Things To Do in Wilmington, NC

In Town

To get an overview of the historic Wilmington waterfront, hop aboard the Henrietta III (tel. 800/676-0162 or 910/343-1611; www.cfrboats.com), which departs from Dock and South Water streets for a 5-mile loop of the Cape Fear River. The 45-minute narrated cruise skirts the busy harbor, passes the Cotton Exchange and the Riverfront Park, and stops at the dock for passengers who want to disembark to tour the battleship USS North Carolina. The season runs from April to October; tours depart daily at 11am and 2pm. Call for availability of Monday cruises. The fare is $10 for adults and $5 for children 2 to 12. It also offers murder-mystery cruises, evening party cruises, and nature cruises, among others.

The Cotton Exchange (tel. 910/343-9896; www.shopcottonexchange.com), an in-town shopping center, is in the old exchange building, with 2-foot-thick brick walls and hurricane rods. The small shops and restaurants are a delight, and the wrought-iron lanterns and benches add to the setting's charm. It's right on the riverfront, and an ample parking deck is just next door. Shops are open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5:30pm, although some shops are also open Sunday 1 to 5pm.

In Historic Wilmington -- the old residential area bounded roughly by Nun, Princess, Front, and 4th streets -- the Burgwin-Wright House, 224 Market St. (tel. 910/762-0570), was constructed in 1771 and used by Cornwallis as his headquarters in 1781. The colonial town house was built over an abandoned city jail. You can tour the interior Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 12, and free for children 4 and under.

Lights, Camera, Action! -- The longer the movie industry continues to operate in the city, the more the business of making movies draws tourists itching to pay a few bucks to see where films are made. EUE/Screen Gems Studios, headed by Frank Capra, Jr., offers tours of its studio, the largest full-service film lot outside California (1223 N. 23rd St.). If you're coming from U.S. 17/74, go straight on Dawson Street and take a left onto 17th Street; follow the airport signs to the corner of 23rd Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. For more information, directions, and group reservations, call tel. 910/343-3500 or check the website at www.euescreengems.com. Because this is a working studio, and not set up as a tourist attraction, tours may be canceled because of production schedules. The hour-long tours are at noon on Saturday from September to May, and on Saturday and Sunday at noon and 2pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $5 for children 11 and under.