wilmington nc haunted tours

Wilmington Ghosts: Phantoms of Pirates and Patriots Tour

• Local Knowledgeable Guide
• Thrilling Ghost Stories
• Well Researched History
• Wilmington City Hall, 102 N 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401, USA By the Stairs of Wilmington City Hall at 102 N 3rd Street. Your guide will be wearing a US Ghost Adventures Shirt and Carrying a Lantern.
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Battleship North Carolina
• Zebulon Latimer House
• The Cotton Exchange

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Wilmington City Hall 102 N 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401, USA By the Stairs of Wilmington City Hall at 102 N 3rd Street. Your guide will be wearing a US Ghost Adventures Shirt and Carrying a Lantern. See address & details
• Pass by Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts The Cotton Exchange Lula's Zebulon Latimer House Battleship North Carolina
• You'll return to the starting point

More to explore in Wilmington

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Wilmington Ghosts: Phantoms of Pirates and Patriots Tour provided by Wilmington Ghosts

Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington and Haunted Pub Crawl

Journey into the depths of old Wilmington on a 90-minute adventure to the city’s most actively haunted homes and burial grounds with the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington. Hear eerie tales and true ghostly occurrences from professional storytellers and ghost hunters, including actual encounters during recent tours. This family-friendly tour varies nightly, based on recent activity. Hoist a pint or three and celebrate Wilmington's dark history on the Haunted Pub Crawl, an adventure to the city's most intriguing local pubs. Hear true ghostly tales of murder, mayhem, lunacy, debauchery and more.​​

• Dog friendly
• Group friendly
• Tours: Guided

Riverfront at Market & Water Streets Wilmington, NC 28401

(910) 794-1866 hauntedwilmington.com John Hirchak [email protected]

Local Information

Wilmington and beaches convention & visitors bureau.

Ends: 6/15/2024

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Haunted pub crawl

AS SEEN ON ​:

Haunted TAPS, Creepy Canada, Southern Living, The History Channel, Eccentric America

The Daily Buzz, Our State Magazine, TLC, The WB & More

The Haunted Pub Crawl

Hoist a pint or three & celebrate Wilmington's dark history on a 2.5 hour adventure to the city's most intriguing local pubs. Hear the ghostly tales of murder, mayhem, lunacy, debauchery & more.​​ 

NOTE: You Must Arrive To Check-In By 7:10 PM. 

April 1 - October 31 - Wednesday - Saturday 7:30

November 1 - March 31 - Friday & Saturday 7:30

Additional Tours On Memorial Day, Labor Day & Throughout Year.

$22.50 plus tax

Drinks and tips not included

LIMITED SPACE - Tour Sells Out Early ​

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 1) As of August 15, 2021, New Hanover County is under a mandatory mask mandate. Everyone is required to wear a mask in ALL indoor settings (including indoors on the pub crawl while not physically drinking). 

  2) All guests must be 21 or older and have a valid U.S. Driver's License or a valid Passport.

IMPORTANT: Historic Wilmington's locally owned pubs make their own conduct policies. Guests who refuse to cooperate with these policies (wearing masks, having valid ID, showing proof of vaccination, being argumentative, etc.) will be denied admittance and/or removed from the pub and Pub Crawl, and no refund will be issued.

   3) You must arrive and check in at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the Crawl for check-in. Meet at the Ghost Walk sign, riverfront at Market and Water Streets, Wilmington, NC 28401. If you are late, stop by the Black Cat Shoppe at 8 Market Street to find out guide's first stop.

4) All Guests must sign the Haunted Pub Crawl's Liability Waiver & Release Agreement prior to the start of the tour (see sample text below). Guide will provide a Waiver Agreement for you to sign at check in.

5) All Sales Are Final - Be sure to confirm your tour date & time BEFORE purchasing tickets - Tickets are valid only for the date purchased. To read our refund/exchange policy see our FAQ'S page HERE .  

6) Drinks are not included. You are not obligated to purchase or consume anything during the Pub Crawl & are responsible for your own conduct.

7) Pub Crawl operates rain or shine & once tour begins it will finish (In the case of severe weather pub mobility may be limited).

8) By purchasing Pub Crawl tickets you indicate your understanding & acceptance of these Terms and Conditions, including as outlined on our FAQ's page.

