Best Weekend Trips From Wilmington NC

Best Weekend Trips from Wilmington NC   

Small towns

You will find many small beach towns with a lot of unique activities to offer. Each town in the region is great and offers some of the best weekend trips from Wilmington NC. Wilmington is filled with charming coastal towns, including:

• Southport: This town became famous when the author Nicholas Sparks wrote about it in his novels. You will find many filming locations from his books that were turned into movies. Some of these locations were used in films like “Safe Haven” and “A Walk to Remember”.

• Beaufort: There are many waterfront restaurants in Beaufort to explore. They serve fresh-caught seafood and you will find many signature cocktails to enjoy over the sunset. You can go on the Hungry Town Tours for a food and bike experience. At Beaufort, kayaking in Shackleford Banks is a great way to have one of the best weekend trips from Wilmington NC

• New Bern: There are plenty of places to explore in New Bern. You can take walks around the downtown area and watch the town come to life. There is a chance to take part in a scavenger hunt! You will look for the painted bears at local businesses in the town. At Union Point Park, the view of the Neuse River is breathtaking.

• Emerald Isle: a beach weekend gives you the best weekend trips from Wilmington NC. Emerald Isle is a remote and laid back town, providing lots of beach privacy. You can also try some of the restaurants, including The Trading Post and Caribsea.

• Carolina/ Kure Beach: If you’re looking for great quiet beaches, this is it. The other great place to try is Britt’s Donut Shop for the best donuts in town. Their homemade glazed donuts will make this one of the best weekend trips from Wilmington NC. You can also take a trip down to the aquarium or drive out to the beach for surf fishing. Kure Beach is a great location to explore beach activities without a lot of human traffic.

Cape Lookout National Seashore

This is a great location if you are looking for a weekend getaway. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is a great attraction and makes some of the best trips from Wilmington NC. Some of the activities you can enjoy include:

• Surf fishing

• Birding

• Driving along the beach

• Climbing to the top of the lighthouse

To make it a weekend trip, you can spend the night in the campgrounds on Cape Lookout National Seashore. The lighthouse has a well stocked Visitor’s Center for all you may need. You can also buy souvenirs at the center.

Masonboro Island

This is a state reserve that is across the channel from Wrightsville beach and Carolina Beach. It stretches along the southern coastline. In the longest stretch of an undisturbed barrier island ecosystem. You will find tidal creek ecosystems and explore the salt marsh. To have one of the best weekend trips from Wilmington NC, you will see fish, sea turtles and birds of all kinds. You can also pick seashells from the beach. This activity of picking seashells is known as shelling. You are advised to only admire the shells and not touch them. This ruins the ecosystem and can be harmful. Activities you can enjoy while at Masonboro include:

• Boating

• Riding the ferry

• Kayaking

Lake Waccamaw State Park

When you visit Lake Waccamaw State Park, you get to enjoy the many local ecosystems that are unique to the region. These ecosystems are explained in the interpretive programs offered by the park. There is an exhibit hall with all the information you will need about them.

While at the park, take a walk around the lake. You can walk along the trails or take the boat ramps to access either a small boat or kayak. It makes the lake a key location for the best weekend trips from Wilmington NC.

Lake Waccamaw is a small and intimate state park that offers plenty for weekend getaways. You can take walks, ride in boats or walk out on the boardwalk to catch some fish. The boardwalk is 700 feet long and offers plenty of fishing space.

Cape Fear River

Cape Fear River is easily one of the best weekend trips from Wilmington NC. It offers a lot of opportunities to enjoy your weekend getaways. You can enjoy a scenic cruise on the river. The cruise is booked with Cape Fear Riverboats and comes with a well-informed guide. The sunset cruise is one to remember. A different way to enjoy the Cape Fear River is by kayaking. If you do not have your own boat, you can visit Lillington, two hours northwest. You will find all the adventures to be had on the Cape Fear River. At Lillington, you can rent canoes, kayaks and even paddleboards! It gives you all the adventure without having to carry your equipment.

Author: ENC Explorer

After getting accepted to ECU, I started looking for things to do in and around Greenville, NC. However, my searches kept taking me to places in South Carolina! There must be things to do around ECU, so I started asking other students. They kept telling me to graduate and move away! This inspired me to begin exploring eastern North Carolina and build this website as a showcase of the places to go, sights to see, and things to do all over eastern NC. I have fallen in love with this region and started taking up roots here. After graduating, I didn't move away - I bought a house here and continue to explore eastern North Carolina.