
"Come & Play" during the 15th Annual "Be A Tourist in Your Own Hometown." Residents' Appreciation Day for New Hanover County residents on Sunday, March 7, 2010. It is on this day that participating area attractions (see list below) open their doors to New Hanover County residents free of charge. It's a fun way for residents to find out more about our travel destination so they can become Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast tourism ambassadors.
· Airlie Gardens, 9am-5pm, 300 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, 798-7566. Stroll through the winding paths of this century-old garden by the sea. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.
· Arboretum at New Hanover County Co-op Ext., 8am-6pm, 6206 Oleander Dr., Wilmington, 798-7660. Explore 6+ acres of demonstration and trial gardens to discover the newest and best plants for area landscapes & gardens.
· Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, 8am-5pm, Hwys.17/74/76/421,on the Cape Fear River across from Downtown Wilmington, 251-5797. Come on Board the NORTH CAROLINA and imagine yourself at sea during WWII searching the sky for enemy aircraft, anticipating what may happen next. History comes alive. Free admission to New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender County residents with proper ID. Last boarding 4pm; closes 5pm.
· Bellamy Mansion Museum, 1-4pm, 503 Market St, Wilmington, 251-3700. Visit the formal areas and kitchen in the basement of the mansion, hear historical information about the original slave quarters and its restoration in the rear garden & peruse the gift shop.
· Blue Moon Gift Shops, 12-5pm. 203 Racine Dr., Wilmington, 799-5793. Over 100 eclectic shops feature works by artists and craftspeople. Tastings and craft/vendor demonstrations.
· Burchetta Glassblowing Studio & Gallery, 10am-4pm, 201 Red Cross St., Wilmington, 399-7614. See live glassblowing demonstrations and tour the gallery.
· Burgwin-Wright Museum House, 12-5pm, 224 Market St., Wilmington, 762-0570. The house will not be open; however, visitors may tour the historic gardens and visit the Colonial kitchen and the former jail. A self-guided garden tour is available, with layout, historic facts, plant identification, etc.
· Cameron Art Museum, 11am-5pm, 3201 S. 17th St., Wilmington (corner of Independence Blvd and 17th St.), 395-5999. Southeast NC's premier art museum. View 3 exhibitions: Toying with Art (Galleria cases); KALEIDOSCOPE: Changing Views of the Permanent Collection (Brown Wing); Recollection: The Past is Present (Hughes wing).
· Cape Fear Museum of History & Science, 1-5pm, 814 Market St., Wilmington, 798-4350. Discover the history, science and cultures of the Lower Cape Fear. Visit the Museum's newest exhibits - Conservation Matters; Going to the Movies; and Cape Fear Treasures: Drinks.
· Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill, Noon-9pm, 4240 Market St. (behind "17" North Shopping Ctr.), Wilmington, 762-0173. Free volleyball. Grill will be open with food & drink specials.
· Carolina Beach Lake Park, 10am-2pm, Atlanta & Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach. 617-9793. Wheel Fun Rentals will offer free paddle boat rentals. Free to NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.
· Carolina Beach State Park, 8am-8pm, State Park Rd, Carolina Beach, 458-8206. Bring picnic, fishing supplies. Explore nature trails, visitor ctr. and more. (Marina closed for renovation/campsite rentals not included.)
· EUE/ Screen Gems Studio, 11 am- 2 pm. 1223 N. 23rd St., Wilmington. 343-3500. Screen Gems will give tours on Sunday at 11am, 12pm, 1pm & 2pm. ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED. To tour Screen Gems, you MUST pick up tickets on Friday the 5th at Screen Gems from 12-5 pm. Tickets will be given out on a first come, first serve basis. NO TICKETS WILL BE GIVEN OUT THE DAY OF THE TOUR.
· Federal Point History Center, 1-4pm, 1121-A North Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, 458-0502. Enjoy exhibits & audio-visual presentations portraying periods in the Federal Point community, including pre-historic, colonial, Civil War and development of Carolina-Kure Beaches and Seabreeze as tourist attractions. Refreshments.
· Fort Fisher State Historic Site-Civil War Fort, 1-5pm, Hwy. 421 Kure Beach, NC, 458-5538. Enjoy scenic views of the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean as you visit our tour trails, historic earthen fortifications, visitor center, and Civil War museum.
· Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, 8am-5pm, 1000 Loggerhead Road-off US 421, Kure Beach near Aquarium, 458-5798. Visitor center, free access to the 4WD beach and 4-mile stretch of undeveloped beach for shell seekers, bird watchers. Must display valid NHC driver's license. 4WD access free to NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.
· Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, Meets at Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market & Water sts., Wilmington, 233-7630. Guided tours start at 5:30pm only. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED and on a 1st come, 1st served basis. Guide will take larger than normal groups and tour will be somewhat abbreviated. Space is limited. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY
· Greenfield Grind Skate Park, 1-8pm, Burnett Blvd, behind Parks & Rec offices, Wilmington, 362-8222. Participants get free admission between 1-8pm. NOTE: All participants REQUIRED to wear helmet & pads.
· Halyburton Park, 8am-5pm, 4099 17th St., Wilmington. 341-0075. Take a hike or ride your bike through the 58-acre tract of land comprised of gently rolling sandhills, wet pine flatwoods and limesink depressions ponds and discover the many plants and animal species living here.
· Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 12pm-5pm. 2nd & Orange St., Wilmington. 793-6393. Spend a WWII History afternoon at one of the few remaining USO buildings. Tour the restored building, theatre, and WWII home front mini-museum. Meet local WWII veterans & home front workers with wartime memorabilia to swap stories, pose for photos and share experiences.
