16 Top Tourist Attractions in Wilmington, NC

Not as well-known to tourists as its southern sister cities of Charleston and Savannah, Wilmington, North Carolina has its own charming historic district of fine old homes and mercantile blocks. The revitalized downtown and lovely riverfront have become a center for dining, shopping, entertainment, and the arts.

The city's most attention-grabbing attraction — it's hard to miss — is the immense Battleship North Carolina, a WWII-era warship that is open to tour. Wilmington's port, sheltered on Cape Fear River, gained prosperity by shipping petroleum and pulp products, and this coast played an important part in Civil War history. Today, however, Wilmington's Fort Fisher is better known for the beautiful white beaches of the state park that surrounds it.

In Wilmington and the surrounding area, you can visit historic plantations and homes, including Bellamy House, Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, and Poplar Grove Plantation.

While Wilmington is deeply rooted in American history — the evidence of which we can still see to this day — it is a decidedly modern city, with high-end hotels, restaurants, shopping, and activities that will please any 21st-century traveler. Although, a quick turn down any corner can have you stepping back in time to the days before the Civil War.

Whether you're traveling with your whole family or looking for a romantic getaway for two, you'll find plenty of things to do in Wilmington.

For more ideas on places to visit, read our list of the top tourist attractions in Wilmington.

Tour Battleship North Carolina

Commissioned on April 9, 1941, Battleship North Carolina was the first of 10 battleships to join the American fleet in World War II. During her service, the North Carolina carried 144 commissioned Navy officers, 2,195 enlisted men, and about 100 marines. Their stories and their lives on board the ship are much of the focus of the exhibits you'll see as you explore the nine levels of the ship, illustrated by photographs and artifacts, along with recorded oral histories.

One of the ship's attractions, especially for visiting children, is its accessibility. They can climb into the sailors' bunks, go into the massive engine room, plan strategies in the Combat Information Center, and take aim from behind the great guns (these include nine 16-inch, 45-caliber guns in three turrets and 20 five-inch, 38-caliber guns in 10 twin mounts).

The battleship also hosts a variety of events on the weekends, including re-enactments with living history interpreters and special behind-the-scenes tours that take visitors to areas not usually open to the public.

If you don't want to tour the ship, you can simply walk on the SECU Memorial Walkway, a raised boardwalk that goes all the way around the outside of the ship. It runs through a pleasant natural area and provides excellent views of the ship. It's free to the public and is a good alternative if you don't have enough time to tour the interior.

From the Riverwalk you can see the ship docked on the opposite side of the river and a water taxi makes scheduled runs over to the ship.

Address: 1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: www.battleshipnc.com

Stroll along the Riverwalk

One of the favorite - and free - things to do in Wilmington is a stroll along the Riverwalk that borders the Cape Fear River. This mile-long boardwalk offers river views as well as access to historic buildings, shopping, dining, and arts venues.

Looking across the river you can see the Battleship North Carolina. If you want to visit without having to drive all the way around, you can hop on the Bizzy Bee Water Taxi Service (the only water taxi service in Wilmington), which will take you across to near where the ship is docked.

Along its route are the shops of the Cotton Exchange, launching places for boat tours of the river, public artworks, cafes, shops, restaurants with riverside terraces, and benches for relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Events enliven the Riverwalk year-round, including the Saturday morning Farmers Market in the summer, the annual Riverfest, and performances by local musicians and entertainers.

The walkway runs for nearly two miles, stretching from Nunn Street to the Isabella Holmes Bridge. For one of the best views of the river, be sure to stop at Conlon Pier. If you like to fish, this is the only spot along the riverwalk where you can cast, as well.

Walk through the Historic District in Downtown Wilmington

Downtown Wilmington is home to the state's largest National Register Historic District, which includes hundreds of 19th- and early 20th-century buildings. Along with historic homes are vintage mercantile blocks, where local restaurants serve up tasty seafood, and the shops stock everything from antiques to trendy fashions.

During the warmer months, there are frequent events downtown, including gallery walks, live music, and festivals.

As well as attractions such as the Cape Fear Museum, the Children's Museum of Wilmington, and the view from the waterfront of the Battleship North Carolina, several streets are lined with beautiful old homes, many with their fascinating histories related on signs. Look for plaques on the houses as you wander by.

There are several ways to enjoy the area: you can stroll its streets and browse in its shops on your own, join a walking tour, take an informative trolley tour, or ride through the historic streets in a horse-drawn carriage.

Official site: www.wilmingtondowntown.com

Visit Airlie Gardens

Visitors, and especially garden lovers, appreciate the beautiful scenery at these historical gardens that date back to 1886. The grounds are lush with azaleas, camellias, and the signature Airlie Oak, which is more than 400 years old.