NOTE: You DO NOT Need Printed Tickets (Guide Will Have Guest List)  

Haunted Pub Crawl Liability Waiver & Release Form Sample Text (GUIDE WILL PROVIDE ACTUAL FORM DURING CHECK-IN)

This Liability Waiver & Release Form is an agreement between the Haunted Pub Crawl (a part of the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, Inc., & hereon known as the “Company”), the tour guide (hereon known as the “Guide”), & all paying or non-paying guests (hereon known as the “Guest”).

The Haunted Pub Crawl visits bars where alcohol is served. There is NO OBLIGATION for Guests to purchase or consume alcohol during the tour. The decision to purchase or consume alcohol is solely at the discretion of the Guest. Neither the Company nor the Guide is responsible for the sale or consumption of alcohol. ANYONE REFUSING TO SIGN THIS FORM WILL BE DENIED ADMITTANCE AND NO REFUND WILL BE ISSUED.

By signing below, I attest to my ability to do so under North Carolina law. I agree to all terms and conditions of this Liability Waiver & Release Form. I assume all risk and responsibility, and waive all present and future claims against the Company and the Guide. I hold the Company and the Guide harmless from any and all liability for any reason, including, but not limited to , injury or death, incurred in connection with my participation on The Haunted Pub Crawl. I intend for this Form to be fully binding for myself, and all legal successors of interest.

©2024 gHOST WALK OF OLD Wilmington, INC. - All Rights Reserved.

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Wilmington's haunted history: A ghost walk through historic downtown

WILMINGTON, N.C. — On Halloween, you may see many spooky creatures out and about, like witches, werewolves, ghosts and everything in between — but those are just costumes.

In Wilmington, however, some folks go looking for the real deal.

What You Need To Know

Wilmington is said to be one of the most haunted cities in the country> there are many ghost tours you can take in wilmington, including an hour and a half tour called the ghost walk of old wilmington tours are year round, not just during the halloween season.

“People ask me have I seen ghosts? And I have not seen things, although I have some spooky pictures that I can’t quite explain," said Delia Stanley, a guide for Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington.

"But we’ve definitely felt weird sensations, so I’d definitely say the Jury is still out,” she said. “I might have started this as more of skeptic, but after all of the photos I’ve seen, the experiences heard from people and my fellow ghost walk guides, kind of on the fence now.”

Stanley takes visitors to different locations around the city, all with a ghostly past.

“I’ve had certain locations where we mention that we get a lot of interesting pictures,” Stanley said. “So sometimes, folks will take a picture."

"I had one group a few weeks ago, they took a picture and saw something weird in it right then as I was telling the story," she said. "The rest of their family stepped off the property. They didn’t even want to be on the property anymore after seeing what they saw in the pictures.”

Stanley said those occurrences happen often on her tours, and while most times it can be explained as a trick of the light, sometimes it seems nothing short of supernatural.

“Orbs is a big one, little balls of light that you can see present in a lot of pictures. We also look for sort of misty apparitions, things like that,” Stanley said. “I have a great photo out of the graveyard that we’re gonna head up to today that we would call in ghost lingo a full-body apparition.”

Regardless of why some believe those orbs or apparitions appear in pictures on the tour — be it supernatural or completely natural — one thing is for sure: The ghost walk is a great way to learn about the city’s history in a fun, different way.

“I really think it’s the amount of history that you can find in Wilmington, pre-Revolutionary War, the great old pirate history here is my favorite,” Stanley said. “So we’ve just been here for a while, the Cape Fear River is so important to the town, and all around it we find history from the golden age of piracy, the Revolutionary War and before that, and just throughout the centuries and the generations.”

You can learn more about the ghost tours and Wilmington’s “haunted” history by checking out their website . 

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Bellamy Mansion Ghost Hunt, Wilmington, NC

US $ 129.00

Join Haunted Rooms America as we take on this historic 1859 home in the dead of night! Do you have what it takes to do a lone vigil on the fourth floor where disembodied footsteps have been heard, and a Victorian woman has been seen?

Event time: 8PM – 2AM

Limited Tickets! 

18 and over only!

— OR —

• Description

Event Details

Nearby accommodation, bellamy mansion ghost hunts.

Welcome to Bellamy Mansion, one of the most historic and haunted homes in North Carolina!

An Antebellum house built between 1859 – 1861 for Dr Bellamy and his family, the Bellamy Mansion is a fascinating place with a rich history, filled with the ghosts of its past.

