Wilmington, North Carolina
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wilmington - 5/26/2008

wilmington is convenient to the beach and all types of stores and hobbies.[more...]

Fairly Nice when I was there - 4/6/2008

I went to UNCW there in the late eighties and enjoyed the beach and going to school there. Mind you, unless your degree is in Marine Biology, the university degrees will not help you get ahead in life, in my opinion. The university has a beautiful campus there and I like it that all the buildings are all the same design. I could not find a good job there after graduating, but the economy was not good nationally at the time. I visited the city a couple years back, and for better or worse, the city is growing. You have to pay for parking to use Wrightsville Beach now. I think it´s something close to 1 or 2 dollars for an hour or two! The downtown area has some good coffee shops and some ghost tours.[more...]

Activities - 3/9/2008

I am a newcomer to Wilmington, but there are so many things to see and do! Something for everyone.[more...]

Ten out of 12 ain't bad. - 12/29/2007

Nine to ten months out of the year the weather here is great. Sunny. Great temperature. Just beautiful. July and August are brutal. Very hot. Very humid.[more...]

The Face of Wilmington is Changing...Fast!!! - 12/4/2007

Wilmington is not the sleepy coastal town and beach area that it was even ten years ago. It has succumbed to the ever increasing residential real estate development of the coast. Traffic is increasing and the accident rating of the area is the highest in the state. Property values have stabilized somewhat after a meteoric rise in 2005-2006 and with them the property taxes and insurance rates have adjusted upwards as well. Residential development is the driving force in the area. This is all being done to lure new residents (primarily well funded) from the North and Midwest. There are plenty of houses available at $500,000 and up but very little at more reasonable values (<$300,000). Local government is doing very little to create and or attract new jobs, particularly for young professionals. The local joke is that Wilmington has the best educated restaurant serving staff, as most of them are graduates of UNCW who want to stay in the area but are unable to find decent positions. If you come here not needing to work to meet your obligations, Wilmington is the place for you. If you are relocating and need to find a good job to make it work, you might want to reconsider.[more...]

Wrightsville Beach - 7/5/2007

My husband and I and our friends just got back from visiting Wilmington for the 4th of July 2007. We spent the night at the Marriott-Courtyard off Market St. I used to live in Wilmington with my parents nearly 12 years ago and although we only got to stay there for a year, it was absolutely wonderful at that time. Returning after so many years, I was glad to find that Wilmington has remained the same except for the usual new chain restaurants and what appeared to be some new housing construction (which in all my travels that's pretty commonplace). Other than that it was a great visit--even if it was one day. You see, unlike other visitors or the residents, you have to take Wilmington for what it is...a quaint little city. Actually, it's more like a large town than a city. Yes, it has it's "downtown" and a good urban sprawl, but it just isn't like Raleigh or Charlotte. Wilmington is meant to be kept like a town. I think if it had, after all this time, spread out and built up some more or boomed like its neighboring coastal towns Myrtle and Virginia Beach, it just wouldn't be the same. As the gentleman who had lived in Wilmington for 58 years previously stated, it has changed. No, I didn't live there my whole life to see it from a very small coastal town, but from what I left behind, it's kept that quaint and charming allure. The climate I remember being fairly comfortable throughout the year (we never wore coats the entire winter) and during this recent trip we made, the weather was gorgeous (not too hot 86 degrees and being on the beach helped with those nice ocean breezes). Schools are good, at least the ones I remember. We don't have children yet, so I'm not too savvy on schooling in Wilmington. I've lived in many cities in different states all my life and I believe that Wilmington is a pretty safe town. My friends and I never feared for going out and about. North Carolina is part of the Bible belt so if you're looking for a church/synagogue in particular Wilmington has it. There are plenty of major roads, I-95, 421, 17/74 that are merely minutes away, so accesibility to highways is very good. Plus, you're about an hour or so from the famous Myrtle Beach in SC. So, what town/city doesn't have their little problems or lack of culture as some might look at it. That is the least of things. One of the main attractions of Wilmington is the beaches of course! Wrightsville is my personal favorite, then you still have Carolina[more...]

