Fall brings refreshing coastal breezes and a lingering warmth — and a quieter, beautiful season at the beach. From Thursday dinner to Sunday lunch, here are some of our top ways to spend a long weekend in Wilmington and its Island Beaches.
airlie gardens
Life of Luxury
From the late 1870s to the late 1890s, the Gilded Age marked a period of opulent architecture and economic growth in North Carolina.
The Amazing Airlie Gardens
More than a century after a Gilded Age couple designed an elaborate estate in Wilmington, their legacy lives on for all to enjoy.
Video: Airlie Gardens
Spanning 67 acres, this botanic garden showcases a Wilmington couple’s Gilded Age dream through the flower-lined paths, pergola, and resilient live oaks.
Excursions by Land & Sea in Wilmington
From sunset sails to self-guided walking tours, take a deeper dive into this coastal destination and its nearby island beaches on a variety of excursions that explore the local food and beverage scene, arts, history, natural beauty, and more.
North Carolina’s Innovation in Action
Across the state, amazing places are shaking up the status quo in science, art, and nature.
7 Scenic Drives on the Carolina Coast
When it’s summertime and the mercury’s climbing, North Carolinians flock to the beach — but there’s more to our coast than surf and sand. These scenic drives are full of water and wildlife, meals and memories. What are you waiting for?
The New Coastal Bucket List
There are always old favorites on an annual trip to the coast, but on your next visit to Wilmington and its neighboring island beaches, update your vacation to-do list with amazing new eats, sips, stays, and more.
4 Flower Arrangements Inspired by North Carolina
These flower arrangements inspired by Biltmore, Reynolda, Duke, and Elizabethan gardens are proof that blooming where you’re planted can be truly awe-inspiring.
