Miles of Beaches

Further east, the coastal areas and communities of Topsail Island, Figure Eight Island, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach offer an abundance of variety.

Deep sea, surf and pier fishing, boating, surfing, diving, swimming and touring are some of the many activities in, on and under the water. Exclusive shopping, sea turtle rescuing and rehabilitation, a Missiles and More Museum, multi-million dollar showplace homes, a magnificent North Carolina Aquarium, a Civil War historic site at Fort Fisher, two state parks, camping, miles and miles of uncrowded and unspoiled beaches and even a state ferry across the mouth of the river to quaint and historic Southport are here. There’s something for everybody - it’s all here on the islands!

Much of Wilmington’s present-day character and flavor, especially downtown, is derived from a robust, eventful, sometimes-tumultuous-but-always-fascinating history.