Founded in 1739 between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, the Port City has long played an important role in the story of North Carolina and beyond — both in real life and, with its burgeoning film industry, on screen. Step inside the 18th-century Burgwin-Wright House, a window into the city’s earliest days; explore Fort Fisher, where the Civil War reshaped the Cape Fear coast; stroll among Oakdale Cemetery’s Victorian monuments and the Gilded Age beauty of Airlie Gardens; and cruise the Cape Fear River, with a special dinner aboard the Battleship North Carolina, a proud symbol of the city’s World War II legacy.

May 17-20, 2026

Itinerary Highlights:

• Barbecue dinner on the Battleship North Carolina
• Scenic cruise on the Cape Fear River
• Dinner at the award-winning restaurant Catch
• Horse-drawn carriage tour through Wilmington historic district
• Fort Fisher
• Airlie Gardens
• Burgwin-Wright House and gardens
• Oakdale Cemetery
• Wrightsville Beach Museum

Package Includes:

• Three nights’ accommodations at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront
• Valet parking
• Seven meals: three breakfasts, one boxed lunch, three dinners
• Wine and beer reception
• Our State tour manager
• All sightseeing and admissions per itinerary

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival • Welcome dinner
Sunday, May 17, 2026

Welcome to Wilmington! Check in to your room at the Embassy Suites on the Wilmington riverfront before joining your fellow travelers for a wine and beer reception followed by dinner at the hotel.

Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront

Day 2: Wilmington sightseeing • Cape Fear cruise • Battleship dinner
Monday, May 18, 2026

We begin our exploration of Wilmington with a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city’s historic district, which retains much of its 18th- and 19th-century architecture. We’ll then visit the 1770 Burgwin-Wright House for a guided tour and time in the gardens and galleries. We continue to Oakdale Cemetery for a walk through one of the South’s most storied resting grounds before enjoying a free afternoon for lunch and exploring downtown’s boutiques at your own pace. In the late afternoon, we reconvene for a narrated scenic cruise along the Cape Fear River, followed by an exclusive tour of the Battleship North Carolina and a hearty barbecue dinner on board, highlighted by a special conversation with Executive Director Jay Martin. We’ll then travel by water taxi back to the hotel for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront

Day 3: Airlie Gardens • Wrightsville Beach Museum • Fort Fisher
Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Our day begins with a peaceful stroll through the blooming pathways and Gilded Age opulence of Airlie Gardens before continuing to the Wrightsville Beach Museum for a glimpse into the coastal community’s past. We then make our way to Fort Fisher, where we’ll enjoy a boxed lunch followed by a guided tour of this pivotal Civil War site. Tonight, enjoy a memorable farewell dinner at Catch, where Wilmington’s celebrated seafood shines.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront

Day 4: Departure
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Sleep in and enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we bid farewell. Want to share your memories with other travelers? Post your favorite pictures in the Our State Travel Club Facebook group!

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Rates:

Regular rate: $1,399 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single rate: $1,833

For Reservations & More Information:

AAA
Sandra Horton
(919) 832-0543, ext. 16015
sdhorton@acg.aaa.com

For more information on physical requirements and what to expect on an Our State trip, click here.