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Mother's Day Getaway
Celebrate Mom With A Mother's Day
Getaway To Wilmington, NC and Island Beaches
April
28, 2012 - Wilmington, NC - Mother's Day (Sunday, May
13) is a time to celebrate Mom and to thank her for all
she does throughout the year. Why limit the fun to just
one day when you can celebrate all weekend in
Wilmington, North Carolina's historic river district and
the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and
Wrightsville Beach?
Three island beaches and a Downtown riverfront with more
than 200 shops and restaurants make Wilmington and its
island beaches an ideal Mother’s Day getaway
destination. To help plan Mom's well-deserved trip, call
1-866-266-9690 and request a free official visitors
guide.
Here's a sampling of events and activities that will
help make Mom feel "oh-so-special":
May 11: Big Band Jazz Concert: Fri. 8pm. Is Mom into
jazz? Take her to see The John Brown Jazz Orchestra: A
Big Band Hit List. Admission charge. Thalian Hall Center
for Performing Arts, Wilmington. 910-632-2285
May 11: Birding Tour. 9am. Impress Mom by taking her on
a free birding tour with a NC Audubon naturalist. Mason
Inlet Waterbird Management Area, Wrightsville Beach.
910-686-7527
May 11: Outdoor Concerts. 6pm-8pm. Does Mom love music?
Take her to Mayfaire Town Centre to hear a free acoustic
rock concert with music by The Other Guy. On the
riverfront, check out the Downtown Sundown concert by
The Voltage Brothers. Wilmington.
May 12: Bluegrass by the River Festival. 12noon-5pm. Mom
will have a blast at this outdoor music festival that
features foot-stomping, knee-slapping music by five
bluegrass bands. There’s also a Kidzone, clogging and
washboard clinics, and an open jam (bring your own
instruments). Gate opens at 11:30am. Fort Fisher Air
Force Recreation Area, Kure Beach.
May 12 & 13: Biological Wonderland Hike. 10am. Is Mom
into plants? Join a park ranger to learn about different
habitats that exist within Carolina Beach State Park and
how each habitat affects the plants and animals that
call the park home. Free. Meet at Flytrap Trail Parking
Lot, Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach.
910-458-8206
May 12: Farmers' Markets. Saturdays 8am-1pm. Rise early
for regional produce, plants, herbs, and fresh flowers.
The Riverfront Farmers' Market (Downtown Wilmington) &
Pleasure Island Farmer's Market & Art Show (Carolina
Beach Lake) feature local farmers, artists, crafters,
food. Free.
May 12 & 13: N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher: Moms love our
aquarium and appreciate its special programs: "AUARIST
APPRENTICE" (2pm, Sat.); "BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR" (1pm,
Sun.) and "SALT MARSH & CRABBING" (3pm, Sun.).
Admission/program charges apply. Pre-registration
required for all programs. NC Aquarium at Ft. Fort
Fisher, Kure Beach. 910-458-7468
May 13: Mother's Day Riverboat Luncheon Cruise.
12pm-1:30pm. Board an authentic riverboat and treat Mom
to a deli buffet lunch and narrated scenic tour of the
Cape Fear River. Admission charge. Pre-paid advance
reservations required. Boarding begins at 11:30am.
Henrietta III, riverfront at S. Water & Dock Streets.
910-343-1611; 800-676-0162
May 13: Mother's Day Cruise of Harbor Island. Moms
cruise FREE on Mother's Day (with at least one paid
passenger in her party). 1-hour historic harbor cruises
depart at 11am, 12pm; 1pm; 2pm; 3pm; 4pm; 5pm. Sunset
cruise (1 1/2 hr.) at 6:30pm. Reservations recommended.
Wrightsville Beach Scenic Cruises, Waynick Ave. (across
from Blockade Runner Resort), Wrightsville Beach.
910-200-4002
May 13: Captain's Lazy Day Mother's Day Cruise. 1pm-3pm.
