- The list below includes 77 free or cheap things to do in or near Wilmington, North Carolina, including 49 different types of inexpensive activities like History Museums, Military Museums, Gardens and Movie Theaters.
- From Airlie Gardens to New Hanover County Arboretum, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Wilmington and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Southport.
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0.0 Miles
Luminescent golf balls, lit-up putters, neon obstacles, and incandescent walls illuminate players negotiating tricky glow-themed landscapes
6.7 Miles
The beautiful Airlie Gardens offers a 1.2-mile nature trail set among 50,000 azaleas, and 100,000 seasonal bulbs. The garden is often used for special event photography, as well as weddings.
6.3 Miles
Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, the New Hanover County Arboretum highlights seven acres of gardens. Classes are featured for individuals who are interested in becoming Master Gardeners. A Master Gardener Clinic is featured for diagnosing plant problems as well.
0.8 Miles
The 230 block Historic District of Wilmington, North Carolina is one of the largest on the National Registry of Historic Places. Visitors can tour the USS North Carolina, visit Screen Gems Studios, shop in the restored buildings of the Cotton Exchange, and eat at numerous restaurants.
0.7 Miles
The home of physician, planter and business leader John Dillard Bellamy and his wife Eliza McIlhenny Harris, along with their nine children, the Bellamy Mansion, is open for touring or weddings. In addition, visitors can see a formal garden, slave quarters and a carriage house.
18.0 Miles
92%
351 votes
1610 Fort Fisher Boulevard, South, Wilmington, NC 28449
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Designed to keep the Wilmington port open during the Civil War, when Fort Fisher fell on January 15, 1865, it was one of the most decisive victories that proving that the North's victory. Visitors to the Fort Fisher State Historic Site see earthworks, and view a documentary, and shop.
0.7 Miles
The 250-acre Greenfield Park is a recreational park that includes 2 tennis courts, a skate park, an outdoor amphitheater, and boat rentals. The park has opportunities for swimming, fishing, and mountain biking.
0.9 Miles
The USS Battleship North Carolina was used as a battleship in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Visitors to the ship can tour it, hear oral histories, view photographs, and see momentos.
6.2 Miles
With Mahanaim Adventures - Kayaking Day Adventures, visitors can explore the region's creeks, rivers, basins, and islands by kayak with an experienced guide. Each trip has a different theme, from eco-tours to sunset trips.
0.9 Miles
94%
66 votes
1 Battleship Road, Wilmington, NC 28401
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Visitors to the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial have many tour options available, and can spend hours climbing throughout the battleship and experiencing the various bunkers, engines, turrets and guns. The ship also has a gift shop.
0.8 Miles
Cape Fear Museum is the oldest history museum in North Carolina, and contains more than 52,000 artifacts, although visitors see just a small fraction of those. The museum contains exhibits on Michael Jordan, North Carolina natural history, transportation and history of the region, and the city's racial history.