Olivia & Spencer
Olivia & Spencer
Things to Do
Activites
Beaches
In the Wilmington area, there are three main beaches: Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach.
Wrightsville Beach
This is the closest beach to downtown. With laid-back local vibes, if visiting this beach we recommend stopping in SUNday's Cafe (located above South End Surf Shop) for a coffee and ending the day with a drink on the pier of the Oceanic.
Carolina Beach
By far the most tourist-y of all the beaches, Carolina Beach is a little further out. While our wedding takes place during the off-season so the boardwalk won't be in full swing, there are still fun places such as SeaWitch Tiki Bar which has live music every weekend or The Fat Pelican - a self-serve dive bar with a sandy backyard for lounging. Looking for a more laid-back experience? Stop by the Good Hops Brewery for great beer and a round of Disc Golf.
Kure Beach
Kure Beach is the furthest afield and the most laid back. Largely surrounded by nature, this is our favorite beach. When visiting Kure Beach you could visit the North Carolina Aquarium or the Fort Fisher Historical Site.
Other Activites
This Wilmington Neighborhood gets its name from the cargo shipping containers that most of the buildings are made from. Filled with bars, restaurants, and local businesses, every place you'll stop in is better than the rest.
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
This small aquarium is home to a wide variety of sea and freshwater animals. Located just off of Kure Beach, this is the perfect companion activity to a laid-back beach day.
This botanical garden boasts 67-acres of land. Take a guided tour of these historic gardens or wander by yourself at your leisure.
With Halloween just around the corner, Wilmington is the perfect place to embrace the supernatural. Join one of the local ghost tours for tales of pirate brothels, civil war hospitals, and more. Follow the link above for a general downtown tour, our check out the various tours offered by the Burgwin-Wright House.
*Note: Spencer would like it to be known that he does not endorse the ghost tour, but Olivia thinks it's a great time.
History buff? Hallmark fanatic? This historic ship has something for both, as it offers tours of the historic landmark, but also was the set for the hallmark movie "USS Christmas".
Restuarants
*While there are many more great spots to eat and drink than what's listed below, these are a few of our favorite spots we would recommend!
Downtown
One of our all-time Wilmington Favorites, Savorez is a cozy Latin American fusion restaurant with great cocktails and better food. We'd recommend the Quinoa Flounder with a side of coconut rice or any of the daily specials.
This upscale spot features elevated southern dishes with fusion twists. Another one of our all-time favorite spots, we recommend stopping by if you don't mind spending a little more - we promise it's worth it!
As the name would suggest, this upscale spot serves seafood, oysters, and killer cocktails with an emphasis on ingredients sourced from North Carolina. Looking for a delicious southern-inspired brunch? Seabird has you covered as well.
A trendy spot that serves southern fare with a global flare. We would recommend ordering several small plates and splitting!
Serving up beers by the liter, this cozy spot has a warm interior and a sizable back patio. Grab a liter and a pretzel, and if looking for a more robust meal, the Shrimp & Spätzle is a can't-miss dish.
Around Town
This Panamanian cafe offers Latin-inspired fare & tropical drinks in a relaxed, vibrant setting. Another of our all-time favorites, we would recommend trying the Ceviche sampler along with your entrees.
This taco window is located in the same buidling as Satellite Bar. We would highly recommend ordering the nachos to share - the perfect snack when kicking back at Satellite.
Serving up smash burgers and tater tots, Mess Hall is a great place to stop by in the middle of exploring the Cargo Districts bars and shops.
This cafe is a great spot for breakfast or lunch, with a wide variety of fresh and hearty sandwiches.
This authentic Thai and Vietnamese spot is known for it's art-filled interior and outdoor gardens and gazebos. We highly recommend trying to sit outside in a private gazebo and strolling around the gardens while there.
This breakfast spot is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trip.
Bars, Breweries, and More!
Downtown
Named for the infamous pirate who would dock in Wilmington from time to time, even the interior pays an homage to it's namesake. If you stop in, we would highly recommend sampling Teaches Peaches if still available, as this seasonal brew is made with local southern peaches.
When the weather is nice, there's no better place to be than sitting around the fire pits outside at Flytrap. This brewery often has local food trucks and live musicians, making it a great place to spend an evening.
This 50s-style joint often has live music and local food trucks. With a comfy lounge in the back and $2 mystery beer cans, the Eagles Dare is a great place to hang out.
Located in the courtyard just outside the Dram Yard, this bar is open when weather permits. Beautifully balanced cocktails are made better sitting outside around fire tables amidst tropical greenery.
Located in an old bank building, this bar let's you buy beer and wine by the ounce and has a ton of games throughout the bar. A great way to sample a lot of beers while playing games with friends.
This rooftop bar is located on the rooftop of the Embassy Suites. The beautiful riverfront views are best enjoyed at sunset.
Located at the top of the neighboring Aloft hotel, this bar offers stunning riverfront views and delicious truffle fries.
This speakeasy style cocktail bar is a moody, cozy space perfect for the season. Located down the alley to the right of Front Street Brewery, this is the perfect spot to sip a cocktail. Heads up - you may have to pay a $5 membership fee due to North Carolina’s weird liquor laws.
Coffee shop by day and cocktail bar by night, stop by for their espresso martini flights and smores kits that you can roast at a firepit outside or tabletop inside!
Around Town
This award-winning distillery boasts a wide variety of spirits and cocktails. Located in the cargo district, we would highly recommend stopping in for a drink or two if out exploring.
One of our favorite breweries in Wilmington, Flying Machine has a wide variety of beers, so it's sure to have something for everyone. Spencer loves the Mai Tai and Olivia's favorite is the Weighted Blanket.
This cozy bar and cigar shop has a distinct neighborhood feel. With craft beer from all over the world, and a variety of wines & cocktails available, this is a great place to stop in for a drink or to smoke a cigar on the patio.
This quirky dive bar has a wide variety of beer along with wine and cocktails available. Grab a drink, head out back to the patio for a round of bags, and don't forget to grab a bite from Block Taco while you're there.
Located in the Cargo District, this shipping container whiskey and wine bar is made even better with rooftop seating.
This indoor-outdoor Beer Garden in the Cargo District is a great place to kick back and sample a variety of local beers in one place.
Not a beer fan? Bull City Ciderworks has a wide variety of ciders to sample. Located in the Cargo District, add this to the list of places to stop in while exploring.
Coffee Shops
Downtown
This dino-themed coffee spot opened up last year in Wilmington and has a beautiful back patio filled with greenery to relax in. A great place to bring a book and stay a while.
A Wilmington staple, Bespoke is the go-to coffee shop for many locals. Coffee shop by day and beer/wine bar by night.
Around Town
This sunny coffee shop is located in Wrightsville Beach above the South End Surf Shop. This is the perfect breakfast spot before spending a day at the beach.
This local chain has several locations and loyal following among the locals. Stop in for just a coffee or stay for brunch!
*NOTE: We highly recommend you do NOT stop in a Port City Java. While this local chain seems beloved, we cannot figure out why, as the coffee is truly atrocious.