Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC
The heart of the historic district in Wilmington is its riverfront. Once a bustling wharf of warehouses, boatsheds, docks and stables, today, a cluster of shops and restaurants span several city blocks along the Cape Fear River. The 1-mile-long Riverwalk follows the borders of the Cape Fear River and provides beautiful views framed with antebellum homes wrapped in picket fences, jasmine and magnolias. The wooden walkway passes shops and restaurants as well as a number of landmarks including the USS North Carolina Battleship and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
If you have transportation, take a trip to 67-acre Airlie Gardens and stroll through the beautiful gardens. The iconic Airlie Oak is here–a 128-foot-tall live oak that is nearly 500 years old. Also home to a butterfly house, sculptures, a chapel made from recycled bottles and beautiful views of Bradley Creek. In addition to massive live oaks, Wilmington knows how to grow azaleas and still hosts the annual North Carolina Azalea Festival that first took place in 1948. Held in spring when the azaleas are at full bloom.
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Marinas, Dockage, Service & Navigation
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For cruisers, Wilmington (west side of the ICW) and Wrightsville Beach (east side of the ICW) offer a convenient stopover for replenishing, dining or sightseeing. Marinas line both sides of the ICW beginning immediately south of the Wrightsville Beach Bascule Bridge and just off the ICW on Motts Channel, but a word of caution: This is a popular stopover so make a reservation in advance.
Exploring all the great restauarants is an excellent adventure here and we definitely have our staff favorites. On the mainland side of the ICW the venerable Bridge Tender steakhouse serves steaks and seafood with a spectacular panoramic view of the ICW. They have been in business since 1976 and are a favorite for both lunch and dinner (910-256-4519). Directly on the ICW on Harbor Island is Bluewater Waterfront Grill, a sprawling two-story restaurant that serves a great meal near Wrightsville Beach Marina (910-256-8500). On the beach we prefer Oceanic, a high-end seafood spot offering outdoor dining on the rebuilt historic Crystal Pier (910-256-5551). Transportation required.
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