There’s summer in Wilmington, and then there’s locals’ summer.
“Locals’ summer” is the unofficial season in our beloved beach town that starts when the big summer crowds head home—usually around Labor Day. For us locals, it often means warm water, beautiful beach weather, fewer tourists, less traffic, shorter restaurant waits, and easier parking. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the Cape Fear area like a tourist without quite as many actual tourists.
The Life 90.5 team has a few of the best ways to take advantage of this special season.
Have the Beach Day You’ve Been Avoiding All Summer
You live near the beach. It’s time to actually go!
Pack the chairs, grab the sunscreen and enjoy a day at Wrightsville Beach—or head south to Carolina Beach or Kure Beach. The ocean is still calling, but hopefully you’ll spend a little less time circling for parking. Locals’ summer is also perfect for an early morning beach walk to catch the sunrise over the horizon or an evening trip just to watch the waves.
Or if you’re not a big fan of sand, you can do as Craig does. Drive out to Wrightsville Beach and just sit in an easily found parking spot for once. It’s a seasonal miracle that must be enjoyed.
Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
With all the visitors headed home, it’s the perfect time to go to all the places you love that’ve been too packed to enjoy.
Take a tour of the Battleship North Carolina. Enjoy a lovely stroll through Airlie Gardens or the Arboretum. Count the ribs on the giant sloth skeleton at the Cape Fear Museum. But the best option may be simply going to your favorite local restaurant without the long wait times for a table with a view.
Take a Cruise
When your coworker doesn’t want to take you out on his boat as often as you’d like (*cough*CRAIG*cough*), you still have options for getting out on the water.
Our friends at Island Cruises host several sunset and themed 2 hour cruises from Carolina Beach to the Cape Fear River. As a free service to their brothers and sisters in the Lord, they hold a Christ Cruise every other Sunday through October, playing all your favorite Jesus music from Life 90.5. Their full calendar is available to view HERE.
Peruse Downtown
When was the last time you wandered downtown without actually needing to be somewhere?
As the temps start to tame, the Historic Downtown Wilmington Riverwalk grows all the more inviting. Take a stroll along the Cape Fear River, browse a few shops, get a sweet treat at Kilwin’s (Mandy’s favorite!) and stick around for one of those gorgeous Wilmington sunsets. The Riverwalk is one of the easiest ways to enjoy the city at a slower pace.
Head Down to Fort Fisher
Make a day of driving down Pleasure Island to Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. Hit the beach, and enjoy the marsh views. Walk the Basin Trail where you might even run into our own nature hiking enthusiast Hannah. Or simply find a quiet spot and reflect on how beautifully God created this corner of North Carolina.
And if you have extra time, keep the adventure going with a ferry ride across the Cape Fear River toward Southport. The views at sunset are perfection.
Make the Most of Your Locals' Summer
Thousands of people save all year to vacation in the place the Lord has graciously allowed us to call home.
So when the crowds thin out and locals’ summer arrives, take advantage of it. Go to the beach. Watch the sunset. Explore somewhere you’ve driven past a hundred times.
What’s something you like to do in your locals’ summer? Tell us all about it in the comments!