In early 1865 Civil War and yellow fever forced the family out of Wilmington, and they wouldn’t return until much later in the year, as their home was being used as a headquarters for the Union Army.

Constructed by enslaved and freed black artisans and carpenters for the Bellamy family and their ten children, this daunting twenty-two-room home is said to be filled with several spirits, including those of former servants and many members of the Bellamy family that lived and died here over the years.

Only a few of the Bellamy family’s ten children went on to have families of their own, Eliza and Ellen never married and lived in the house until their deaths.

Ellen Bellamy lived in the home the longest of all the Bellamy children, having lived until 1946. It was in the southwest bedroom where Ellen would spend most of her time, especially during her later years burdened by ill health.

It’s in this room and throughout this floor that her spirit is said to roam. One story is about Ellen being an avid reader and her love of reading the newspaper before bed every night. After reading, she’d turn off the sconce with her black-inked fingers, and over the years, the marks left by her still reappear.

Visitors have witnessed the apparition of a Victorian woman, believed to be Ellen, on the top floor, near the nursery. Upon investigation, they find nobody and realize they are indeed on their own!

Throughout the home, staff and visitors alike have heard disembodied footsteps on the wooden floors and experienced doors slamming shut for no apparent reason.

On the fourth floor, many guests begin to feel uneasy, with several overcome by fear just walking up the staircase to this area. Used as the Bellamy children’s living area, you’d think this area would be the happiest of all the floors. However, both staff and visitors report suddenly feeling unwell here and having an overbearing feeling of needing to visit the cupola.

Others report unexplainable cold gusts of wind, the sound of piano keys, and disembodied voices. Mansion employees regularly report the sound of heavy boots walking on the wooden floors, and they report that alarms are tripped with no apparent cause. Some have even witnessed the apparition of a man dressed in black, whom they believe to be a Union officer.

A ghost hunt at the Bellamy Mansion is ghost hunting at its finest and is certainly not for the faint of heart. The activity here speaks for itself!

Are you ready to take on this foreboding mansion with us in the dead of night and perhaps spend a little lone vigil on the children’s floor?

TICKETS ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED

LOW DEPOSIT OF $30 PER PERSON

What’s Included?

• Paranormal investigation class for beginners (separate workshop for returning guests),
• Tour of the location,
• A full night of ghost hunting with the Haunted Rooms America team,
• Use of our traditional and state-of-the-art paranormal equipment,
• Free time to investigate at the end of the night,
• Snacks and refreshments are provided at intervals throughout the night.

Event Location: Bellamy Mansion Museum, 503 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Event Time: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Meet up at the location at the earliest 7:30 PM. There is ample parking available at the venue itself.

What to Bring?

Please bring with you a form of photo ID, and a printed off booking confirmation email (or show this on your phone).

We will be providing you with paranormal equipment to use, however, we will need something of value per group to hold onto as collateral (phone, car keys, watch, etc.)

We will be providing snacks and drinks at intervals throughout the night.

And of course, bring your phone/camera with you, the more pictures we have the better chance we have of capturing something!

Other than that, just yourself and an open mind!

What Should I Expect on a Ghost Hunt?

Become a paranormal investigator for the night like the TV stars of Most haunted, ghost adventures or TAPS Ghost hunters.

Use some of the specialized equipment and be guided by experienced paranormal investigators who will share their knowledge, techniques and experiences of hunting for ghosts or spirits.

Feel free to bring along any of your own equipment including but not limited to EVP recorders, flashlights, cameras or video cameras.

Bring extra clothing as in some parts old buildings may get cold but please refrain from wearing clothing that can cause distracting sounds. Many old buildings have a story to tell and we will supply them to you along with of course the ghost stories.

There will be breaks and light refreshments are provided.

We are not out to try and convince the world of the existence of an afterlife. That’s for you to decide.

We can be Sceptical and logical yet open to other beliefs and prayers of protection will be carried out.

We do not perform tricks and will not be running around with sheets on our heads!

You will be with like-minded people looking for the answer “is there really an afterlife”?

However much we try unfortunately we can’t guarantee that members of the spirit world will make their presence known but we can at least guarantee that you will experience a fun and interesting night.

Do I receive an actual ticket?

The event is ticketless. Your proof of booking is your booking confirmation email.  You will also receive an email with important information prior to your event, usually the week of.

Is there any age limit of who can attend these events?

The age limit is 18 years and over.

Will there be a Medium at the event?

