16 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Wilmington, NC

The mansion is about six blocks from the waterfront and approximately a 10-minute walk from the Riverwalk up Market Street.

Bellamy Mansion, a pre-Civil War structure, is regarded as one of North Carolina's most spectacular historic antebellum homes.

For one of the best views of the North Carolina coast, hop aboard a sunset sail tour from Wrightsville Beach.

If you were wooed by Carolina and Kure beaches, you must make the short trip to Wrightsville Beach.

Visitors, and especially garden lovers, appreciate the beautiful scenery at these historical gardens that date back to 1886. The grounds are lush with azaleas, camellias, and the signature Airlie Oak, which is more than 400 years old.

As well as attractions such as the Cape Fear Museum, the Children's Museum of Wilmington, and the view from the waterfront of the Battleship North Carolina, several streets are lined with beautiful old homes, many with their fascinating histories related on signs. Look for plaques on the houses as you wander by.

Downtown Wilmington is home to the state's largest National Register Historic District, which includes hundreds of 19th- and early 20th-century buildings.

Wilmington's Riverfront

The walkway runs for nearly two miles, stretching from Nunn Street to the Isabella Holmes Bridge.

Along its route are the shops of the Cotton Exchange, launching places for boat tours of the river, public artworks, cafes, shops, restaurants with riverside terraces, and benches for relaxing and enjoying the scenery.

One of the favorite - and free - things to do in Wilmington is a stroll along the Riverwalk that borders the Cape Fear River.

Address: 1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington, North Carolina