Guests can take a self-guided walking tour of the 67-acre estate to admire the formal gardens, historic buildings, sculptures, live oaks, pines, lakes, and diverse ecosystems that are habitats for a rich variety of wildlife. The 2,700-square-foot open-air butterfly house, open May 15 to October 15, is alive with hundreds of native North Carolina butterflies, including monarchs and giant swallowtails.

Arlie Gardens is about a 20-minute drive from downtown Wilmington, and not far from Wrightsville Beach. If Wrightsville is on your sightseeing itinerary, you could combine the two destinations.

Address: 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: http://airliegardens.org/

Soak up the Sun at Wrightsville Beach

If you were wooed by Carolina and Kure beaches, you must make the short trip to Wrightsville Beach. This is one of the top beaches in North Carolina, and is a haven for all types of waterfront activity, from stand up paddleboarding, e-Foiling, surfing, kiteboarding, and swimming.

If you want to set up for a day at the beach, head to Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier where you'll find restrooms, places to eat, and of course, a beautiful stretch of soft sand beach.

For one of the best views of the North Carolina coast, hop aboard a sunset sail tour from Wrightsville Beach. The two-hour sunset sail takes guests aboard a 42-foot yacht for some epic views of the waterways and barrier islands. You may even be able to catch a glimpse of the wildlife that calls this stretch of coast home.

Bellamy Mansion

Bellamy Mansion, a pre-Civil War structure, is regarded as one of North Carolina's most spectacular historic antebellum homes. Enslaved people and free black artisans built the antebellum structure for physician, planter, and business leader John Dillard Bellamy, who lived here with his wife Eliza and their children. As you tour, their stories will unfold, along with those of their slaves, whose restored quarters are among the few to exist from urban households.

Throughout its 150-year history, the house has survived the Civil War, being commandeered by Federal troops after the fall of Fort Fisher, a state of disrepair, and a devastating fire. Outside, the recreated Victorian gardens are shaded by a magnolia tree that is 150 years old.

The mansion is about six blocks from the waterfront and approximately a 10-minute walk from the Riverwalk up Market Street.

Address: 503 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: www.bellamymansion.org

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Although it is located about 20 miles outside Wilmington, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is well worth the trip. Especially popular with children and families, the aquarium gives visitors a chance to see and learn about aquatic species from the region and from around the world. Exhibits include freshwater and saltwater species, with a focus on the Cape Fear River and the changes in habitats as it reaches the sea.

The aquarium's residents include loggerhead sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, eels, jellyfish, a wide variety of fish, and even a bald eagle. There is also a touch-tank, where visitors can meet some of the ocean's more interesting critters, like horseshoe crabs and starfish, and an area dedicated to reptiles where you can meet Luna, a rare albino alligator.

The aquarium offers a variety of daily programs that include opportunities to watch feedings, ask the staff questions, and get up close to some of the fascinating animals.

Address: 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach, North Carolina

Official site: www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher

Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts

The historic Thalian Hall, constructed in 1858, has been in almost continuous use since first opening. Designed by one of the foremost theater architects of the day, John Montague Trimble, this is the only one of his works still surviving. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, its stage hosted performances by celebrities that included Buffalo Bill Cody and John Philip Sousa, and in 1928 the Ziegfeld Follies.

Today, restored to its early 20th-century appearance, it is considered one of the most significant theaters in the United States. More than 400 performances and events come to its three venues each year, including theater, film, dance, lectures, and music of all genres (country, pop, and jazz, to mention just a few). Check the events calendar to see what's playing during your visit.

Address: 310 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina

Cape Fear & Brunswick Islands Beaches

A total of 10 beaches border the coast and islands at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, only a few miles from Wilmington. The closest is Carolina Beach, a family-oriented beach town with one of the country's best boardwalks. At its southern border is Kure Beach, surrounded by water, with the river on one side and the Atlantic on the other, providing options for swimming, surfing, and kayaking. Kure Beach is especially known for its 700-foot-long fishing pier.

Directly south of that is the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and Historic Site, with miles of beach and undeveloped shoreline. At the historic site, visitors can walk the remaining earthworks of Fort Fisher, one of the most important Confederate strongholds in the Civil War, on an interpretive walking trail.

Read More: Best Beaches near Wilmington, NC

New Hanover County Arboretum

Another free thing to do in Wilmington, and a great favorite with children, is the arboretum operated by the local Cooperative Extension Service. Seven acres of land in the city center is devoted to growing plant species best suited to southeastern North Carolina and to demonstrating gardening techniques. A favorite is the Japanese Garden, with a koi pond, an arching bridge, and a tea house.