All events listed on Haunted Rooms are hosted by experienced Hosts and Professional Psychic/Clairvoyant Mediums. However sometimes a Medium(s) may not always be present – but as usual, you will be in very safe hands with our experienced Hosts who have a wealth of knowledge and are fully trained in all aspects of professional public ghost hunting events and experience nights.

Can I sleep at an event?

Unless it is otherwise stated, events don’t include sleepover.

Will I see a Ghost?

Unfortunately, the activity will not just happen on command, however using the various experiments and experienced hosts on the events, everything will be done to offer the best chance of spiritual activity.

Recommended accommodation near Bellamy Mansion:

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Escape to Wilmington, NC for a Hallo-Scream Getaway

Prepare for a hauntingly good time.

As one of the most actively haunted cities in the South, Wilmington has no shortage of spine-chilling stories intertwined with our rich history dating back to 1739. With renowned haunted sites around every corner and as the filming location for horror classics like "The Conjuring," "Halloween Kills" and "Scream," Wilmington is the perfect destination for a Halloween getaway. Find beautiful historic mansions where friendly souls still linger, a manor house haunted from a crime of passion and a haunted battleship, buildings, bars and graveyards, all of which are ranked as some of the scariest in the nation. There's plenty of Halloween fun for everyone in Wilmington and our island beaches year-round, especially in the fall.

Halloween Activities

Chapel of horrors.

Those who love a good scare will want to check out Chapel of Horrors, a new immersive haunted attraction that makes visitors feel like they've stepped into a horror movie. Housed in an old Coca-Cola Bottling Facility, the haunted attraction is composed of local film and television, theatre and entertainment industry professionals. From special effect makeup artists to theatrical construction specialists, this is a haunted experience you do not want to miss!

Lights. Camera. Killer Vacation!

Famous for both haunted sites and film and TV locations, Wilmington is a perfect getaway for horror film enthusiasts. Classics such as "Firestarter," "Silver Bullet," "Maximum Overdrive" and "The Conjuring," are just a few horror movie favorites that have been filmed in Wilmington and Beaches. Other productions include "Halloween Kills," "Scream" and "The Black Phone." Find out more about Wilmington's famous film locations and embark on your own self-guided tour. Stop into the Museum of the Bizarre to see horror memorabilia and movie props like the "Halloween" Michael Myers mannequin and the Annabelle doll from "The Conjuring," along with frightful sights like shrunken heads and the Fort Fisher Mermaid.

Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington

Journey into the depths of old Wilmington on a 90-minute adventure to the city's most actively haunted homes and burial grounds. Listen to true ghostly occurrences told by professional storytellers and ghost hunters, including actual encounters during recent tours with Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington .

• ​Tours embark nightly | Check website for times
• Adults: $17 plus tax | Seniors/Student/Military: $15 plus tax
• Children 6 and Under: Free
• Space is limited, and visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance

Haunted Pub Crawl

Combine ales with haunted tales on a Haunted Pub Crawl and adventure around the city’s most extraordinary pubs, hearing true ghostly and grizzly tales of murder, mayhem, love and debauchery.

• Available Wednesday-Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m.
• Tickets are $22.50 plus tax; drinks and tips are not included
• Space is limited, and visitors are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance

Battleship NORTH CAROLINA

The most decorated battleship of WWII is destined to have some lingering souls. Step aboard for a self-guided tour and dive into this important piece of maritime history or spend an evening with the team from Haunted Rooms America as you participate in a real live paranormal investigation with access to equipment, the most haunted areas, VIP entry to the torpedo area and more during Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Ghost Hunt & Tour .

Cemetery Tours

Embark on a self-guided tour of two historic cemeteries in downtown Wilmington, the Bellevue Cemetery and St. James Parish. As you wander through St. James, look for the grave of Samuel Jocelyn Jr., who was buried alive and tried to claw his way out of his grave. Jocelyn's story is featured on the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, but make sure and ask to hear the full story, as tours vary nightly. Bellevue Cemetery appeared in the locally filmed FOX Television series "Sleepy Hollow" and while enchanting during the day, seems fit for a headless horseman by night.