Not too bad...not too good.... - 6/14/2007

I've lived in Wilmington for 16 years. I've gone all the way through 4th grade through college at UNCW. For the most part Wilmington is a pretty nice place to live. The cost of living has skyrocketed in recent years with more and more tourists settling in and more developments/businesses moving in (look up Mayfaire town center). Just like every other city, you have your areas you don't want to travel to, if you know what I mean....but these are basically narrowed down to two areas of town that most of Wilmington won't see anyways. The beach is nice, if you can find a parking spot in the summer. The restaurants are plentiful here, as I believe we are the country leader in restaurant per square mile average (I read it somewhere) but most of these consist of fast food or chain restaurants. Basically Wilmington is set up by three or four main roads: Market St., College Rd., Oleander, and to some extent Eastwood Rd. since it is the road most people take to get to the beach. Pretty much all of your shopping/dining traffic will take you somewhere on these roads. The weather here is usually pretty mild, but in the summer it can get pretty hot and humid. Winters get fairly cold for about two months (don't bet on snow unless its once every 10 years). The crime here is pretty much secluded to certain parts of town I previously mentioned and its usually pretty small time stuff like drug arrests or things like that. As far as night life goes, it's all about downtown. Cape Fear Community College and UNCW students flock downtown to the clubs and bars (I'd say there's about 10-12 actually decent ones). There's a few of these Wrightsville Beach that are ok, but you're usually going to have to be a surfer or beach resident to feel comfortable. Traffic is slowly getting worse due to the influx of people moving here from Ohio or New Jersey. The road conditions are pretty bad all over the city, and we also are the state leader in motor vehicle accidents (GO WILMINGTON!!!!) so you're insurance may spike a little. There is no shortage of doctors or lawyers here. I've read that some people notice racial tension here, but that kind of goes hand in hand with living in the south. I usually don't see too much of it, but there's no shortage of big pick up trucks with muddin' tires or escalades with 20" chrome rims so I guess it's like any other city. It can get a little boring after you've lived here a while because you've done everything there is to do (see beaches, downtown, and bea[more...]

Love the City..can't afford it - 4/18/2007

My wife and I are both young professionals with college degrees. We love the area, and LOVE living near the beach..however..you pay for it. Cost of living here compared to the Salary Range is ridiculous. If you are single...you can FORGET about owning a house unless you make somewhere around 50-60k a year, and that will be hard to come by in Wilmington. "Sunshine" tax. Beautiful place, but way to expensive. If you are coming from New York, or Cali, yeah...the cost of living is WAY CHEAP comparatively, but unless you have a stock pile of money to live on, or a job waiting for you here that happens to pay well...you will be in for a real surprise.[more...]

COL - 3/22/2007

Very hard to find a job in Wilmington and there is no such thing as a good paying job. Compared to other parts of the country it is very backward. Wilmington is the most expensive city in North Carolina and the pay scale is the lowest. Buying a house is almost impossible (unless you enjoy living in a double wide).[more...]

I need to leave... - 2/20/2007

I have lived in Wilmington all my life of 58 years. My parents were from Brunswick County and Robeson County. I used to love Wilmington. Us natives were accustomed to driving to Wrightsville Beach (around 4 to 5 miles in around 5 minutes) driving up to the sand or an un-metered parking place and jumping in the wonderful clean water of our beaches and sounds. Nowadays, it takes 15 to 20 minutes for the same trip, money for the parking meters (if you can find parking) and you have to be careful where you swim. Putting a boat in is absolutely out of the question. It is more fun to sit on the dock and watch everyone fighting over the access or the parking. Restaurants have grown from home cooking to chain after chain after chain of expensive dining. I is almost impossible to find fresh seafood at a reasonable price. Housing has increased so much that I cannot change to a different neighborhood. If I sell my house now I cannot by anything comparable for the same price. Traffic is horrendous. Of course, compared to big cities it is not bad but the aggravation of traffic flow is much greater than even the big cities. So, I am looking forward to the time when my family obligations allow me to move to the foothills of the NC mountains. I must ensure I like where I chose to move because once I move, I cannot financially afford to return to Wilmington. I hope all of you people moving down enjoy your city of Wilmington because my old city of Wilmington is long gone and will never return and unfortunately, you will never have had the wonderful experience that I enjoyed in my youth. [more...]

One person's perception of Wilmington... - 2/15/2007

Please be aware this is only my opinion. I have had the opportunity to live in many different parts of the country over the last 20 years and the Wilmington area does not rank highly on my list of favorite places.There are very few good employment opportunities. Rate of pay here is awful. The largest concern here should be the vast gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots". There appears to be a large disparity between the normal working class and those who make up the wealthier segment of the population. Housing is another issue, as the value/price ratio is questionable. The education level of the general population is also suspect.At first glance, housing seems reasonable, however the median price is rather deceiving. The median price is artifically low because of the glut of "entry level" or in other words, older housing that needs total updating. Traffic is awful, particularly during the vacation months.I would suggest anyone considering a move should plan an extended visit to experience what life here is like on a first hand basis. I will say that this is one of the friendliest places I have lived. People here are genuinely polite. When the question "How are you today?" is asked, people actually would like an answer. Very polite and a great representation of that famed souther hospitality.[more...]

