City of wilmington
From the Historic River District and Riverwalk that winds around the storied Cape Fear River to three colorful island beaches, there’s something about the water here in Wilmington and our beach towns, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, that speaks, surrounds and transforms visitors. One destination and four unique settings - from the river to sea - create a bounty of extraordinary experiences. For more information about Wilmington, visit the links listed below.
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​City of Wilmington Government Website
​City of Wilmington Official Tourism Website
Chamber of Commerce
Convention Center
Downtown Wilmington
Historic Wilmington
Hollywood East
Riverfront Wilmington
Restaurants
Wilmington Attractions
Wilmington Museums & Points of Interest
Wilmington Shopping
Wilmington Today
Area Maps
2015 Online Digital Visitors Guide
city of southport
Southport, situated along the shores of the Cape Fear River and Intracoastal Waterway at the river’s mouth of the Atlantic Ocean, is a city rich with history. The ocean, river, and waterway provide a unique abundance of opportunities for outdoor, recreational pursuits. For more information about Southport, visit the links below.
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​City of Southport
Chamber of Commerce
Online City Guide
Restaurants
The Southport Times
Visitors Center
home to the north carolina 4th of july festival
The patriotic spirit of America is alive and well in the City of Southport. For over 200 years this small maritime community has celebrated our nation's independence in a big way. The celebration has grown from colonial times when ships lay anchor in her harbor shot their cannons to today's festival where 40,000 to 50,000 people come each year to bathe in the richness of spirit commemorating Old Glory. Incorporated as the North Carolina 4th of July Festival in 1972 the festival committee strives to keep the focus of the festival on honoring our nation's birthday with a little fun thrown in.
Pleasure Island
Pleasure Island is the southernmost portion of the Cape Fear peninsula cut off from the rest of the peninsula by a narrow band of water called Snow’s Cut. Pleasure Island is also the location of two towns, Carolina Beach to the north and Kure Beach to the south, along with many attractions and recreational opportunities. Established in 1857 by Joseph Winner, who bought beachfront property and laid out plans for a town that subsequently became Carolina Beach, the first visitors to Pleasure Island were vacationers brought to the island by boat and then conveyed to the beach by a small steam railroad. Shortly thereafter, a Dane named Hans Anderson Kure founded Kure Beach. For more information, visit the links below.

Carolina beach
Carolina Beach is on a narrow slip of land between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. Separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway (Snow's Cut), the island is called Pleasure Island. Established in 1857, when Joseph Winner planned the streets and lots for the 50 acres of beach property he had purchased, the island's only access then was by water. In 1866 a steamship began carrying vacationers down the Cape Fear River to Snow's Cut and a small railroad took them the rest of the way into Carolina Beach. In later years, a high-rise bridge was built over Snow's Cut connecting the island with the mainland. For more information, visit the links below.
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KuRe beach
Kure Beach (pronounced "CURE-ee") is also located on Pleasure Island just south of Carolina Beach. Development here began in the 1870s when Hans Andersen Kure moved from Denmark and bought large tracts of land in the middle of the island. Apparently, things moved slowly because Kure Beach wasn't incorporated until 1947.

Today Kure Beach is overwhelmingly residential, dotted with modest cottages, new upscale houses and a number of beach motels. Several condominium buildings cluster together in one area, but there are few tall buildings. In fact, new structures may not be built taller than 35 feet. At the center of town, Kure Beach has the oldest continuously operated family owned wooden fishing pier in North Carolina. The pier extends 712 feet out over the ocean. There are several restaurants, a charming boardwalk with benches that extends north along the beach and is illuminated at night. For more information, visit the links below.
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wilmington sports
For those of you interested in professional sports, Wilmington is home to a few teams that should not be missed. With professional baseball, soccer and basketball teams, Wilmington has something for every sports fan. These games offer an affordable, exciting entertainment option in Wilmington.
wilmington hammerheads (soccer)
The Hammerheads are a locally owned professional soccer franchise founded in 1996. Competing in the United Soccer Leagues, the Hammerheads have grown to be an internationally recognized organization. The team currently plays in the American Division of the USL Pro League, in the second tier of pro soccer in the United States. Hammerheads have enjoyed a great deal of on-field success, reaching the playoffs in 10 of 14 seasons and capturing the 2003 USL Second Division title. The matches are held at Legion Stadium off of Carolina Beach Road.

For more information: http://www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com
wilmington sharks (Baseball)
The Sharks are a team in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league featuring players from top college programs around the country. The level of competition is said to be comparable to that of minor league baseball. Kids are welcome and even invited onto the field for games during breaks. You can eat hot dogs, pizza and chicken at food stands between innings.  Bring your friends and drink some beers at a Thursday night game that has come to be known as “Thirsty Thursday’s” at the stadium.  Then be sure to stay for the fireworks show afterwards. Games begin in May and are held at the Legion Stadium off of Carolina Beach Rd. The Sharks attract around 1,800 fans per game. 

For more information: http://www.wilmingtonsharks.com
wilmington sea dawgs (basketball)
The Sea Dawgs are an independent minor league basketball team. Substantial crowds and fans gather over the summer months to watch the Port City’s local professional basketball team. This team makes it to the post season play-offs every year. The games are played at Blizzard Athletics located off of Market Street.
legion stadium
Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium is the an elite baseball venue in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. The stadium is part of the multi-purpose sports complex known as Legion Stadium, which is also home to the Wilmington Hammerheads professional soccer team.
The baseball field's dimensions are 336 ft. down the left field line, 366 ft. to dead center field, and 339 ft. down the right field line.
On September 22, 1981, the baseball field at Legion Stadium was renamed in honor of Buck Hardee, an area American Legion baseball coach. Hardee won five American Legion state championships in his time as coach of Post 10 Legion baseball. Because it is home to the Sharks, the park is more commonly referred to as "The Shark Tank."
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