• Download the St. James Cemetery Self-Guided Walking Tour
• Bellevue Cemetery is open between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily for a self-guided tour
• Free Admission

Fall Events

Take a peek into Wilmington's legendary past during the Lantern and Lore Walking Tour. Travel down dark alleys and explore outside secret nooks as you hear ghostly stories and urban legends of the past. Join a guided tour at Poplar Grove Plantation to chance a visit from spirits in the Manor House. Deceased members of the Foy family still make their presence known in particular rooms of the house. Then, bring the whole family for a frighteningly fun time at GooseBumps in the Grove . This kid-friendly event features food trucks, carnival games and more.

This is just a sampling. Find all hauntingly fun events on the calendar below, which is updated daily as new events are announced.

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US Ghost Adventures provides entertaining, historic, and authentic ghost tours and experiences across the United States' most haunted cities.

We deliver fun, honest, and bone-tingling accounts of the very real hauntings that are so prevalent across the nation. While our stories are derived from historic research, a ghost tour wouldn’t be the same without the ghost stories!

Our team of over 300 employees and tour guides is passionate about delivering memorable experiences for each of our guests, every day of the year. The stories you will hear on our tours have been refined over the years to include experiences by our own guests and tour guides, as well as interviews of firsthand accounts from those who have witnessed the unexplained. We’re not here to dress up in costume, jump out and scare you, or to recite dramatic flair. We strive to make sense of the unexplainable by showing you the places and telling you the stories of the people who left their mark on them.

A Night To Remember

Experience a night in America’s most haunted houses. From the infamous Lizzie Borden House to the Welty House, join us for experiences you’ll take with you to the grave... and brag about to everyone until then!

Ghostly Goodies

From your own haunted doll to Lizzie Borden's official axe or interactive apps, we bring the fun directly to your home!

LIZZIE BORDEN

Americas most haunted, us ghost adventures blog, the welty house of gettysburg, the warrens: the truth behind the horror ends here, hollywood haunts: unmasking the amityville horror and the conjuring.

Wonderful Things to Do in Wilmington North Carolina

F rom exploring a riverwalk and beaches to historical sites and museums, there are many diverse things to do in Wilmington, North Carolina. A coastal, southeastern city, Wilmington is steeped in history. Visit the historic downtown district, a Civil War site and plantations. Admire the gorgeous 19 th -century architecture and learn about the area’s Black history. Whatever your interests, there is no shortage of fascinating things to do in Wilmington, NC.

Read on for our 10 favorite things to do in Wilmington North Carolina.

Read More: Check out the best places to visit across North Carolina .

1. Riverwalk on Cape Fear River

In the center of historic downtown Wilmington is the pretty 1.75 mile riverfront walkway. It attracts strolling couples and families, runners and dog walkers. The wooden Riverwalk, which has previously been voted “Best American Riverfront” by USA Today readers, runs alongside the bank of the Cape Fear River. Cafes, restaurants and gift shops line the walkway and make strolling even more enjoyable.

And since people-watching with the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and river view was fun, we returned several times. While we didn’t visit the Battleship North Carolina, which served in World War II, we were able to see the ship from the riverwalk. The battleship is open for tours. Tickets can be bought in person and on the website .

SheBuysTravel Tip: Consider buying this pass that gets you into 50+ Wilmington attractions for one low price.

2. Bellamy Mansion Museum

Touring the antebellum Bellamy Mansion , built between 1869 and 1861, is one of the most popular things to do in Wilmington, North Carolina. The imposing white mansion is a mix of Neoclassical architectural styles, including Greek Revival and Italianate, and is near the center of town.

I appreciated that our thoughtful tour guide did not shy away from slavery, important United States history. For example, our guide showed us the quarters for enslaved people, a brick building right behind the big house. Then she pointed out there were no openings on the street side.

Similarly, the guide explained that both enslaved people and African American freedmen built the house, including the elaborate plasterwork. In fact, one enslaved man, William Gould, signed his work. And the museum displays the plaster fragment with his signature. The guide explained that William Gould later escaped, served in the Union Navy and kept a diary that his great-grandson published in 2002. The book is available for purchase at Bellamy Mansion and in some bookstores .

While we missed seeing the colonial-era Burgwin-Wright House on this trip, the historic downtown Wilmington mansion on Market Street is also open to the public. It showcases Georgian architecture and beautiful antiques from the pre-revolutionary time. Also, near Bellamy Mansion on Market Street is the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, another rainy-day option.

Read More: 12 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Western North Carolina

3. Historic District in Downtown Wilmington

The historic district is a pretty area of 19th-century buildings in compact, walkable downtown Wilmington.

