Things To Do
Airlie Gardens
Airlie Gardens is a stunning 67-acre botanical garden right by the sea. It's a place to unwind and enjoy in-season southern blooms. Springtime is the best time to visit. Rachel & Scott are frequenters of these gardens. General Admission Tickets may be purchased online or onsite. Open Monday – Sunday 9am-5pm (last entry 4:30PM). Accessibility: Buildings, restrooms and most garden pathways are wheelchair and stroller accessible. They offer a 7-passenger tram service 10am-4pm daily that is included with general admission.
Biggers Market
Shop local NC products in an open-air market. Enjoy a lunch from a local food truck, a cold beverage from their Backyard Bar, and lovely live music. Bigger's Market is a great place to sit outside in the Adirondack chairs and relax. Featuring Rachel's products, 'For the Love of Margaritas' on shelves and behind the bar!
Oceanic Pier
Oceanic (Crystal Pier) is a restaurant located on Wrightsville Beach near the south end of the island. Enjoy oceanfront dining on Crystal Pier which extends out over the Atlantic ocean. If anything, the pier is free to explore. It's one of the more popular surf spots on WB where Scott & Rach surfed all through college.
Sunrise & a Day at Wrightsville Beach, NC
Enjoy a sunrise and morning at Wrightsville Beach. Grab a coffee from The Workshop, a breakfast burrito from Tower 7, and stick your toes in the water! Paid parking begins at 9am and is $5-$6/hour. Daily passes can be purchased for $25. Some people Uber to avoid the pain of looking for parking. The earlier you get there, the better! There are more breakfast/lunch options in the middle of the island such as Tower 7 (margaritas and tacos), Neptunes, Trolly Stop HotDogs, Roberts Grocery (try the chicken salad sandwich), or Jerry Allens (Beer and Sandwiches). Be mindful that there is NO ALCOHOL allowed on the beach. On the other hand, no one will know what is in your Yeti tumbler ;)
Walk the Wrightsville Beach Loop
The infamous Wrightsville Beach Loop is a great way to get some exercise in the salty air. It's a 2.4 mile stroll and is laden with locals and all kinds of pups. Cross 3 intracoastal bridges, stop by some local businesses on Lumina Ave, and pass under hundreds of Live Oak trees. Paid Parking starts at 9am. Park at the Wrightsville Beach Park to avoid the hassle of beach parking!
Downtown Wilmington Eats & Sips
Satellite Bar- Casual Drinks True Blue Butcher & Barrel- Lunch & Dinner Benny's Big Time Pizzeria- Sit-Down Pizza Yosake- Cocktails & Sushi The Husk- Casual Drinks BluePost- Dive Bar with pool tables & games Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF)- Cocktails Late Night Savorez- Panamanian Dinner (our favorite) PinPoint- Delightful dinner with local oysters