Summer is essentially here! And that means travel and road trips. In fact, I just got back from a quick weekend getaway to Wilmington. At just over 3 hours from Charlotte, it’s the perfect destination for an easy weekend trip. I love trip planning and creating itineraries/sifting through things to do and prioritizing them. One thing about me is I will not get to a place with no idea what I’m planning to do. So of course I want to share my must-do’s for Wilmington North Carolina for anyone planning to visit.

I have to say this wasn’t the best trip I’ve planned (my own fault). Regardless it was still a lot of fun, and I discovered a lot of fun places to recommend. Know of something I missed? I’d love to hear it! But until then check out this list of must-do’s from my weekend in Wilmington North Carolina. It’s a mixture of where I stayed, where I ate, and what I did while enjoying a great time in Wilmington!

• Where I Stayed

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  A post shared by Embassy Suites Wilmington, NC (@embassysuiteswilmingtonnc)

  I stayed at the Embassy Suites Riverfront, but in full transparency, I probably wouldn’t choose it for a future trip. The location was pretty good though it was on the outskirts of downtown it was still a manageable and safe walk into the heart of downtown. My main issue was just with the level of amenities and service. It’s been a few years since I have stayed at the chain but it seemed to me that the perks of staying there made to order breakfast and happy hour just weren’t up to the standard they once had. This could be a trend chain-wide or with this particular location. But the added cost was not in my opinion worth it the way it has been at other hotels.

• Battleship NC

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  If you’re interested in history, the military, or have kids who love boats this is a great activity to do. The whole tour takes around 1.5-2 hours and does involve significant walking/climbing up and down small stairs. It’s also not airconditioned so the best time to visit is the morning before it gets too hot!

• Burgwin-Wright House

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  I absolutely love old historic homes so tours of them are always on my to-do list. We spent Saturday afternoon at the Burgwin-Wright house which is the only colonial home left in Wilmington. The tour lasted about an hour and our guide was excellent. There are also some gorgeous gardens outside to explore as well as a cute little gift shop.

• Airlie Gardens

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  Right outside of Wrightsville Beach is Airlie Gardens. It’s right on the sound which makes for some picturesque views. The gardens and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss are gorgeous as well. And it’s a great chance to see wildlife as well. Hard to believe this area is just tucked into such a populous place.

• The Cotton Exchage

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  A post shared by The Cotton Exchange (@shopcottonexchangeilm)

  This area was actually our favorite part of downtown. The stores were cute, a little touristy, and it had some restaurants that looked tasty as well. I was disappointed by a lot of downtown Wilmington but this area was more along the lines of what I had expected.

• Alcove Beer Garden

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  This was the cutest little beer garden and patio, with a coffee shop in the same complex. It was a few minutes drive but I made the trip to see a good friend who was playing live music at the venue. The outdoor patio made the perfect setting to enjoy some live music!

• Dockside (Wrightsville Beach)

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  You’ve probably seen the t-shirts for this place. They were a staple after the summer break at least when I was in high school. And the views and food live up to the hype. Whether you’re taking the boat or driving, eating a meal or just grabbing a drink on the patio it’s a must-do if you’re in the area!

• Michael's On The Waterfront

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  A post shared by Michael’s on the Waterfront (@michaelsonthewaterfront)

  It’s directly across from the water but the vibe is cute, they have a small outdoor patio, and the food was delicious!

• Seaview Crab Company

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  A post shared by Seaview Crab Company (@seaviewcrabco)

  It may not look like much from the outside but this multi-location fresh seafood wholesale also has a small restaurant. You won’t find seafood any fresher. The food was great and they even had an all-you-can-eat crawfish boil when we were there.

• Mellow Mushroom

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  A post shared by Mellow Mushroom Hunt (@mellowmushroom.hunt)

  This actually goes against everything I preach and it was done more out of desperation that “want”. We actually struggled with several places being closed or not serving food after around 8:00 so ended up just eating here two nights (they were open til 10). I tend to not like to eat on vacation at places I can eat at home but it filled the void and was great as always!

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