There is a children's garden with a miniature play house, and a border of perennial flowers surrounds a water garden. A rose garden, an herb garden designed to attract butterflies, a tropical garden, and a picnic area are all fitted into this urban oasis.

Address: 6206 Oleander Drive, Midtown, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: https://arboretum.nhcgov.com

Cape Fear Museum of History and Science

Founded to house collections of Confederate objects and mementos, the Cape Fear Museum has expanded over the years to hold more than 52,000 items relating to regional, national, and international history, as well as culture and science.

The museum has a special focus on the environment of the Lower Cape Fear, and the Michael Jordan Discovery Gallery brings that to children with creative, hands-on exhibits that allow kids to interact with nature by using their senses. Here, they can feed insects to carnivorous plants and crawl inside a beaver lodge.

The museum spills outdoors into its adjacent park, where interactive exhibits invite people to consider how they relate to the land and water around them. Gardens of native plants, activities, and hands-on exhibits in this area are always free.

Address: 814 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: www.capefearmuseum.com

Wilmington Railroad Museum

Preserving an industry vital to the city for well over a century, this museum features exhibits on the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. At its height in the 1840s, the railroad was the world's longest continuous rail line, stretching 161 miles. At the end of the century, it merged with other East Coast companies to create the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

Exhibits trace the growth of railways in Wilmington and explore the contributions of Thomas Edison, George Pullman, and others. Nearly two dozen model trains travel through miniature towns and countryside, and the museum includes rolling stock and a century-old steam locomotive. Kids will like the train-themed play area.

Address: 505 Nutt Street, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: www.wrrm.org

Poplar Grove Plantation

One of the oldest peanut plantations in North Carolina, Poplar Grove Plantation encompasses more than 15 acres and the house and outbuildings were constructed for Joseph Mumford Foy in 1850. Exhibits explore the skilled construction and finish work of the three-story house by Foy family slaves, using pine, black walnut, and other materials available on the plantation.

Six generations of the Foy family owned the historic house until 1971, and on the plantation is the last remaining tenant house, occupied until the 1960s by a descendent of the Foy family's slaves. Also part of the plantation are the original smokehouse, a blacksmith shop, and agricultural exhibits on the production of peanuts.

Address: 1200 US Hwy 17, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: www.poplargrove.org

Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens

Only three local houses have survived since the colonial area, and the Burgwin-Wright House is the only one open for public tours. Built in 1770, the home features Georgian architecture, 18th- and 19th-century antiques and household goods, and a separate kitchen house furnished with period utensils. Guided tours are available, and the grounds can also be rented for private events.

Alden Hopkins and Donald Parker, two of Colonial Williamsburg's renowned landscape architects, designed the lush gardens on the property. Covering more than half an acre, these include two terraced gardens; a rose garden; kitchen and medicinal gardens; and an orchard with pomegranate, fig, and espaliered crabapple trees. Entrance to the gardens is free.

Address: 224 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: http://burgwinwrighthouse.com/

Cameron Art Museum

Selections from the museum's permanent collection of fine arts, decorative arts, and design by local, national, and international artists include a large number of works on paper by artists that include Mary Cassatt and Ando Hiroshige. Art from these collections is not on permanent display, but the works are presented in rotating themed exhibits. Collections are especially strong in works by North Carolina artists.

The museum also hosts interactive family and children's programs, including music, film, literature, dance, and other arts.

Address: 3201 S 17th Street, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: www.cameronartmuseum.org

Children's Museum of Wilmington

Curated for children up to age 10, the Children's Museum of Wilmington offers opportunities to explore and learn about art, science, and culture through hands-on experiences. In the Ahoy Wilmington! section, kids can board a ship, dig for treasure, and explore a "sea cave."

An art studio provides inspiration and materials for drawing, painting, sculpture, weaving, and other arts. Toddlers can climb and slide safely in the Tree House, and in the grocery store, kids can fill their shopping carts and play cashier at the check-out register.

Address: 116 Orange Street, Wilmington, North Carolina

Official site: www.playwilmington.org

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History and Natural Wonders: Wilmington is only one of several places worth visiting in North Carolina. The state capital of Raleigh is a good choice for those interested in history, with a number of historic buildings, as well as many African American Heritage Sites. Asheville and Hendersonville are located in the western part of the state and make good bases for touring the Blue Ridge Parkway. The state also has many options for romantic getaways that are perfect for a couple's weekend or honeymoon.

Family Fun in North Carolina: The vibrant city of Charlotte is filled with kid-friendly attractions like Discovery Place and the Paramount's Carowinds amusement park, as well as attractions that the whole family will love, like the Carolinas Aviation Museum. In summer, North Carolina's beaches are another popular family destination. In winter, many families head to the ski resorts in North Carolina and base themselves in the nearby mountain towns.