· Haunted Pub Crawl at Fat Tony's Italian Pub, Noon-6pm, 131 N. Front St, Wilmington, 343-8881. Get a "taste" of the Haunted Pub Crawl and hear eerie tales that will both shiver ye timbers and make ye laugh out loud; starting at noon on the hour every hour with the last one at 6pm. All ages welcome; stories censored to suit audience. Prizes for kids.
· Hollywood Location Walk of Old Wilmington, Meets at Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market & Water sts., Wilmington, 233-7630. Guided tours start at 12:00 noon only. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED on a 1st come, 1st served basis. Guide will take larger than normal groups and tour will be somewhat abbreviated. Space is limited. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.
· Hugh MacRae Park & Nature Trail, 8am-10pm, Oleander & S. College Rd., Wilmington, 798-7181. Playgrounds (5-12 year old playground is lighted), lighted tennis courts, athletic fields, picnic areas, nature trails, etc. Free everyday (except for shelter, horse ring, baseball fields and garden rentals). Baseball fields must be reserved in advance. Walk the 1.55 mile trail right in the park or visit the Hugh MacRae Nature Trail located across the street behind the NHC Senior Ctr.
· N.C. Military History Museum, Noon-4pm, 116 Air Force Way, Kure Beach, 477-0499. Artifacts, memorabilia, displays from WWI through Desert Storm, w/photos, documents, letters, uniforms, fieldgear, hats, helmets, gift shop, more.
· Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, 1-4pm, 5320 Oleander Dr., Wilmington, 791-0666. Offering a choice of one (1) of the following activities to each participant: 1-free round of Jungle Golf -OR- 1-free go-kart ride -OR- 1-free wall climb.
· SPECIAL GUESTS at Riverfront Visitor Information Booth: 1-3pm (weather permitting), Cape Fear Riverwalk (Water & Market sts.), Wilmington, 341-4030. Team and event mascots will greet residents, hand out schedules/flyers, pose for photos, and sign autographs from 1-3pm. Confirmed guests include "Salty Dawg" (Wilmington Sea Dawgs pro basketball team) & "Sharky" (Wilmington Sharks baseball team) from 1-3pm; Azalea Belles (courtesy of the Cape Fear Garden Club) from 1-3pm; and storyteller/musician John Golden from 2-3pm. Educators from the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher's outreach classroom (1-3pm) will share information about marine life commonly found along NC's coast. Stop by to meet the special guests, get a free "Hometown Tourist" sticker, and a list of attractions participating in the Hometown Tourist event!
· The Black Cat Shop, 1-5pm. 11 Market St., Wilmington. 251-6663. Aye, mateys, ‘yer looking for a bit of adventure in the Port City? Drop by to see some magic, hear some true Wilmington pirate stories or to have ye fortune told. Space is limited and we will entertain first come, first served.
· UNCW Arboretum Campus, 7 am-5 pm, 601 S. College Rd., Wilmington, 962-3107. Explore this institutional arboretum campus with plant identification signs. Three areas are of particular interest: "The Heritage Garden" at the front quadrangle; "The Campus Commons" in the center of campus; and "The Bluethenthal Nature Preserve," located off Price Drive behind the University Union.
· Victorian Gardens at Latimer House Museum, 1-4pm, 126 South 3rd St., Wilmington, 762-0492. Self-guided tour of garden only (brochure available at site, weather permitting); house will be closed.
· Wheel Fun Rentals, 10am-2pm, 107 Carolina Beach Ave. N, Carolina Beach, 617-9792. Free bicycle & specialty product rentals. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.
· Wilmington Ice House, 1-4pm, 7201 Ogden Business Lane (next to Ogden Park off of Market Street), 686-1987. FREE skate rental only - Admission $7.00 per skater / $5.00 if under 5yrs - NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.
· Wilmington Railroad Museum, 1-4pm, 505 Nutt St., Wilmington, 763-2634. Railroad history and heritage are joined by a special traveling exhibit of spectacular photographs by O. Winston Link. Features for all ages. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.
· Wilmington Trolley, 1-4pm. Downtown Wilmington. 763-4483. The trolley will offer free shuttle service between the participating attractions in the downtown area. This is shuttle service only, not tours.
· Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, 1-5pm, 303 W. Salisbury St, Wrightsville Beach, 256-2569. Visit this 1909 beach cottage and feel what life at the beach was like 100 years ago. See our model of Wrightsville Beach in 1910 and learn about the trolley system linking town and beach.
· Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours & Taxi, 2 pm and 3 pm, Banks Channel across from Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach, 200-4002. 1-hour free ecological tours - topics include salt marsh function, native birds and barrier island ecology. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Space is limited.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY I.D. REQUIRED FOR LISTINGS INDICATING "NHC RESIDENTS ONLY". SOME ATTRACTIONS/TOURS REQUIRE ADVANCE RESERVATION. PLEASE READ DESCRIPTIONS CAREFULLY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOURS OF OPERATION AND RESTRICTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE INDIVIDUAL ATTRACTIONS. IN CASE OF RAIN, CALL ATTRACTIONS TO CONFIRM OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS CAN BE DOWNLOADED ONLINE AT www.capefearcoast.com/hometown. A COMPLETE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO APPEAR IN ENCORE MAGAZINE THE WEEK OF THE EVENT.
ALSO SEE MY NEW REAL ESTATE LISTINGS IN WILMINGTON NC AND WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH NC.
TAMMY SANDERS AT 910-793-2776