New Hanover County: Riverwalk, Gardens, and Coast

In New Hanover County, experiences range from the banks of the Cape Fear River to gardens, protected areas, and historic sites. Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, and Fort Fisher each offer a different focus. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, first consider whether riverside scenery, nature, or history should play the biggest part in your trip.

Riverwalks and Coastal Towns

The Wilmington Riverwalk stretches for 1.75 miles along the Cape Fear River through historic downtown Wilmington. It also connects with the River to the Sea Bikeway, the East Coast Greenway, and the Cape Fear Historic Scenic Byway. These routes provide a broader context for the Riverwalk, while its own path stays alongside the river and through downtown.

Another route goes around the inland island of Wrightsville Beach: The Loop is a 2.45-mile fitness trail. Its stated length can be compared directly with the 1.75 miles of the Wilmington Riverwalk. The surroundings also set the two paths apart: the Riverwalk follows the river through historic downtown, while The Loop circles the inland island of Wrightsville Beach.

Gardens and Landscaped Grounds

Airlie Gardens covers more than 67 acres, with gardens, walking paths, and historic structures. A self-guided tour takes visitors through more than a dozen gardens. Those who want to learn more about the garden’s history can join a guided tour on weekdays by reservation; these tours focus on the garden’s history.

The New Hanover County Arboretum is a free, publicly accessible educational green space covering 7 acres. It is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and includes more than ten gardens, including a native plant garden and an herb garden. The size figures for Airlie Gardens and the arboretum make the difference between the two garden sites tangible; their offerings range from tours through numerous gardens to specifically themed garden areas.

The Japanese Garden is defined by an authentic teahouse, dry gardens, and a dragon-shaped stream. Its design provides a distinct focus alongside the walking paths and garden areas of the other sites.

Coastal Landscapes and Protected Areas

Carolina Beach State Park includes Sugarloaf Dune and is home to Venus flytraps. At Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, visitors can surf fish and access the beach on foot around the clock. The two sites therefore offer different ways to enjoy a coastal stay: a striking dune and unusual plants at the state park, or a beach and surf fishing at Fort Fisher.

At the north end of Wrightsville Beach lies the 300-acre Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area, where free guided tours are offered. Masonboro Island is just south of Wrightsville Beach. The estuarine reserve is home to many endangered species and is accessible to groups by boat. Together, these sites reveal different facets of the coastal landscape, from guided tours to a protected area that groups can reach by boat.

History on the Water

Fort Fisher kept the port of Wilmington open to blockade runners until the final months of the Civil War. The fall of the fort on January 15, 1865, helped seal the Confederacy’s fate. Tours of the preserved grounds begin at the visitor center, where an audiovisual program provides an introduction to the fort’s history.

Wrightsville Beach also has its own surfing history: a state historic highway marker recognizes the town as the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina and notes that surfing activities were organized there in 1909. Alongside the history of Fort Fisher, this local story adds two distinct historical perspectives to the region’s nature and trails.

For your trip planning, several specific focuses are available: the Riverwalk and historic downtown Wilmington, gardens with different types of tours, coastal and protected areas, and the history of Fort Fisher and Wrightsville Beach. The distances of the Riverwalk and The Loop, the reservation requirement for tours at Airlie Gardens, and the arboretum’s opening hours offer practical guidance for planning your days.

Discover more destinations: Bayshore, Cherokee County, Polk County, Rutherford County, Currituck County, Alamance, Dare, Burke County.

For the broader travel overview: North Carolina.