ILM = Wilmington, North Carolina - 12/29/2006

I moved here three years ago, after visiting Wilmington (ILM = airport designation) f/over 10 years. My daughter went to UNCW &, like so many others, decided to stay here. ILM is a great place to live. People are nice, downtown is quaint, historical, fun & safe. There is plenty to do, you will any good or service you need right here & we have: *the beach*!! When I moved here, I heard two silly falsehoods: #1) What a cold winter !! // My Answer: No, just because the temperature went below 32 *twice* doesn't make it a 'cold winter'! #2) Traffic here is terrible // My Answer: Yes, it is bad & getting worse. But it is nothing compared to an urban city. You can get anywhere, even during 'rush hour', in 30 minutes. Wilmingon enjoys a mild temperataure. Yes, it is warm & humid in July & August, just like anywhere else. But f/the other 10 months of the year, we have fabulous weather. We occasionally get up to 70 degrees in November, December, January & February. Friends ask if I miss the snow. My stock answer is 'no'; I can always plan a trip to visit it. Crime is low (worst downtown, after 1am), schools are good, housing is affordable & quality of life is very good. There are plenty of artistic & cultural things to do. And, we have: *the beach*!! Wages are lower than the Northeast & upper income jobs are harder to secure. This is a town w/a high per centage of college students (UNCW population exceeds 12,000), so low cost labor is readily available. There is also a growing contingent of retired Northerners. They volunteer but also take low to middle income jobs. & there aren't that many big employers in Wilmington, so don't count on keeping that large pay check if you decide to move here. Life is wonderful here ...... but the secret is getting out & ILM is growing like crazy. [more...]

Beautiful historic downtown, surrounded by urban s - 11/25/2006

We relocated from California for the reasonable housing but the humidity and job market did us in. In summer it may cool down at night to a balmy 78. How people ever lived here without a/c, I can't even imagine. Beaches are far more beautiful than anything in CA. The sand is whiter, the water bluer, the waves gentler. And the ocean gets warm in the summer which beats the icy chill of the Pacific. Real estate is very reasonable but on the rise. You can still get a 4-bedroom home in a brand new subdivision for under $400,000. Job market is tight, unless you are in the hospitality, healthcare or construction business. Salaries are low. Lots of entry level stuff, but very little at manager-level. We have been here 3 years and can't find jobs so we are moving out. There does seem to be a bias against non-Southerners. I've heard a few complaints about 'yankees.' Wilmington traffic is getting worse, but it's because there are no freeways here, which is a refreshing change from California. You can still get all the way across town to the beach in less than 20 minutes. The city has been far too slow in developing infrastructure and too quick to approve housing & commercial developments. The result is congestion, ugly urban sprawl and a crumbling sewer system. Downtown is charming, with historic homes, a vibrant restaurant and club scene, but the rest of the city is strewn with strip malls. Development across the river in Brunswick county is exploding but the schools are generally abysmal. That will change if you can wait long enough. If you depend on a good airport, be aware that only 2 airlines serve 'ILM' and fares are usually double what you would pay out of Raleigh. If you like to travel by air, you'll pay dearly to do so from here.[more...]

Wilmington is fantastic - 10/16/2006

I have lived here for just under a year but plan to live here for the rest of my life. I feel so lucky to have ended up here. This is such a beautiful and clean place. I love the cute little neighborhoods and downtown is so cute with its historic homes and cobble stone streets. Then there is the best part of all, the ocean. Lots of great beaches to choose from. My favorite being Kure beach. It is clean and the people are friendly. The piers are great and so is the fishing. My son is in middle school (a scary thing anyplace) but thus far I have seen no problems and the kids I see coming out of the school or over to play are nice kids. There is SO much to do here, there is never a reason to complain of being bored. I am thrilled to call Wilmington my home.[more...]

