The Perfect 2 Day Getaway!

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Every year, as soon as those tiny white and pink buds start popping on the trees in North Carolina, we know it’s time to plan our weekend getaway to Wilmington.

We go every year, since it’s only a few hour’s drive from our home and we are big beach people.

Wilmington also has fewer crowds, flowers bursting with spring colors, and warm temperatures, not to mention an abundance of things to do.

Wilmington offers a rare combination of historic architecture, a beautiful riverfront, and is only a 10-minute drive to one of best beaches in North Carolina, if not America – Wrightsville Beach!

We’ve always said, it’s a smaller version of Charleston or Savannah – oodles of Southern Charm with a vibrant, unique North Carolina personality and plenty to do.

So if you’re not sure how to spend 2 days in Wilmington on a weekend getaway, take a look at our itinerary below – having been to Wilmington countless times, we think this is the perfect way to spend a weekend.

The Perfect Weekend in Wilmington Itinerary

We arrived on a Friday evening, and left on Sunday afternoon, as we had a three hour drive back to Raleigh. If you visit mid-week, or arrive Saturday morning, adjust the following itinerary accordingly to the opening hours of businesses.

We grabbed a quick dinner in town on Friday evening, choosing to have an early night, so we’d be ready for our two big days of exploring.  

If you’ve just arrived in Wilmington and your belly is rumbling, consider Rooster & The Crow, the Seabird or Front St Brewery as dinner options.

Day 1: Exploring Downtown Wilmington

Park your car at the hotel, you won’t need it for this day exploring downtown Wilmington.

We love destinations where we can walk everywhere!

Stop 1: Riverfront Walk

Enjoy the quietness of the morning with less crowds by walking along the boardwalk that lines the Cape Fear River. 

The Wilmington Riverwalk is a 1.75 mile long walking trail, but we typically do the section from our hotel to the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and back rather than the whole boardwalk.

Plus, we walk along it all the time during the day to access some of the downtown area’s favorite historical shops, colorful buildings, and restaurants. 

As…