With plenty of attractions that span around the area of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach often gets overlooked. This small beach town has its own allures that indeed attract tourists of all interests. And rightfully so! From public parkways and pathways, local historical museums, and an ample amount of water sport activities, there’s a lot a book can offer than just its cover. On your next beach vacation, make sure to check out these attractions, which quintessentially serve miles of fun in the sun. Through this guide, you’ll realize that there are plenty of ways to explore and enjoy areas around Wrightsville Beach without ever leaving the border. Take a look at this guide for some of the best things to do in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
1. Explore sunken shipwrecks in the ocean
Who else looks at tropical destinations when planning to go on a scuba diving adventure? We all have been there! But, there’s no need to travel that far when the North Carolina coast is right around the corner. Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington is home to one of the most unique scuba diving and snorkeling excursions one can experience. You can take a day off and go swimming alongside vibrant marine life while exploring sunken ships, or go back to prehistoric times as you uncover dinosaur fossils in the ocean.
Wrightsville Beach Scuba Diving
Address: 1800 Eastwood Rd #117, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
Website: Wrightsville Beach Scuba Diving
Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)
Price: From 150 USD
2. Go back in time at Wrightsville Beach Museum of History
Want to experience and learn how a beach cottage looked like back in the 1900s? How about checking that out while also looking at an intricate collection of displays, memorabilia, and other seasonal exhibits? The Wrightsville Beach Museum of History is a museum that is housed in the vintage beach cottage where you’ll find the replica of the beach cottage rooms, unique exhibits of the town’s deadly encounters, the original Lumina Pavilion, and cool installments including authentic postcards, artifacts, and bathing suits.
Wrightsville Beach Museum of History
Address: 303 W Salisbury St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Wrightsville Beach Museum of History
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 4pm; Fri: 12pm - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: Free admission
3. Gear up for seaside adventure at Surf City Surf Shop
One of the best places to get ocean-centric essentials like surfboards, rash and sun guards, Vonzipper goods, and more for your adventure, is Surf City Surf Shop. Operating for about 40 years now, you’ll find everything from your checklist and you’ll also be advised from the experts on what the best equipment or gear you could use when you’re out about and hitting the ocean.
Surf City Surf Shop
Address: 530 Causeway Dr, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Surf City Surf Shop
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 9pm; Sun: 11:30am - 6pm
Price: From 5 USD
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4. Have an action-packed day at Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation
If you’re looking to have some outdoor fun, head to the Wrightsville Beach Park—an extensive beach complex that’s a true breath of fresh air to active visitors. The complex that’s on the Wrightsville Beach causeway comprises two outdoor basketball courts, three sand volleyball pits, four tennis courts, a softball field, kids’ playground, and an open area for pickup games like soccer, kickball, or flag football. With regular recreational events and activities every week, you’ll also find a small Arboretum to explore the local flora and fauna while you catch a break from the action-packed beach park.
Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation
Address: 1 Bob Sawyer Dr, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: From 60 USD
5. Embrace a beautiful sunset on a cruise with your loved ones
If you want to have the perfect sunset experience, just head over to the La Dee Dah Sunset Cruises to witness an unforgettable sunset. Perfect for a date night or catching up special moments with friends, this is a one-of-a-kind adventure that will delight everyone.
La Dee Dah Sunset Cruises
Address: 120 Short St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: La Dee Dah Sunset Cruises
Price: From 80 USD
6. Take a blissful walk on Wrightsville Beach's 2.5-mile Loop
The John Nesbitt Loop, sweetly called as The Loop, is a 2.5-mile (3.9-km) circuit sidewalk course that is an attractive destination which attracts a lot of active locals and tourists. People indulge in walking, jogging, running, cycling, and they also love taking their furry companions out strolling as the loop boasts several doggy fountains. The loop covers a portion of the Intracoastal Waterway, Salisbury Street, Causeway Drive, and up to Wrightsville Beach Park and Harbour Island. This is a great destination if you want to enjoy a beautiful scenery, salty air, and vantage points for sightseeing.
The John Nesbitt Loop
Address: Wrightsville Beach , NC, United States
Website: The John Nesbitt Loop
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free of cost
7. Try writing messages offline for a change at the Wrightsville Beach Mailbox
How often is it you find a ‘mailbox’ as one of the favorite destinations/attractions for locals and visitors alike? For your next vacation, let your fingers to do the talking as you write your deepest emotion or let your mind do the blissful reading from the letters found in and around the mailbox.
Wrightsville Beach Mailbox
Address: Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Wrightsville Beach Mailbox
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free of cost
8. Unwind and dine at Bluewater Grill
Craving local cuisine or want to taste the best local cuisine? Head to Bluewater Waterfront Grill, a picturesque restaurant set on the Intracoastal Waterway in Wrightsville Beach. Established in 2000, this waterfront dining restaurant features fresh seafood, classic and coastal favorites, and offers unique chef special dishes. Boasting an indoor space and a large outdoor patio where guests can wine, dine, and relax watching the sunset with sailboats and yachts cruising around.