What is Wilmington like really??? - 9/10/2006

Well...It is complicated. People either seem to absolutely love it or absolutely want to get out...I may be somewhere in the middle. The crime rate is atrocious but honestly I have not ever felt unsafe and live in an amazingly safe little haven with great neighbors. The hurricanes? Well I have only seen baby hurricanes and those were mostly fun...the electricity did not even go out for very long. People...My neighbors are great but have not made many close connections...Though most people seem warm and friendly. It is the south but honestly I have not felt racial tension...we live in a neighborhood that is mixed and it truly is just a lovely place to be and everyone gets along great. Schools are crowded but our school seems to be challenging and the teachers mostly...dedicated and great. Oh I have heard of some that are not but luckily we have not experienced them. I think that Hoggard and Laney are the two best high schools...I have also heard good things about New Hanover but it seems too big and too close to downtown/interesting neighborhoods. As you drive through Wilmington you will see both the beautiful homes and the homes that are in disrepair. I have pretty much found that anywhere...Oh the ocean the ocean! It is absolutely gorgeous and amazing! I have been on most coasts and this is my favorite! Warm and clean and beautiful and not too crowded. If you love the ocean you will love it here. Again it is the south so there are conservative viewpoints, especially with the schools, government. Quirky laws that can drive you crazy but I guess if you are meant to be here then it would not bother you much. The traffic is really not bad here at all. Some weekends, holidays mostly it might take you 10 minutes to get somewhere instead of five. Big whoop! What is Wilmington like really? I will be leaving because I am looking for a place with more snow, less heat and more progressive viewpoints...But this will be the ocean that I return to....I will become one of the tourists...I honestly love the tourists because they are the base of our economy. I will become one of them. So I would say that if this is the right place for you you will love it here. It is not perfect but it is perfectly beautiful. Good luck to you I hope you find what you are looking for.[more...]

Beautiful! - 9/10/2006

Gorgeous and Beautiful Ocean. The south and all that goes with it...[more...]

Opportunities in North Carolina? - 8/30/2006

I would love to get some feedback on the entertainment business in/around Wilmington. Because of Screen Gems and other smaller studios in N.C., as well as the indie film market, would this be an ideal area to relocate? I am an actress living in Los Angeles and Hate It!!! It's very dirty, overpopulated, expensive, and hard to get a break unless you have connections. It's not important that I become a "movie star" -- I just want to work with genuine people on interesting projects. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Laurel[more...]

people of the city - 7/21/2006

i think that if you dont mind all the cheapo's who are leaving town then the scenery is nice. imaging the roads with these little people who have middle income jobs. what you need to do is just sit back during the times when these people get off from their office jobs, probably to find a cheap place to fill up their savanah van. i do have to confess though, i did enjoy the company of these people for a bit but shucks they do smell, like a fresh cut lawn and hamburger meat. As for the beach, its a blast seeing the cheapos' and all of them packing lunches and packing their cars so they don have to pay the extra money to get into the state beaches.. buy a pool, its worth it, plus you can watch someone clean it for only 200 per month[more...]

Can't wait until husband is done with school here. - 6/13/2006

We moved here last year from Whidbey Island, Washington (Oak Harbor).My husband just got out of the Navy, and wanted to go to school. We chose Wilmington because of the diverse schooling choices here, as well as my husband's good memories of vacationing on North Carolina beaches as a child. Here are my impressions: Good: -swimmable and surfable beaches nearby -mild winter climate -lots of sun -some charming neighborhoods -lots of colleges, universities -good, tension-releasing thunderstorms -some lower income neighborhood parks get a lot of use and seem friendly -some affordable (100's) housing is still available, though not for long Bad: -atrocious summer heat and humidity- does not cool down at night -poor city water quality -poor air quality (at times the air leaves an acrid, metallic taste in your mouth and you don't want to breathe deeply) -noticeable racial tension (but then I'd never lived in the South before) -high crime (does not feel safe here) -lots of litter (city seems very dirty) -very congested roads, bad traffic, visible road rage and bad driving -religious and political intolerance On the whole, I wish we'd known more about the area before moving here. If I had the choice to make again, I'd have stayed on the West Coast, or moved further North , up the coast.[more...]

OK Town if you can Afford It - 5/7/2006

I've lived here several years and to me the plusses are:being close to the beach, the cute downtown, and great weather. Minuses are that if you are not well-off and/or a retiree, it is hard to find a job that pays enough to afford a home. Recently it has gotten much worse--last year condos in the Breezewood subdivision jumped from $99,000 to $190,000! This has happened all over town. If you want to be a home owner, $160,000 will now get you a modular home in a crappy section of town with dirt roads. Working-class people are moving out of this county in droves to neighboring counties with a more affordable cost of living. Traffic used to be bad in the Summer, now it's bad all year--too many people moving here and trying to crowd onto the three main roads. For me the plusses aren't worth it anymore, and I'm getting out as soon as I can.[more...]