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July 2, 2009
guest blogger: Lori Francisco, bridalguide.com Managing Editor
Southern Charm
With everything that’s going on in the world, you may be looking at destinations within the U.S. for your wedding or honeymoon. Or maybe you’re just looking for a romantic escape from it all.
Well, allow me to recommend one of my personal favorites—Wilmington, North Carolina. For those of you not familiar with this town, it’s a historic port located along North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast. There are so many great things I could say about this place, but I’ll try to narrow it down to my Top 5 Reasons for Visiting Wilmington:
1. Perfect for Movie and TV Buffs: As a self-proclaimed movie and TV nut, this is probably my favorite reason for visiting the area. If a Hollywood vacay is out of your budget, this is the next best thing. Nicknamed Hollywood East, Wilmington is home to one of the largest movie studios outside Hollywood, Screen Gems Studios. More than 350 films, TV shows and commercials were filmed here, including The Secret Lives of Bees, Nights in Rodanthe, Firestarter, One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek. Scheduled tours are even available if you want to check out some of their sound stages.
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If you’re looking for a wedding location fit for the big screen, you’ll find it at Airlie Gardens. I stumbled upon a wedding during a visit in one of the most beautiful areas of this historic 67-acre garden:
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2. Experience a Piece of History: If you’re a big history buff, Wilmington offers museums and historic tours (they also have a ghost tour I’m itching to experience on my next visit), including one of the battleship USS North Carolina. I’m currently reading David Brinkley’s memoirs and in it he talks about growing up here in the 1930s. As I was reading it I could envision all the places he mentioned, including historic downtown Wilmington, which I'm sure is far different from what Mr. Brinkley grew up with:
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3. Beautiful Beaches: Wilmington is just a short drive to some pretty great beaches. Wrightsville Beach is the one I usually frequent, but you can also explore Carolina Beach or Kure Beach.
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4. Relaxed Atmosphere: As someone who’s constantly surrounded by the buzz of a big city, it’s nice to escape to a place that’s peaceful and laid back. One of my favorite things to do is pick up an ice cream cone from Kilwin’s (which also has the most amazing fudge ever!) and sit by the waterfront. It offers the perfect view of the battleship. On the weekends you’ll see a Farmer’s Market with vendors selling food, jewelry, crafts—you name it. This summer there’s also a Downtown Sundown Concert Series that features a different band each week.
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While you’re walking around downtown, you may even run into former One Tree Hill star Hilarie Burton and the rest of the Southern Gothic Productions team doing random man-on-the-street interviews. Their site features video shorts, updates on their current projects and even a few tidbits about the area from a local’s point of view. They’re super-enthusiastic about what they do and this town, so I highly recommend checking out their site when you get the chance.
5. Cute, Romantic Places to Stay: B&Bs are abundant in the area and are perfect for the engaged couple taking a break from the planning or newlyweds ready to relax after the big event. Some even offer wedding services if you’re interested in a destination wedding. I’ll be honest, I’ve never stayed in a B&B here, but I’ve researched a couple for future trips. A few that caught my eye included Front Street Inn, The Verandas, Graystone Inn and Four Porches.
It really is one of my favorite places to hang out and relax, and I hope you find it just as charming as I do. If you end up visiting, I’d love to hear about it. Or, let me know what your favorite vacation spot is—I need some new ideas for this summer! Just drop me an email at suggestions@bridalguide.com.
For more information about planning a trip to Wilmington, visit cape-fear.nc.us.
Posted by Lori at 10:22 a.m.
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