Bluewater Grill
Address: 4 Marina St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Bluewater Grill
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 11pm; Mon: 11am - 10:15pm
Price: From 5 USD
9. Live it up at the lively atmosphere at Jimmy's
Nothing goes perfectly hand-in-hand unlike a beer or a cocktail and listening to a great piece of music. Swing by Jimmy’s bar to experience a lively atmosphere, amazing sets by the bands, and tasty beverages and eat good food.
Jimmy's
Address: 5 N Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Jimmy’s
Opening hours: 12pm - 2am (daily)
Price: From 5 USD
10. Pamper yourself at Alice Lawson Salon & Spa
How about catching up on some ‘me time’? With all the exploring done in days, you need to reward yourself with either a boutique shopping session or better yet, refresh and rejuvenate with a Swedish or deep tissue massage at Alice Lawson Salon and Spa.
Alice Lawson Salon & Spa
Address: 38 N Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Alice Lawson Salon & Spa
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 9am - 7pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
Price: From 50 USD
11. Cycle your way through town on the River to the Sea Bike Route
There’s nothing better than exploring a city or a country on a bicycle. So, go head and rent a cycle and set off on an 11-mile (17-km) River to the Sea Bikeway trail adventure that covers Historic Beach Car Line, Market Street, Old Wilmington, Forest Hills and neighborhoods, and Empire Park. And if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, then you can connect this trail to the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail as well.
River to the Sea Bike Route
Address: Wilmington, NC US 28402
Website: River to the Sea Bike Route
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free of cost
12. Have a kids day out at the Children's Fountain in Harbor Way Gardens
Posted by Frankie Steed Pierson on Sunday, 7 April 2019
Harbor Island Garden Club dedicated the Children’s Fountain—a multi-spray fountain in Harbor Way Gardens–in the year 2012 to get relief from the North Carolina heat. Kids of all ages can run around the water erupting from the ground and have fun getting wet, while the family and friends can sit by the fountain side and find a calming place to reflect.
Harbor Way Gardens
Address: US-74, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Harbor Way Gardens
Opening hours: 7am - 9pm (daily)
Price: Free of cost
13. Sail aboard with Wrightsville Performance Sailing
Hop on one of the premier sailing adventures and get yourself out on the water with Wrightsville Performance Sailing. You can choose from day, sunset, and night cruises; full-day and part-day charters and sailing lessons along with an experienced captain, through the iconic waters of Banks Channel, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Wrightsville Performance Sailing
Address: 330 Causeway Dr, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Website: Wrightsville Performance Sailing
Opening hours: 8am - 9pm (daily)
Price: From 199 USD
14. Enjoy the sunset by the beach
After going out and about in the city, getting a lot of sun, and sweating it out, it’s time to relax and lounge by the beach. So throw out a blanket, watch the sunset, and you could even stargaze after. There’s something blissful about watching the sunset over the water alone or with your loved ones.
Wrightsville Beach
Address: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, US
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free of cost
15. Discover the off-beaten paths via a kayak or surf board
Wrightsville Beach is a haven for all forms of water sports with active competitions happening all-year-round. And that shouldn’t scare you away from trying out new things, especially when you’re in a new city. Even if you’re an amateur, you could learn how to surf or kayak by renting one and paddling through a maze of salt wetland, along with coastal wildlife. Sailing away is one of the best forms when it comes to exploring a coastline.
Surfberry Beach Rentals
Address: 222 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Website: Surfberry Beach Rentals
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 8pm (closed on Mon)
Price: From 50 USD
16. Learn more about coastal life with The Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center (Touch Tank Tuesdays)
Ever wondered what kinds of plants and animals live in the waters of Wrightsville Beach? It’s time to find out at the interactive touch tank program that happens every Tuesday at the Touch Tank. You get to witness a variety of coastal plants and animals collected carefully every week like purple sea urchins, red and green algae, blue crabs, and orange horse conchs. These wildlife species will be released back in the ocean after the Tuesday program. You can even look at a few organisms under a microscope, learn about local critters and coastal habits, play fun board games related to aquatic ecosystems, and more.
The Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center
Address: 309 W. Salisbury Street; Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina 28480.
Website: The Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily); Touch Tank Tuesdays: 10am - 1pm
Price: Free of cost
17. Stroll around through Crystal Pier
Walk around and embrace the easy breeze off the Crystal Pier, stretching around 475 feet (145 m) into the Atlantic Ocean. The base of the pier takes you to the section of fishing and strolling. So get a fishing rod or your roller skates and explore the pier side and maybe even catch the rays of sunset.
Crystal Pier
Address: S Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, USA
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free of cost
There’s more to Wrightsville Beach than just beaches
Although Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina is famous for its beaches and water sport activities (after all East Coast surfing was born here), this city offers more than just the beaches. From museums, cruises, trail sites, to adventure sports, there’s something for everyone out here. So what are you waiting for?
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