Wilmington, North Carolina and vicinity, sometimes referred to as the Cape Fear region, is home to those who enjoy a seaside lifestyle at a Southern pace. From the sweeping white sands of our local beaches to the intricate, and historical past of our downtown city streets—it truly is a wonderful place to call your home. We have a bustling sea port, a thriving movie industry, wonderful public and private school systems and a mid-Atlantic climate so temperate you can expect around 212 days of sunshine a year and a mean average temperature of 63.7 degrees Fahrenheit. It just doesn’t get any better!
The Historic District of Wilmington transcends our modern city with an antebellum past rich with colorful stories and history. Our streets are nestled amongst elegant hundred-year-old live Oaks dripping with wispy, gray Spanish moss. You can find entertainment at one of our many pubs or restaurants, see a play at the renowned Thalian Hall, or take a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic mansions of downtown.
Coastal Carolina is also home to the beloved Seahawks of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, ranked one of the “Best of the Southeast” by the Princeton Review in 2008. The University has a wonderful Nursing School as well as one of the best Marine Biology programs in the country. The University provides employment for many in the area and continues to educate the future leaders of tomorrow while providing them with a safe and healthy coastal environment to thrive in.
Our economy is supplemented almost 11% by our movie industry which has come to be called “Hollywood East” by the actors, directors and producers of the day. It all started in 1983 when producer Frank Capra, Jr. was searching for the perfect setting for a film he was working on. Over two decades later, Screen Gems, owned by conglomerate Sony Entertainment is still churning our hit television shows such as One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek and others, while serving as the perfect Southern destination for filming major motion pictures also.
One of the most impressive attributes of the Cape Fear region is our climate. Our summers average highs in the 80’s with sunshine while the winters are mild with highs in the 60s. Springtime in Wilmington features beautiful explosions of color and sweet smells as the famed azaleas and camellias bloom. The city becomes so vivid with flowers of the azalea blooming that each April, Wilmington holds the Azalea Festival. Musical acts, crafts, family entertainment and local food are all showcased at the event both tourists and locals alike flock to.
Southeastern North Carolina is a place rich with character and local color, but more than that it’s a place to call home and to raise a family. From the coastal waters to the cobblestone city streets, the Cape Fear region has been attracting visitors for centuries. Come visit today, you just might never want to leave!