The Getaway.
Welcome to NC.
And welcome to your Wilmington getaway! There are plenty of wonderful places to stay in the Wilmington area. We also recommend checking out Wrightsville too, which is the ocean town right near Wilmington. See below for lodging recs and our favorite things to do (beach walk and brewery, anyone?).
The Flights.
Wilmington, NC (ILM)
The closest airport to downtown Wilmington, it’s about a 15-minute drive away from the hotels and downtown area.
Jacksonville, NC (OAJ)
Small airport about an hour drive away from downtown Wilmington. Note – it only flies Delta and American.
Raleigh, NC (RDU)
Raleigh-Durham is about a two-hour drive from downtown Wilmington, but it has the most direct flight options.
The Hotels.
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Courtyard Wilmington Downtown
229 North 2nd St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 632-2900 -
Embassy Suites Riverfront
9 Estell Lee Pl
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 765-1131 -
Hotel Ballast Wilmington
301 North Water Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 763-5900 -
Aloft Marriott
501 Nutt St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 377-7600
Link to hotel website
The Rentals
There are PLENTY of places to rent in the area too! Looking to stay on the ocean? Time to start checking out those beach houses in Wrightsville! It’s about a 15-minute drive from downtown Wilmington and the venue.
If you want to stay within walking distance of the celebrations, look for rentals in downtown Wilmington. If you want to be on the water and be downtown, no worries! There are plenty of places near or on the waterfront in Wilmington, too.
The Top Spots.
(Kacey & Randy’s Faves)
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Airlie Garden
One of the most beautiful places in Wilmington, Airlie Gardens is a must-see for its stunning florals and its 500-year-old live oak tree.
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Barbary Coast Bar
Barbary Coast is Wilmington’s oldest bar with good reason. We love stopping in for a stiff cocktail, ice-cold beer, and good game of shuffleboard.
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Battleship North Carolina
Be sure to check out some history while you’re here. Hop aboard the Battleship North Carolina, a memorial honoring the North Carolinians who served in WWII.
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The Blue Post Bar
Randy’s TOP bar. The Blue Post has everything from billiards and ski ball to air hockey and Buck Hunter. It will give everyone the game they want!
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Cameron Art Museum
A bit of a hidden gem, CAM has amazing exhibits, delicious brunch, and live music on the weekends. Feeling cultured, anyone?
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Edward Teach Brewery
A brewery with great beers that honors the greatest pirate who ever lived? Yes please! Fun fact: Edward Teach is across the street from our venue.
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End of Days Distillery
Looking for a beautifully crafted cocktail in a beautiful space…with food trucks? Look no further than EOD! Be sure to ask for a distillery tour, too.
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Goat & Compass Bar
The legendary Goat & Compass is where Randy bought the bar a round of drinks when he bought his Wilmington condo. Epic? Yes. (It’s also right near the venue.)
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K38 Baja Grill
Nothing like a taco after a day at the beach. Our go-to stop is K38 (preferably Oleander Drive) for a seafood taco and carne asada burrito.
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Southport & Bald Head Island
Kacey’s TOP spot in NC. Take a ferry from Southport to Bald Head Island, which is full of beautiful homes, beautiful beaches, and only golf carts allowed. Perfection.
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Wrightsville Beach
Our favorite NC beach. Run The Loop, walk the beach, soak up some sun, or rent a paddleboard – there’s a beach activity here for everyone in your party.
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Zeke's Beans & Bowls
Zeke’s has the best coffee, pitas, acai bowls, and poke bowls in Wrightsville. Our recs? The Costa Rica Pita (of course) and the Brazil Bowl. YUM.
The Additional Top Spots.
(Also Awesome)
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Good Eats
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More Good Eats
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Beers & Cheers
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Gettin' Tipsy