Treat Mom to a champagne brunch cruise of the storied
Cape Fear River. Admission charge. Advance reservations.
Boards at 12:45pm from Riverwalk at 212 S. Water St.,
between Orange & Ann streets, Wilmington. 910-338-3134
Cape Fear Museum Exhibitions: "CAPE FEAR STORIES: LAND
OF THE LONGLEAF PINE" (ongoing); "TOYS & GAMES"; "CAPE
FEAR TREASURES: SHOES" (through July 15, 2012);
"SHOPPING AROUND WILMINGTON" (through Feb. 17, 2013).
Admission charge. Special event on Sat. May 12: PIRATE
INVASION, 1pm-4pm. Cape Fear Museum, Wilmington.
910-798-4350
Cameron Art Museum Exhibitions: "OUT OF FASHION"
(through Aug. 19, 2012) and "JULIE VONDERVELLEN"
(through Aug. 19, 2012). Admission charge. Cameron Art
Museum, Wilmington. 910-395-5999
Other Fabulous Mother's Day Weekend Ideas:
OUTDOORS & MORE: There are many ways to explore the
natural beauty of Wilmington, NC and the island beaches
of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach.
Rent a kayak or canoe and paddle around our marshes,
rivers, inlets and the Intracoastal Waterway. Watch for
birds at one of the NC Birding Trail sites or take a
leisurely paddle-boat ride on scenic Greenfield Lake and
Carolina Beach Lake. Ride a bicycle or surrey along the
Carolina Beach Boardwalk or Carolina Beach Lake. Stroll
along the Riverwalk, fish from an ocean pier, or charter
a boat for offshore fishing. Hike a nature trail at area
parks/gardens, including Carolina Beach State Park. Walk
The Loop fitness trail around Wrightsville Beach Park.
BLOOMING GOOD TIMES: Dazzle Mom with beautiful spring
flowers at the world-class Airlie Gardens. Other
showcase gardens are at Latimer House (Victorian),
Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens (Colonial), and Bellamy
Mansion (Antebellum). There’s also a free arboretum with
4,000 species of native plants on seven acres. In
addition there are public parks and gardens, and a
university 'arboretum' campus. You can search for rare
Venus Flytrap and other carnivorous plants at Carolina
Beach State Park. Just outside of town, the grounds of
Poplar Grove Plantation are lovely in the springtime.
THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE: DINING, SHOPPING, DAY SPAS:
Introduce Mom to regional cuisine served at casual
bistros, gourmet restaurants, old-fashioned diners, and
outdoor cafés. Restaurants from the river to the sea
serve Sunday brunch. Mother's Day is a busy day so
reservations are strongly encouraged. On Saturday, treat
Mom to a culinary tour: Top Chef Farmer's Market Tour &
Cooking Class (9:30am-12:30pm) OR the Heart of Downtown
restaurant tour (2:30pm-5:30pm). Find a unique gift at
specialty shops, beach & downtown boutiques, custom
jewelers, museum shops, antique shops & art galleries.
Or, Mom can rejuvenate at a day spa.
TOURS DU JOUR: Impress Mom with a guided tour. Downtown
tours that depart at the foot of Market & Water streets
include: Horse-drawn carriage/trolley tours,
(910-251-8889); Wilmington Trolley Company
(910-763-4483); Culinary Adventures with Liz Biro (Sat.
9:30am-12:30pm & 2:30pm-5:30 pm; 910-545-8055); Ghost
Walk of Old Wilmington (910-794-1866); Hollywood
Location Walk of Old Wilmington (910-794-7177); Tour Old
Wilmington walking tour (910-409-4300). Just a few
blocks north: Cape Fear Segway Tours (910-251-2572).
Whatever Mom's interests, there are plenty of
family-friendly activities to choose from in Wilmington,
NC's historic river district and the island beaches of
Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach.
For a free Official Visitors Guide, call 1-866-266-9690.
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