Wilmington, North Carolina Travel Guide || Spring 2023

We’re halfway through our spring road trip, making our fourth stop in Wilmington, North Carolina. To be honest, Wilmington was not a part of the original plan— we made a last-minute decision to detour here rather than spend four nights in Charlotte and I’m so glad we did.

Not that I didn’t love Charlotte, I did; but there was something really enchanting about Wilmington. This city felt like stepping into a Nicholas Sparks book. The quaint downtown had a sleepiness about it that swallowed me whole. Not to mention the beach is right there, giving me that North Carolina nostalgia I’ve been chasing my whole life. I have goosebumps just thinking about it!

We only had two nights in Wilmington but we packed as much as we possibly could into our stay! Today I’m breaking down our short and sweet itinerary complete with restaurant recs, things to do, hotel details, and outfit ideas. We weren’t here long enough for me to share a full outfit guide so I’m combining this post into one! Hope you don’t mind and enjoy having everything at easy access.

For reference, we visited in Mid-May. College kids had just gone home for the summer and tourists hadn’t yet rolled in so we caught it at the perfect time. Anywho, let’s get to the good stuff!

WHERE TO STAY

For this trip, we stayed two nights at Hotel Ballast. This beautiful waterfront property faces the Cape Fear River and is the best spot whether you’re in town for business, pleasure, or a wedding celebration. It’s located in the heart of downtown so it’s just steps away from the best bars, restaurants, and shopping.

Hotel Ballast is a Hilton property so per usual, our stay was amazing. We stayed in one of their rooms with 2 double beds and a river view. We had tons of space to spread out here and lots of modern amenities.

The bathroom here was my favorite of the trip. We had tons of counter space to get ready, amazing lighting, and the best shower. All marble, amazing water pressure (sounds silly but is very important, haha), and glass doors.

Hotel Ballast offers on-site parking and valet. They have a huge pool area and outdoor bar as well as an on-site restaurant, Board & Barrel, that’s open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner. They serve coastal cuisine and fresh seafood. We had a very seamless stay here and would definitely rebook.

If you’re interested in booking Hotel Ballast click here for current availability and best rates.

TRANSPORTATION

From what I gathered during our two days here, Wilmington has two main areas: downtown and the beach! As I mentioned, we’ve been road tripping so we had my car and were able to drive ourselves the 15 minutes between each of these places. No car? No problem! Uber and Lyft operate 24/7 here.

I will say, when you are downtown there is no need to drive to get from place to place. The city is super small, just a few blocks from one end to the other so it’s very walkable which I loved.

If you’re flying in, the closest airport to downtown is Wilmington International Airport (ILM). It’s roughly a ten-minute ride from here to downtown.

WHAT TO WEAR 

Not sure what to wear on your trip to Wilmington? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! It was a short and sweet trip so I only have four outfits to share but each is complete with links to shop.

A Cool Evening 

top || jeans || sneakers || purse 

We arrived in Wilmington a bit later than we expected and to my surprise, it was quite brisk out! I ended up needing jeans so I slipped into my go-to Calvin Klein jeans. This straight-leg style works with every type of top and every type of shoe—I call them the “universal” jeans lol.

Up top I’m wearing my all-time favorite linen button-up. This piece is super lightweight and incredibly versatile. You can find me styling it with a bikini underneath most days but it also works great buttoned up for a cooler evening exploring the town. Keeping things super casual with my favorite sneakers and a purse to match. Very, very casual vibes in this “city”.

Coastal Meets Cowgirl

top || shorts || boots || hat || purse 

This seemed like one of those destinations I could rock the coastal cowgirl aesthetic so I pulled the boots out for a morning full of exploring. These are some of my most comfortable shoes and they served me well as we walked in and out of every shop in town. I styled them with just a basic tank and denim shorts.

My hair needed some major TLC so I just tucked it away under a Lack of Colors hat—this one is my all-time favorite and scores me compliments with every wear.

Beach Day Vibes

swimsuit 

Chances are you’ll be hitting the beach during this trip. I highly suggest packing a swimsuit. We didn’t get a full afternoon of sunbathing as it was incredibly windy during our visit but we still snapped some pictures, enjoyed the view, and explored Wrightsville Beach a bit.

This floral one-piece was the perfect option. This is from a small business called 93 Play Street that specializes in retro swimwear designs. I love one pieces for “exploring” beach days because you can throw on a pair of denim shorts without having to worry about any additional cover-up! 🙂

Casual in Cargps

top || bottoms || sandals 

I have these cargo pants in three different colors now and they really are the best. They sit just below the belly button for more of a low-rise fit and they are so flattering when paired with a longer cropped tee. I have this top in a gazillion colors and it’s another favorite of mine. Always on sale too!

Perfect comfy + casual outfit for dinner and drinks in this laid-back city.

WHAT TO DO

Wilmington was the perfect city to break up our road trip. It fell right in the middle of our trip and was a much slower-paced city. Although packed full of history, as many southern cities are, there’s not a whole lot you have to do here. It’s one of those destinations you go to simply just to experience. Even after a few hours of walking around, you’ll be immersed in the chill vibe.

