DESTINATION > WILMINGTON, NC
Wilmington Inlet Bay
L ike its neighbors to the south — Charleston and Savannah —Wilmington, NC, has become a magnet for tourists and transplants looking for authentic Southern culture, cuisine and climate. Many boaters are familiar with the area’s barrier islands and beaches such as Topsail, Wrightsville, Carolina, Kure, Bald Head, but not so much the city itself, located about 30 miles upstream from where Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Eastern Siouan people occupied the area when the first Europeans arrived in the early 1500s and Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the North American coast. His maps and travel accounts comprise the earliest description of North Carolina’s land and people. The city of Wilmington (then called New Carthage) was founded in 1739 on the banks of Cape Fear River. Its name comes from Sir Richard Grenville’s 1585 expedition when he sailed to Roanoke Island and his ship was stranded behind the cape.The crew was afraid they’d wreck, giving rise to the name Cape Fear. Savor the Southern Charm in WILMINGTON, NC BY RICHARD KERN
Battleship North Carolina
Also known as the Port City, Wilmington is experiencing a building boom and renaissance, with its well-preserved downtown and a bustling Port City waterfront area augmented by new condos and reclaimed riverside acreage that has been turned into parks, piers and promenades. Across from the city’s Riverwalk you can find the Battleship North Carolina Memorial and tour this famous warship. Front Street, Wilmington’s thriving commercial thorough- fare, is lined with chic shops, bars and restaurants populated by a mix of locals, UNC Wilmington college students and out-of-towners looking for R&R after a day of shopping, sight-seeing or cooling out at the beaches. Looking for lunch or a light alternative to a full-course dinner? Try Fun Bowl for ramen and poke bowl, Slice of Life Pizzeria & Pub for pizza,
62
mar i na l i fe. com
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software