Wilmington - A coastal city with historic charms

I cannot wait to talk about this quaint coastal city - a city which was one of the first of my trips in the US. I had heard a lot about this place, the historic downtown, the US NC Battleship, the three island beaches etc, but the charm of this place was more impactful when I experienced it. 

First visit - The US Battleship - which is a reminiscence of the history during World War II. The battleship is a reminder of the hardship and the bravery with which soldiers battled and the ship and its exhibits the history, the living conditions and the souveniors which survived the battle. 

From the massive cannons, the tankers, the float plane, etc., the huge deck recounts the destruction of enemy warships and aircrafts, while at the same time safeguarding many of her fellowmen who had bravely risked their lives to save their country. The story unfolds as you start exploring within the ship. 

The interiors of the ship was designed to hold everything necessary for the army and navy men from the baker's room to the dry cleaners to the barber's room to the printing press to the spinning room and many more. Soldiers used to be marooned in the ship for days together and it was important for them to get all the basic stuff organized. More intricate were the layers of engine room and machines going down till the basement of the ship. The complicated mechanism gives an idea of the nuances of running a ship and the level of coordination needed from the people at the stern and the bow, to the men who were loading the coal, to the men who were operating the engines. AMAZING!


It is one thing to go on a cruise and enjoy the experience, but it is another to step into history, understand the mechanics that make the experience enjoyable and explore a mariner's life for some time. I would recommend this as a unique visit, one that will remind you to return back again and again. Make it a memorable tour for your kids too - as they explore the crunched places, climb up and down the stairs from the cellar to the upper levels and frolick as they see the tiny spaces to go in and come out. 

My next visit was to the Railroad Museum which had fun and informative displays. As I stepped out of the parking lot and entered the museum, the first thing that caught my attention was the huge steam engine standing proudly and it seemed to me as giving a welcome smile. The visitor center was a small one, but had an eye-catching round track at the top, and with the press of a button, the train chugged a circle from end to the other whistling merrily along the track. 

Inside, there was a glimpse of the traditional railway station master's room, ticket counters, along with bright and cute displays of luggage, luggage carriers, models of trains, various types of engines and even the lanterns used during the old days. You could then see a play area which is a delight for small children as they trot and happily play with the train tracks and models, followed by a room which displayed models of trains along mountains, rivers, cities, villages. 

The bright red caboose near the play area is an eye-catcher and you will see children trying to peek from one of the windows of the caboose shouting peek-a-boo. 

Overall, a small but good place to visit with a dedication to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. 

Next on the list was the historic downtown area which was a mix of classical and modern era. The waterfront was beautiful with a view of the Battleship, the Henrietta and the small sailboats that passed by the glory of downtown. I sank in the beauty of the sunset, the boats passing by and the people strolling lazily down the wooden bridge. It was ethereal!

The pavement gave way to small boutique shops of different kinds catering to the tourists and the residents. The classical charm began as we bagged a horse-drawn carriage tour strolling through the mansions and houses which were beautifully preserved and decorated. 

Each mansion was unique and the brown and the black plaque indicated houses which were over 100 years old and the ones that were less than 100 years old. The driver also gave a tour of the famous government buildings and houses, I felt elated and then stopped to take a picture with the horses which were munching their food happily after the 30 minute ride. 

I once more was lured towards the wooden walkways by the side of the river and took a walk. The evening was beautiful and the restaurants were humming with voices of people who had come together to enjoy an evening dinner by the watefront. Satisfied, I started on my way back to the hotel. 

Overall, a very enjoyable experience. 

I almost forgot to mention about the irresistible beaches in Wilmington - the three island beaches which are an easy drive from the city and are filled with activities. Try out the Carolina Beach or the Wrightsville Beach or the Kure Beach to enjoy fun-filled sand and long streches of water. 

I cannot stop talking about this wonderful city, but will reserve more for a later post as I visit some offbeat places at Wilmington. 

Bye for now.