Vacation rentals in Wilmington Beach, Carolina Beach

Nestled along North Carolina’s southern coast, Wilmington Beach brims with breathtaking natural landscapes, historic architecture, and plenty of outdoor activities to keep your heart pumping. The lively Historic District sits in downtown Wilmington and embodies a small-town atmosphere with family-run local businesses. Lined with clothing boutiques, galleries, and Southern food restaurants, downtown Wilmington makes a great starting point for exploring the greater region. At the end of the Historic District, you’ll find the Riverwalk, equipped with a boardwalk that runs along the Cape Fear River. This spot is popular for wandering along the water and offers magnificent sunset views.

Wilmington Beach is well-known for its stunning sandy beaches, including Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach, where you can swim, surf, and stroll along the shoreline. Wilmington also provides a keen window into the area’s Victorian-era architecture, with three historic museums housed in 19th-century homes.

Summer in Wilmington Beach is generally warm, with temperatures hitting their peak and heating the waters, creating some of the best weather for taking a dip in the ocean, fishing, and boating. Spring and summer feature a handful of festivals, including the Annual Azalea Festival showcasing gardens, artwork, music, and a parade. During the early months of fall, the summer crowds thin out, but the water is still warm enough to enjoy a swim. As fall turns to winter, temperatures drop significantly, and the ocean becomes chilly.

Airlie Gardens

The Airlie Gardens is a lush oasis encompassing 67 acres of seasonal blooms, majestic live oaks, a butterfly house, and walking trails that lead you through marshes and around ponds. As you meander through the gardens, you’ll encounter several historical statues and art structures. Airlie Gardens also offers opportunities to observe the area’s diverse birdlife, such as the great egrets, osprey, eastern bluebirds, and more. In summer, the garden hosts outdoor concerts and other events.

Wrightsville Beach

Just east of Wilmington is Wrightsville Beach, beloved for its surf swells, vast stretches of sandy beaches, beautiful blue water, and gorgeous views of the surrounding neighborhood. Make your way to Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, an iconic landmark in the Wilmington area, expanding more than 1,200 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can admire the pier from a distance or pay a fee to walk along the boardwalk for sweeping views of the ocean.

Cameron Art Museum

Housed in a gleaming glass-and-steel building, the Cameron Art Museum shows off modern and contemporary art with rotating exhibitions featuring local, national, and international works across multiple mediums and forms. The museum also hosts special events throughout the year, including a live jazz concert series.