In fact, one of my favorite things to do in Wilmington is to walk around the historic center to discover its gorgeous architecture and cheerfully painted locally-owned shops and terrific Wilmington restaurants (and almost no national chains!). The vibe is funky Main Street, USA.

We also enjoyed the beautiful residential neighborhood just a short walking distance from the shops. Lush gardens surround gracious 19th-century wood and brick houses. Many of Wilmington’s Bed and Breakfast inns are located in this neighborhood and we stayed in two.

4. Ghost Walking Tour

T he Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington is a spooky walking tour of the historic district of downtown Wilmington. The tour took about an hour. Our guide walked us down dark creepy alleyways and to the 19th-century graveyard.

Along the way, he spun stories about ghosts that haunt this port city. Tickets are online.

5. Local Shops

Wilmington is proud of its entrepreneurs. And for good reason. Year-round, both the city and the riverwalk have fun shopping for crafts, clothes, toys and jewelry. Almost all are charming small stores that are the personal visions of their owners, a nice change of pace from big box stores.

For example, we stumbled upon a wonderful bookstore, Old Books on Front Street. This cavernous independent bookstore has used and new books of every kind. From toddlers to teens, people enjoy browsing books about fun things to do in Wilmington.

Nearby, the Cotton Exchange on Front Street has a cluster of 30 unique boutiques and restaurants located in eight historical buildings dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

6. African American Heritage Walk

We took a self-guided walking tour of the Wilmington African-American heritage sites. For example, we visited churches, schools and a monument honoring the African-Americans killed in the 1898 violent overthrow of the city’s government. Also, we saw the location of the Black newspaper burned during the 1898 massacre. Still controversial, some call it the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 . But others call it a coup.

We also visited the Burnett-Eaton Museum Foundation , open by appointment. The museum is clearly a labor of love, an idiosyncratic collection of artifacts about Wilmington’s tragic and inspiring racial history. A prominent African-American doctor, Foster Burnett, once lived in the house that is now the museum. And his son-in-law, Hubert Eaton, Sr., a doctor and civil rights leader, sued to integrate a hospital, schools and other institutions.

7. Nearby Beaches

Downtown Wilmington is an easy drive to gorgeous beaches like Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach. Grab a picnic and your swimsuit and enjoy a few hours of sea air, splashing in the surf and bare feet in the sand.

8. Airlie Gardens

Another easy excursion from Wilmington, North Carolina, is the 67-acre Airlie Gardens , a serene botanical garden. The bottle house structure pays tribute to Minnie Evans, a famous Wilmington artist and former gatekeeper at Airlie Gardens.

Everyone from little kids to grandparents will be drawn to the butterfly house. Even tweens and teens will enjoy the whimsical sculpture made out of colored bottles and concrete. It’s an Instagram dream. I was especially taken by the majesty of a 450-year-old tree, the Airlie Oak.

Check out the website for special season events and displays.

9. Fort Fisher Historic Site

Fort Fisher, in Kure Beach, is a quick 25-minute drive from Wilmington NC. The ruins of a Civil War Confederate fort are part of a park with wooden walking paths and spooky trees.

In addition, there are lovely views of marshland and Cape Fear River. The on-site museum makes this a year-round and rainy-day option for visitors.

10. Poplar Grove Plantation

This North Carolina plantation is about a 20-minute drive from Wilmington.

I was struck by the museum’s thoughtful explanations of slavery’s central place in the economy of the South and of this location in particular. For example, Poplar Grove Plantation researched the lives of several people enslaved by the Foy family. They tracked down descendants of the people enslaved by the Foy family, some still named Foy. Now that oral history is a core part of the plantation museum. This thoughtful exhibit, From Civil War to Civil Rights: The African American Experience at Poplar Grove , fills a room. Guides are available, but we opted for a self-guided tour.

Unlike the urban location of the antebellum Bellamy House, Poplar Grove Plantation was a working farm. The 15-acre grounds include a wooden shack where tenant farmers lived. Now, basket weavers offer on-site lessons.

Surprisingly, the grounds also include a type of animal park. We spent a fun hour with the friendly farmer, meeting gregarious goats, sheep, pigs and turkeys now living there. This is a fun place to visit with friends and family .

Also, on a few select days in the year, you can take a paranormal ghost tour. Check the website for exact dates.

The post Wonderful Things to Do in Wilmington North Carolina appeared first on She Buys Travel .