Who doesn't love a fun, spur of the moment daytrip? During your Topsail Island vacation, it's easy to enjoy a daytrip to numerous great places, but we're going to focus on Wilmington, NC today! Ride along with us as we give you the best info for enjoying Wilmington by day and relaxing in your Topsail Island beach rental by night.

Wilmington, NC is well-loved by North Carolinians and people across the country for well reason! Wilmington is a delightful port city located along the Cape Fear River and includes beaches like Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. There is so much to do, see, eat, and experience in Wilmington, which is why we highly recommend a daytrip! Below are just a few of the many things that we think you'll enjoy during your Wilmington daytrip.

     Wilmington Riverwalk

Running alongside the beautiful Cape Fear River, enjoy almost two miles of markets, cafes and restaurants (many with outdoor seating available), art galleries, boutiques, and lovely scenery at the Riverwalk. Take a narrated tour or soak in the tunes at the outdoor concert venue. Riverwalk is open year-round and is a favorite destination among everyone!

 USS North Carolina Battleship

Known as "the world's greatest sea weapon," you can tour a historical, decommissioned battleship! Given the nickname "Showboat" for its speed and number of guns aboard in the early 1940's, the USS North Carolina Battleship has called Wilmington home since 1961. "During World War II, USS North Carolina participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific area of operations and earned 15 battle stars."

The battleship is open every day for tours, including holidays, and ticket information can be found here. If you can't visit the battleship in person, take a moment to read a bit of the ship's interesting history.

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Open daily from 9:00 to 5:00, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is an excellent place to slow down and take in some amazing sea creatures! Enjoy viewing river otters, sharks, sea turtles, crabs, eels, a bald eagle, and thousands more animals just waiting for your visit. Click here for more info and to plan your visit.

Wilmington Railroad Museum

Trains are beloved by all, both young and old and what better place to learn all about trains and the local railways than the Wilmington Railroad Museum? Board a real caboose, 100-year-old steam train, and visit the interactive Children's Hall where you can play with wonderful train tables. This museum is loaded with regional history and is sure to be a favorite stop during your daytrip!

The Children's Museum of Wilmington

Visiting Wilmington with children? Don't miss The Children's Museum of Wilmington! There are so many fun and exciting hands-on exhibits for children to explore, learn, and play on. The museum currently has exhibits ranging from an interactive diner, community market, giant mouth (dental education), trains, water, and much more.

Historic District

Step back in time while you explore the beautiful Historic District! Don't feel like walking? Take a horse-drawn carriage, hop on the trolley, or cruise in a riverboat! Beginning at Water and Market Street and continuing for 230 blocks, you'll love all of the historical churches, homes, gardens, restaurants (there's over 40 locally owned restaurants in the Historic District alone!), museums, and more. Did you know Wilmington's Historic District is one of the largest in the United States? 

Airlie Gardens

Come stroll the beauty of the 67-acre public garden known as Airlie Gardens! First opened in 1901, Airlie Gardens features walking trails, sculptures, lakes, a variety of many different types of flowers and trees, and much more. This is an excellent place to let your kids get out some of that energy! Airlie Gardens also hosts seasonal events such as a butterfly house and native wildlife exhibit.

These are just a few of the hundreds of wonderful things to enjoy in Wilmington, NC! We hope you'll consider a fun-filled daytrip to this beautiful port city during your Topsail Island vacation. Haven't booked your Fall getaway yet? No worries, there's still time! Click here to start planning today. We'll "sea" you soon.