The Most Overlooked Town on the East Coast Is Worth a Weekend Getaway
Skip Charleston and Savannah and head to this charming coastal city instead.
Wilmington, North Carolina is the kind of town one comes to love before ever setting foot in it. My adoration started with the coastal city as a teenager, watching Tuesday installments of the early 2000s teen drama Dawson’s Creek. Of course, at the time, I thought I was longing for the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, but the scenery I admired is the real-life North Carolina town residents endearingly call Wilmywood.
Wilmington has long served as an East Coast hub for some of Hollywood’s finest productions. Everything from the ’80s film classic Dirty Dancing to the WB’s dramatic series One Tree Hill to parts of the movie trilogy The Hunger Games were filmed there. It’s easy to see why location scouts prefer it; Wilmington’s quaint downtown sits along the Cape Fear River just before it reaches the Atlantic. Its nearby beaches with soft, cream-colored sand are ideal for relaxation. The ocean currents are strong enough to attract surfers from around the country.
Wilmington’s vibe is casual—it doesn’t take itself so seriously—but it also happens to be a great place to inadvertently run into one of your favorite celebrities when they’re in town filming next year’s blockbuster hit. So if you want to dive in and explore Wilmington’s film-worthy credentials for yourself, here’s how you can do it in a couple days.
Travel time
3 hours, 30 minutes from Charlotte, North Carolina
3 hours, 45 minutes from Charleston, South Carolina
6 hours from Washington, DC
6 hours and 30 minutes from Atlanta, Georgia
If you only do one thing: Explore filming locations in Wilmywood
Hollywood may have its famous Walk of Fame. Still, Hollywood East, aka Wilmington, puts visitors into the center of action with its 90-minute Wilmywood movie and TV location walk. This tour is the closest you can get to walking on set; you’ll see the backdrop for some of Wilmington’s most memorable scenes. Local actors usually lead the group tour and occasionally share their lore of what it’s like to work with some of LA’s biggest stars. Plus, the tour is centered in downtown Wilmington, so if you tend to admire historic homes, you’ll have nearby opportunities to gawk at some beautiful Greek and Italianate Revival houses.
Fill the weekend with
Beaches
You probably didn’t come this far to not visit the beach, and Carolina Beach welcomes you to bring your pet pal anytime from October 1 to March 31 (except on the boardwalk areas). If you’re visiting during the busier months of April through September, dogs are allowed in the off hours, before 9 am and after 5 pm. To find your pet’s next playmate, visit Mike Chappell Park, a fenced-in dog park in Carolina Beach.
Dog bars
Head back into Wilmington and take your pup to the Ruff Draft Dog Park & Bar, a full-service bar with an 11,000-square-foot dog park attached. Or grab your pup and visit one of the many pet-friendly breweries in town. Flytrap Brewery is a great place to start. The downtown brewery pays homage to the Venus flytrap, which is native to this part of North Carolina. Enjoy a Hazy IPA or one of their ales.
Where to eat and drink in Wilmington
For a hearty breakfast: Tried-and-true breakfast dishes are the star at Brunches, but dishes that highlight regional flavors like an open-faced biscuit with pimento cheese and fried chicken are not to be missed. This locally owned restaurant is such a hit with the community that it’s expanded into several locations around town.
For a mid-day bite: Chef Joy’s Grocerant in downtown Wilmington is the perfect place to pick up a quick sandwich and continue with your itinerary. Chef Joy Vunk makes it a point to support local farms and artisans, and she keeps a few quirky items on hand, such as the glass jar full of pickled red beet eggs and the coastal crab boil kettle chips to take home with you.
For a memorable meal: At Seabird, James Beard-nominated chef Dean Neff delivers unforgettable dishes that pay homage to the North Carolina coast. Oysters are locally sourced and are served in delicious combinations, like the punch of heat, then the smooth finish of the broiled hollandaise oysters. Resist the urge to slurp the complex broth in the Eastern cioppino. It melds the tilefish, mussels and clams together in its hearty stew. Expect a few seasonal surprises on the menu, and enjoy it all on the outdoor patio.
For a few brews: Celebrate your favorite film moments with a Wilmywood wit from Wrightsville Beach Brewery. Their outdoor patio is pet-friendly, so bring your pooch while you enjoy a flight and some surprisingly good eats. It’s on the North Carolina oyster trail, so don’t leave without trying some halfshells fried with kimchi-fermented collard greens.
Where to stay
For a boutique experience: Just a couple blocks away from the riverfront, ARRIVE Wilmington is a hit with its three historic buildings overlooking a comfy courtyard. Its small but stylish mid-century modern rooms are pet-friendly and feature refined details such as Apple TVs and Bellino Fine Linens.
On the riverfront: Overlooking the Cape Fear River, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront puts you close to wherever you want to be, whether by the water, or within walking distance of downtown. Rooms are spacious with a mini kitchen and separate living room with a desk. The rooftop bar is the perfect spot for a nightcap.