Area Attractions

As Wilmington continues to grow, so does the variety of stores. It seems every week more stores, boutiques and shopping centers are showing up around the Port City.

• Mayfaire Town Center is the ultimate shopping experience in Wilmington. With over 50 stores including Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and the Sharper Image, Mayfaire has something for just about everyone.
• Unique shops and boutiques are scattered around downtown and the surrounding areas. The Cotton Exchange is located in historic downtown Wilmington, and is known for their 23 specialty shops.
• Just a couple miles from downtown is Independence Mall. The mall has over 100 stores including department stores such as Belk and Dillards. 

With over 50 golf courses within an hour’s drive of Wilmington, there are plenty of public, semi-private and private golf courses to spend the day or a weekend.

• Scenic wooded and coastal courses boast marshes, live oaks, gently rolling land and a mild climate that permits golfing year round.
• Wilmington is home to several challenging courses designed by well-known golfers such as Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Fred Couples and several others.
• Some of the more popular golf courses in the Cape Fear area include Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation and Bald Head Island Club.  

Wilmington may be a small city but it doesn’t lack when it comes to the arts. As a center for both performing and visual arts, the community’s calendar is packed full of events.

• Thalian Hall has been around for over 100 years, and in addition to being an active theater, it is also one of Wilmington’s historical attractions. Thalian hosts over 200 events every year and range from live dance to performing artists to musicals. Shows this year include: The Wizard of Oz, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown and Full Gallop.
• Level 5 at City Stage is the ideal location to see a musical or comedy. The intimate atmosphere means there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Level 5 also has a roof top bar, popular for drinks and socializing before and after the show.
• Music is just as important to Wilmington as theater is. The city does have its own symphony orchestra; concert series and ensemble groups perform year round at Kenan Auditorium, Trask Coliseum and other venues in Wilmington and its surrounding communities.

The entire Wilmington area is dotted with great restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Just like other aspects of the city, the options are almost endless when you’re looking for a night out on the town or a bite to eat.

• Wilmington’s eclectic selection of restaurants include seafood, steakhouses, Thai, Mexican, southern soul food, oyster bars, sushi, Italian and French.
• Downtown Wilmington’s nightlife scene offers both casual and dressy establishments. Many bars and restaurants host live bands Thursday through Saturday night, especially during the summer months. Downtown municipal docks are available for those who wish to dock the boat while dining in downtown. Taking a stroll along the lighted Riverwalk or a tour of downtown Wilmington by a horse-drawn carriage are also options for enjoying the city during the day or night.
• While most of area’s night life is centered in downtown Wilmington, the beach towns also have bars and restaurants to offer. Many feature live bands on the weekend. Several restaurants in Wrightsville Beach also have marinas that provide dockage while dining on fresh seafood.

Wilmington has a range of schools on the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels that successfully compete with schools in larger cities.

• New Hanover County School District consists of over 35 schools including 25 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and seven high schools. In fact, there is a brand new elementary school a few miles up the road from Mason Landing. New Hanover County School District is one of the most successful school districts in the state of North Carolina.
• The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers over 70 undergraduate programs and 32 graduate programs. Just this past year, UNCW won several awards including 2008 "Best in the Southeast" and "Best Value" designations by The Princeton Review as well as ranking 6th in U.S. News & World Report’s top 10 public master's universities in the South.
• Wilmington is also home to numerous private schools including Friends School of Wilmington, The Lyceum Academy, Cape Fear Academy, Wilmington Christian Academy, Wilmington Arts and Science and Isaac Bear Early College High School.

With Wilmington’s rich history, there are plenty of historical landmarks in the area. And if history isn’t an interest, there are plenty of other sights to see around Wilmington, NC.

• The USS Battleship North Carolina, the Bellamy Mansion Museum, Orton Plantation and Fort Fisher are just a few of the historical attractions in the area. Most are open year round but may have limited hours during the winter months.
• Visit museums to get a feel for how the Wilmington area was over 100 years ago and right now. The Cape Fear Museum, the Wilmington Children’s Museum and the Cameron Art Museum are a few of the museums open year round. Just a few miles south of Wilmington is the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher which is home to a two-story replica of an offshore reef.
• Tour Screen Gems Studio to see the largest full service motion picture studio east of Los Angeles. The hit TV series’ One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek were filmed in Wilmington.
• Airlie Gardens was established in 1901 and features over 65-acres of gardens, 10-acres of freshwater lakes and numerous walking trails. Airlie is known for its 462-year-old Airlie Oak and collection of over 100,000 azaleas. Airlie Gardens frequently offers programs such as Yoga in the Garden, Kayak Eco Tour and the Airlie Concert Series.
   

Mason Landing offers the luxury of living on the water with the convenience of being within close proximity to the largest city on North Carolina’s coast. In less than 30 minutes, it is possible to drive to Kure Beach, Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach plus Wilmington International Airport, several libraries, historical landmarks, New Hanover Regional Medical Center and more.

Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament:
http://www.capefearbluemarlintournament.com/

Capt. Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament
http://www.gottaflyguideservice.com/page20.html