Beer on the Docks and 9 Other Reasons Wilmington (NC) Rocks
I just got back from visiting Wilmington, North Carolina for five glorious days, and there are a few things I’d like to share in the event you want to plan a trip to the coastal region of the Tar Heel state. (Note it’s not the Blue Devil state despite the outcome of the Final Four.)
1). Beautiful weather. It’s warm in April but not yet blistering. 80 degrees, to be exact, is the day’s high. (This is really special when it’s snowing back home in Boise). Not only do we get to wear shorts and tanks tops, but we get to go to the beach, play at the park, ride boats and even hit the pool. Humidity has not yet drowned the land, so the warmth and sunshine are like fertilizer to my soul.
2). Zen beaches. The beaches are fabulous, including Wrightsville, which is a short drive from Wilmington. The billowing landscape is soft to the toes, the whiteness is vast, and all is surrounded by dunes and wild grasses. The waters ebb and flow beneath the blue horizon. Ahh….this is relaxation at its finest.
3). Water, water everywhere. Water is soothing, especially if you live in a land-locked state and haven’t seen the ocean for a while. In Wilmington, there is the Cape Fear River, the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean. Boats of all shapes, sizes and types are in sight everywhere I turn, like one giant marina.
4). Beer on the dock. Beers taste better out of the dock, and there are plenty of places to belly up to the bar for a cold one. The Dockside Restaurant and Marina is my favorite; and from what Captain Joe tells me, it’s the oldest establishment in the area. Southerners are even starting to drink microbrews these days, ensuring the experience doesn’t get watered down.
5). Bald Head Island. On this particular visit, I discovered a magnificent hidden gem called Bald Head Island. About 30 miles from Wilmington, the island is a short ferry ride from Southport, NC. Comprised of 12,000 acres of land, 10,000 of which is untouched marsh, beach and forest, no cars are allowed. Golf carts and bicycles provide transportation for parents, kids and a multitude of dogs. Homes are beautiful, trees swallow the narrow inland paths, and the beaches are bare and to behold, made even better by all the happy puppies swimming joyously in the water.
6) Festivals galore. If you are a fan of festivals, there’s the Azalea Festival in April, the Blue Crab Festival in May, Blues Festival in July and Riverfest in October, just to name a few.
7). Hush puppies. In general, fried food is hard to avoid (fried pickles, anyone?) and vegetables are few and far between at local restaurants. (In fact, at one restaurant we visited, you have to pay more to order seafood broiled instead of fried). If you want to splurge on a local fried specialty, however, go for the hush puppies. These balls of fried cornbread are typically served in place of dinner rolls (and often with butter!). But I’m here to tell you, they are the finest in the country.
8). Great seafood. I’m a huge fan of hole in the wall restaurants (though there is fine dining in the area, too). We found one in downtown Wilmington called the Dock Street Oyster Bar with steamed seafood on the menu. I was so excited about a night without fried, I ordered the variety platter, complete with oysters, mussels, clams, shrimp and succulent crab legs. My favorite, however, was the almost insect-looking crawfish. My first ever taste of these critters, and they melted in my mouth – like lobster only better.
9). Sweet iced tea. I can’t figure out why good ‘ole iced tea tastes so much better in the South. At least once during your stay, you have to try it sweetened. Though high in calories, it’s the nectar of the heavens.
Will Wilmington be the next Hollywood? Probably not. But One Tree Hill is filmed here, and a number of movies, too.
These are just a few of the reasons I recommend Wilmington for your next spring break. Or any break!
GORGEOUS!!! 
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I’ve never been there but love, love, love the beach. We used to live in Florida and I miss the ocean! So glad to meet you in blog land!
GORGEOUS!!!