Wilmington, NC… With A Toddler

Being from St. Louis, Missouri, the only thing that I knew about Wilmington, North Carolina before our big adventure (where we sold our house to travel) is that it was home to a college with a Division I basketball team nicknamed the Seahawks. 

After visiting Wilmington twice during the first leg of our digital nomad adventure, where we called Sunset Beach, NC home for a month, we soon found this port city was a great destination to visit… especially with a toddler.

We made the drive from Sunset Beach to Wilmington on two separate Saturdays during our stay, once due to colder weather that wasn’t conducive to a beach day, and the second time because bad storms were going to be battering the coast near us. Being right on the beach in a house on stilts can be quite scary when there are high wind gusts. When life gives you lemons…turn them into spontaneous fun adventures!

Traveling with a toddler, it should come as no surprise that the activities we sought out were kid-friendly. But for a city of around 120,000 residents, we found plenty to keep us busy and entertained. Here are some highlights from an accommodation, activity and restaurant perspective:

Where to Stay in Wilmington

We usually opt to stay at AirBnb’s or VRBO properties but our stay in Wilmington was a last minute decision due to weather. Using our Marriott Bonvoy points, we were able to book a suite for the four of us at The Residence Inn by Marriott Wilmington Landfall. The property is under 10 minutes to Wrightesville Beach and under 20 minutes drive to get to the Historic District of Wilmington.

A few things we enjoyed about the stay:

• Basketball court
• Cornhole
• Outdoor pool
• BBQ pits
• Covered patio seating
• Free Breakfast

The Children’s Museum of Wilmington

This was the highlight of our trip to Wilmington. We spent a good three hours at the “kids museum” as Luca (our 2.5-year-old son) called it. Located in Wimlington’s cute historic downtown area near the Riverwalk, the museum offers three floors of hands-on, interactive and educational exhibits. 

Luca was in heaven. He was running around like a madman enjoying all the museum had to offer. From the Ahoy Wilmington pirate ship to the Toddler Treehouse to the Community Market (and much, much more), there was no way Luca was going to get bored here. Even for a toddler with a short attention span, there were enough exhibits for him to bounce around to.

For out-of-towners like us, the admission prices were very reasonable for the value we got in return ($9.75 for each adult and child). The museum is open from 9am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday, and 1-5pm on Sundays. There is plenty of lot and street parking available around the museum, although most street parking has a 1-hour time limit without a permit. We found a lot near 2nd Street and Orange Street that was reasonably priced as well. 

Another thing we were impressed with was the museum’s mask policy. Masks are required for everybody ages 5 and up. In general, we were very happy with Wilmington’s city-wide masking policies. For the Covid-conscious, this was one less thing for us to worry about. 

Wilmington Railroad Museum

Our little man loves trains. And I mean he LOVES them. Trains are undoubtedly his favorite toy. If your kids love trains too, this is THE place to go. 

When you first arrive, you’re greeted by three retired train cars on the outside of the museum. One is a 100-year-old steam locomotive, one a boxcar and the last one a caboose. Luca loved climbing in and out of these life-sized train cars, exploring, and sitting in the seats. 

Head inside, and there’s a ton of fun to be had too in the Children’s Hall. Luca loved the interactive elements of this area. He enjoyed pushing himself around on wooden train cars and playing with the custom toy train tables. The main draw was the array of interactive model trains that were activated with foot pedals. This was a sizable area with a good 10-15 foot pedals that set different trains in motion. Some zoomed around in circles, others went back-and-forth shuttling coal or other goods, and more went over draw bridges. Luca kept slamming his feet down on these pedals over and over to keep the trains going, with his face pressed to the glass casing watching the action. As the trains chugged by and he had the entire set in motion, he would often jump up and down in excitement.

For the train buffs, there were plenty of other model trains outside of the Children’s Hall that could be activated by foot pedals. These weren’t as well protected with glass casings, and you could see the trains zoom around model towns and carnivals. Not to mention the collection of historical train memorabilia and other educational exhibits. 

We had to check out the gift shop too and get Luca a toy train before we departed after about 1.5 hours of playing. 

The museum’s hours vary by season, but generally it’s open 10am-4pm Monday-Saturday. Admission was reasonable at $10 for adults and $6 for children. It was well worth it. The museum has plenty of parking in its own lot.

Airlie Gardens

For those looking to reconnect with nature and spend some time outdoors, this is the place to go in Wilmington. Airlie Gardens covers 67 acres of public botanical gardens, featuring seasonal blooms, massive oak trees, walking trails, historic buildings and more. 

Our favorite part of the experience came near the end of our self-guided walking tour, when we came across the Minnie Evans Sculpture Garden. Filled with numerous works of art, the highlight came in the form of the Bottle Chapel. It was a jaw-dropping masterpiece created from glass bottles of all shapes, sizes and colors. 

The gardens were perfect for Luca. He loved running around the expansive grounds, looking for birds, waving to boats coming to and from the marina that can be seen from a bridge overlooking the water, and giving us to colorful owl sculptures scattered around the park. 

Overall, it was a well spent hour or two on a Sunday morning. The gardens are open daily from 9am to 5pm. General admission tickets sit at $9, children 4-12 are $3, and kids 3 and younger can get in free. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. 

With all of our running around and playing in Wilmington, we certainly needed our fair share of food and drinks. Here were some of the places we liked:

Cheesesmith 

This is a can’t-miss restaurant in Wilmington. After spending three years as a food truck, this grilled cheese-centric spot planted roots in Wilmington’s Cargo District. Without hesitation, I (Adam) can confidently say this is the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. I went with the Maple Bacon grilled cheese, which included Muenster cheese, American cheese, hickory smoked bacon, housemade pimento cheese, and maple syrup. Amanda enjoyed a special grilled cheese they had on the menu, and Chubbs really liked the Buffalo Baby, but we all agree that the Maple Bacon was the winner. Throw in a side of Smith fries and you’re in for a great meal. 

Anne Bonny’s

The main appeal to Anne Bonny’s is the fact it’s floating on a barge alongside the Riverwalk. The restaurant provided a great view of the Cape Fear River, and we enjoyed watching the boats and ferries pass by. We enjoyed a selection of appetizers and a couple local craft beers. Worth checking out for sure. If you’re in that area, definitely don’t miss the…

Riverwalk

While this is not a restaurant, this 1.75-mile stretch of boardwalk along the Cape Fear River is perfect for an afternoon or evening stroll. Lined with shops, restaurants and ice cream joints, the Riverwalk is a worthwhile activity. Luca especially liked the water views and seeing all the boats go by.

Nikki’s Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi

During a particular storm Saturday night, we decided to get some carry-out sushi from a nearby joint and eat it on the covered patio of the hotel we were staying at. Nikki’s offered an overwhelming amount of choices for sushi rolls. We sampled a handful of them and enjoyed every single one. I’d definitely recommend this place for sushi in the Wilmington area.

It was a feast that we enjoyed so much that we didn’t even manage to snap a picture!

Moe’s Original BBQ

We checked out Moe’s after our morning trip to Airlie Gardens, before driving back to Sunset Beach. After an hour or two spent walking (OK, mostly chasing Luca around), we were famished. Moe’s hit the spot. 

We had never heard of Moe’s, but it appears to be a pretty popular chain, mostly in the South/Southeast. The highlight was the smoked wings, but we also enjoyed the ribs, pulled pork and mac-n-cheese. I’d go there again for sure. 

All in all, we really enjoyed our impromptu weekend trips to Wilmington. It gets the toddler two thumbs up!