It was also far less touristy than our other destinations so we were free to wander as our hearts desired. We mostly just walked around taking it in, talking with locals, and taking pictures of cool findings. Sometimes no itinerary is the best itinerary :).

Check out The Historic District/Riverwalk

Wilmington is known as the Port City of America as it’s where dozens of ships come in and out of. It has a busy railroad system that extends over 160 miles. At one point it was the largest railroad system in the world. This city played a large role in WWII and is packed full of history because of it. If you’re a history buff, they offer tours of this battleship and have a museum in town too!

Along this area, you can also find the Riverwalk which is a beautiful boardwalk that extends nearly a mile. There are several restaurants and hotels along this strip along with the prettiest views. We came here as soon as we checked into our hotel and I was instantly reminded why I love North Carolina so much. The palmetto bluff, the faint marshy smell, and the slow glow of the sunset that lingers for hours. It’s magic over here!

Shop The Boutiques

I wouldn’t necessarily say there is city shopping in Wilmington but there are certainly a handful of boutiques worth popping in and out of! My favorite was called Edet—they stocked tons of my favorite brands and had lots of new Steve Madden arrivals.

Visit The Cotton Exchange 

More Info || Directions 

You have to visit the Cotton Exchange! There are a handful of small locally owned boutiques and artisan shops here. You must stop in The Olive Shoppe. We popped in here and ended up chatting with the owner for 30 minutes while she gave us several samples of their oils and balsamic. These make such a fun (and thoughtful) gift, especially for the ex-studyabroaders like myself.

Beach Day In Wrightsville 

Directions

Everyone told me I’d love Wrightsville Beach! Even in the dead afternoon of an off-season Tuesday I could see its potential. It’s typical small-town beach vibes with one main drag of sticky-floored beach bars and cheap rum runners. I would have loved to have one but one pm on a Tuesday alone didn’t quite seem like the vibe, haha. There are just a few surf shops here but they are super cute and def worth checking out.

As for the beach itself, it’s a nice one! It’s certainly no Florida view but it is what it is! The waves were gigantic here so we didn’t get to do any swimming but I can imagine how nice it is to be a college student with this type of water just minutes away. Very quiet.

I will make a note that parking here is absurd—finding it wasn’t a problem but it was ridiculously priced! Not doable for an entire day; I would suggest Ubering if you’re coming from downtown for the whole day.

I’ve been told river cruises and horse-drawn carriage rides are both fun things to do here as well. We didn’t end up doing either as we were enjoying slower evenings just moseying around but would love to try one out if I ever find myself in town again.

WHERE TO EAT

Typically when we travel to a city I spend weeks beforehand gathering recommendations + stalking restaurants on social media. I went into Wilmington blind and yet came out of all four spots we visited pleased and ready to recommend. I’d say that’s pretty good, right?

Quanto Basta 

Menu // Directions

Our first night in Wilmington we walked the entire city in less than an hour and picked a place based on a “cover”. This spot had adorable fairy lights and a lively crew sitting outside so we figured it must be good. WOW, did this place knock my socks off! Jules and I got their pesto pizza and it was the best I’ve had since returning from Italy. Highly recommend.

We also shared their pesto pasta with veggies and it was a hit. Very good portions for the price + it ended up being the perfect amount to split.

The Kitchen Sink 

Menu // Directions

Jules found us this spot and I was a little skeptical at first as it was packed full of the retirement crew but it was another must-visit. I got their brie, turkey, green apple, and arugula sandwich and it was phenomenal. It typically comes cold on a croissant but I asked for it heated and it did not disappoint. We got a side of truffle french fries to go with.

They are also known for their soup flights which we decided to try. I’m not usually a soup girl but it was fun to try out so many new flavors. We polished off our (huge) lunch with the chef’s famous brownie. Omg, you have to get this—it was to die for! Cutest little mom-and-pop and perfect if you’re wanting something quick since you order at the counter!

Cloud Nine 

Drink Menu // Directions

On our second night, I was craving a cocktail so we headed over to Cloud Nine which is supposedly the hippest rooftop in town. It’s on top of the Embassy Suites Hotel and has a beautiful view of the river! They have a gazillion cocktails and draft beers. I got a Pineapple Express and was buzzed after just one.

They also have a full food menu up here if you’re wanting to dine. Cute spot and very lively even on a Wednesday.

George’s

Menu // Directions

On our second night in town, we wanted to eat on the river so we checked out George’s. Their menu looked good and the view of the sunset was unmatched. I got their lobster mac and cheese—figured I had to try the North Carolina seafood while I was in town! This was a huge serving you could definitely split with someone. Very yummy and a great spot for a sunset cocktail too.

pin this post for later 

I feel as though in my vlog I didn’t have enough time to express how much I really enjoyed it here, but I’m here to tell you now. I loved this quaint storybook city and really do hope to find my way back here someday. I can’t imagine this is the most searchable of my travel guides but it was certainly a pleasure getting to put it together.

Oh, and if you’re a One Tree Hill fan this is where most of the show was filmed—which I didn’t realize until later! So another reason to add it to the favorites list 😉 See you in Charlotte!

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