Wilmington

Wilmington is the largest city in coastal North Carolina with a unique blend of the old and the new. Located between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington offers historic elegance as well as modern conveniences.

Historic Downtown Wilmington is a must see! It’s only a 20 minute drive from Wrightsville Beach, and 30 minutes from Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Stroll along the cobblestone streets and admire the magnificent homes dating back from Revolutionary War days to the early 1900s. Some are open for tours, including the Latimer House with its beautiful gardens, and the Bellamy Mansion and slave quarters. If walking isn’t your cup of tea, a horse and buggy ride through the Wilmington Historic District is the perfect way to see our wonderful city. The Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River is lined with shops and restaurants. Enjoy dining outside and watch the boats cruise up and down the river. Take a ride on one the cruise boats, or hop aboard the Captain Maffitt for a 5 minute ride across the river to the USS North Carolina Battleship – one of the most popular tourist spots in the state.

Children of all ages and the young at heart will enjoy the Wilmington Railroad Museum located riverfront in the former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad terminal. Climb aboard a real 1910 steam engine and check out photos and exhibits reflecting the old days when Wilmington was a busy railroad hub. Like snakes and other creepy crawlers? Check out the Cape Fear Serpentarium with over 100 species of exotic creatures.

If a touch of class is on your agenda, Thalian Hall in Historic Downtown Wilmington was built in the 1850s by freed and enslaved craftsmen. Its beautifully restored stage hosts plays, concerts, and foreign films. Exhibits of all types from Cape Fear Indians, Blockade Runners, to Michael Jordan memorabilia can be discovered at the Cape Fear Museum. The Cameron Museum of Art in mid-town features revolving exhibits, as well as permanent collections of local artists such as Claude Howell and Minnie Evans.

Airlie Gardens, once the magnificent estate of Pembrook Jones of “Keeping up with the Joneses” is now a New Hanover County treasure. Spectacular gardens overlooking Bradley Creek near Wrightsville Beach attract visitors for its beauty and outdoor concerts. America’s oldest peanut plantation, Poplar Grove Historic Plantation is rich in Civil War and Antebellum history. Today the estate’s 16 acres serve as a museum complex with farm animals and craftsmen demonstrating traditional skills like basket making, spinning, weaving and blacksmithing.

Looking for something for the kids to do? Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park on Oleander Drive has water slides, wave pool, lazy river, toddler area, go carts, miniature golf, and arcade. Just down the street, Jelly Beans Family Skating Center provides hours of roller skating fun.

Although Wilmington is steeped in history, it is definitely current with the times. Many corporations such as PPD, General Electric, DuPont, and Corning call Wilmington home. The University of North Carolina – Wilmington (UNCW) attracts students nationwide for its outstanding educational opportunities, not to mention its proximity to the beach! Bryant Real Estate's Wilmintong Long Term Rentals are perfect for these students. Nicknamed “Hollywood East,” Wilmington is home to Screen Gems Studios with a spacious, state-of-the-art facility attracting movie productions and celebrities. It’s not unusual to spot a star or two around town!

Golfers have a myriad of challenging courses to choose from, including MUNY designed by the esteemed Donald Ross in 1926, The Country Club at Landfall, with Nicholas and Dye courses, and Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation just 5 miles south of Wilmington with a 4.5 star rating by Golf Digest.

From the River to the Sea . . . Wilmington has lots to offer whether you’re looking for history or activity.  Wilmington is a place where folks visit, and most wish they lived here!