Family Vacations to Wilmington & Beaches

Wilmington & Beaches – Family Vacation Guide

From a historic city on the banks of Cape Fear to a stretch of barrier islands that are treated like the second cousin to the Outer Banks, Wilmington and its beaches of Wrightsville, Carolina and Kure (pronounced Curie) should be on your radar as they rake up awards for the best beaches, most charming cities, and more. Before the entire world discovers the charm that is Wilmington, your family should visit this charming and beautiful coastal area of North Carolina. Besides a relaxing vacation of a beach, your family will relish in the southern charm of North Carolina, while enjoying outdoor activities and hip boutique and restaurants with fresh seafood.

Why Go

At the southern tip of North Carolina, at the border of South Carolina, is the state’s hidden gem. A combination of historic and quaint city life combined with a stretch of beautiful beaches, families cannot go wrong with a visit to Wilmington and its Beaches. Families will also find vacation rentals, condos and hotel options, and an array of activities and budget-friendly dining, shopping and activities.

Wilmington

Perhaps you remember “Dawson’s Creek,” the fictional WB television show set in “Capeside?” If you do, you were one of the many introduced to Wilmington, although locals have known about the wonderful coastal destination on Cape Fear for generations. The city’s historic district is filled with colorful Victorians and cottages and the city’s river walk is filled with boutique shops and restaurants. It’s truly a charming town and should be on your radar, especially with its numerous (and beautiful) beaches just minutes away.

Horse-drawn Carriage Tours. Get to know the historic city with a guided carriage tour by horseback. The rides depart from Market Street every half hour.
Railroad Museum. Little kids to teens will enjoy popping into this small but mighty railroad museum. From its historic trains outside the museum to its model trains and Thomas the Train play area inside, it’s a must-see.
Wilmington Trolley. Hop on the free trolley in the historic district for a self-guided tour that is hop-on and hop-off when you spot a shop or house you want to check out.
Battleship North Carolina. It’s hard to miss the WWII battleship that rests in Cape Fear River, one of a very few memorial ships you can board and tour on the east coast. Explore nine decks of the ship and discover her history in the war, as well as pay tribute to the 11,000 North Carolina soldiers who died in the war.
Cape Fear Tours and Charters. Sail Cape Fear on hour-long cruises that showcases the Cape’s history and explores Wilmington. Cruises depart hourly on riverboats.
Wilmington Children’s Museum. Perfect for a rainy day on your beach vacation, kids can get their energy out and get their hands into every thing at this small children’s museum in the city.

Wrightsville Beach

One of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast is Wrightsville Beach, which is a thin area of land flanked by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Intracoastal on the west, providing waterfront backdrops for family photos during sunrises and sunsets. Here, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, bike riding, scenic cruises, and shopping are just minutes from Wilmington.

Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. This small museum will give you an introduction to the beach area, set in an historic beach cottage.
The Loop. This nearly 2.5-mile trail encompasses the island for biking and walking.
Johnnie Mercer’s Fishing Pier. Extending 1,200 feet into the Atlantic, families can fish from the only pier on Wrightsville.
Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours. Join Captain Joe for a scenic water tour with a pirate guide and a treasure hunt. Captain Kidd may even make a surprise appearance!

Carolina Beach

With its beach boardwalk, Carolina Beach is the throwback beach destination that families love. Besides its wide expanses of beach, the boardwalk features amusement rides in the summer and free fireworks. Active families can learn to surf or paddle board, and the relax under the stars at summer movies. The town also completed a 1.2-mile paved bike path in 2018 for families to safely maneuver during busy periods.

Carolina Beach State Park. Would you ever think a beach area in North Carolina would be home to the Venus flytrap? It is! Visit this state park for a hike (self- or ranger-led) and see these plants in their natural habitat — the only place in the U.S. where you can do so! There are more than six miles of trails at this park, and great for kids with a lot of energy.
Britt’s Donuts. Stop by this boardwalk staple for delectable donuts that are a must for all visitors to Carolina Beach.
Tony Silvagni Surf School. If you’re learning to surf for the first time or trying to hone in on your skills, get lessons from a professional surfer (and Gold Medalist). Or, you can paddle board through this operator, as well.

Kure Beach

Filled with brightly colored beach homes of pink, blue, green, purple and orange, you’ll feel as if you entered the Caribbean when you cross into Kure Beach. This area is home to Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Museum, as well as the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Kids can explore indoors and outdoors with interactive play areas. Bike paths wind through Fort Fisher, where a Confederate fort from the Civil War stands at the end of the beach.

North Carolina Aquarium. Home to more than 2,500 “residents,” kids can participate in feedings and other interactive programs at this aquarium, open daily.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. With a six-mile stretch of beach on state preserved land, this is as remote as you can get on a visit to the area. The coast here features rock formations that date back to 12 to 80,000 years ago.