rd Street at EUE/Screen Gems Studios. Built for the making of Firestarter by Dino De Laurentis, the facility has hosted hundreds of television and film productions. Tours are available on weekends and those that might be staying around for a while can sign up for extra work if there are projects in production.

Cruise downtown for lunch at Hell’s Kitchen, a restaurant that sprang out of a converted former set for Dawson’s Creek, or stop in for a Faddi Burrito at Firebelly, the notorious locale where actor Steve Buscemi was injured in a barroom brawl (the food’s great and the clientele not so rough these days). Cruise up the street for a draft at Longstreet’s, formerly owned by actor Tom Berenger, and stop by Level 5 for a gorgeous sunset view. If you look over the west-facing railing, you’ll see the apartment of Dennis Hopper,  former owner of the building. In fact, nearly every corner of  downtown has been featured in some film or another. Maybe you’ll spot a celebrity and maybe they’ll spot you first!

 

Fish, Fun and Civil War History at Fort Fisher

Everyone, from the baby to grandma, will enjoy the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. You can spend a couple of hours or enjoy a full day's adventure. Get there from Wilmington via College Road, where, on the way, you can pick up sandwiches and picnic items at Pine Valley Market (see our Shopping chapter), or cross the Cape Fear River on the ferry from Southport (see our Getting Around chapter). After you visit the Aquarium, learn Civil War history at the nearby Fort Fisher State Historic Site (see our Attractions chapter), then swim, relax and sunbathe for the rest of the day at the Fort Fisher Recreation Area.
 

Southport

Traveling to Southport from Wilmington can be a treat in itself. You can catch the ferry at Fort Fisher either in your car or on your bicycle and enjoy the trip across the Cape Fear River. You can spend the day cruising around the tree-lined streets and have lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants. Why not spend the day exploring antiques shops and galleries? (See our Shopping chapter.) You may find just the piece to complete your set of heirloom china or the perfect miniature paintings and pottery made by local artists to take home to family and friends. Top the day off with a spectacular sunset cruise (see our Attractions chapter).