The New Hanover County Arboretum, located on the outskirts of Downtown Wilmington on Oleander Drive, is a peaceful retreat for nature lovers everywhere. With seven acres of greenery, and gorgeous foliage that changes with the season, every visit offers a new way to experience the native and beloved plant life of Wilmington in a perfectly tranquil setting. There is NO admissions charge to visit the Arboretum.
The Arboretum itself was formally opened in 1989, and continues to grow with new gardens and statue displays that are contributed by local artists and landscaping experts. Currently, the Arboretum contains 33 distinctly different gardens which include varying species that are either native to the Cape Fear area or thrive in the coastal Carolina environment.
Highlights of the gardens include an aquatic garden complete with a red wooden pedestrian bridge that stretches over a water-lily filled pond, a bog garden with gorgeous spring and summertime flowers, and a Japanese garden with intricate statues and specimens set against the Wilmington landscape. Kids will love the children's garden, which features a small but inviting yellow "clubhouse" with a wooden purple fence, brightly colored mushroom stools, and plenty of seasonal blooms, as well as the coy pond in the aquatic garden, which is always well-stocked with colorful gold, black and white coy fish.
Visitors are advised to keep an eye out for the statues and local works of art which are found throughout the Arboretum grounds, from the lemon yellow rabbit that hangs around the kids' clubhouse to the metal dragon that hovers above the pond.
While many of the statues and works are permanent attractions, visitors will find that every season brings a new dose of color and local species to admire at the Arboretum. The early spring and summer months are prime bulb season, clustered primarily next to the children's garden, while the summertime brings acres of azaleas and fragrant rose bushes. In the summer and fall, look for the diverse selection of edible plants in the herb gardens, as well as the hardy camellias, which bloom throughout the winter. The water lilies in the aquatic garden are a favorite attraction for visitors, but really, any garden located along the brick and cement walking path that winds through the Arboretum certainly holds its own charms.
Admission is free for visitors and residents alike, and a gift shop is located by the Arboretum's entrance, with plenty of goodies for every age, taste, and pocketbook size. Gift shop proceeds of sales going to benefit the non-profit Friends of the Arboretum which keeps the gardens looking beautiful, and sponsors community events and projects.
The Arboretum also hosts a number of seasonal art exhibits, as well as a very popular annual Master Gardener Association plant sale, which takes place in the prime Wilmington planting season, generally early April or late March. Here, plant shoppers can purchase a number of locally grown herbs, vegetables, flowers (including annuals and perennials), shrubs, trees, and even rose bushes, as they chat with master gardeners for advice on planting and long-term care. Open to the public, with several acres of plants available to purchase, this annual plant sale has become a must-see for local and regional gardeners everywhere.
Garden lovers will adore a leisurely tour through Wilmington's New Hanover County Arboretum, while families of all ages will appreciate the decadent blooms, well-appointed children's gardens, and intricate works of art that are scattered throughout the diverse and enthralling themed gardens. Open to everyone, with natural exhibits that change with every season, a visit to the New Hanover County Arboretum is truly a breath of fresh air for visitors who need to slow down, relax, and enjoy the Cape fear region's sunning local scenery.
Fort Johnston is a remarkable visitors’ center and museum that has deep historic roots in the early years of Southport’s long and storied history. Located on the edge of the waterfront downtown area along Bay Street, the stoic and regal looking brick structure, complete with four two-story white pillars, is an imposing but impressive site in this historic corner of the Cape Fear coastline.
Cap off a leisurely day of exploring Southport with a scenic walk along the waterfront, courtesy of the Southport Pier and Riverwalk. Located on the edge of Howe and Bay Streets, and therefore easy to reach for veritably any Downtown Explorer, this scenic walk is a great place for fishing, birdwatching, or just settling into a wooden bench and admiring the miles of open water views.
Calypso - 4 Bedroom 3.5 Bath House, 2nd Row with Ocean Vistas, Sleeps 11****Interior is all freshly painted with elegant coastal living room furnishings and décor!********Grand deck with commercial hotel-grade outdoor furnishings, elevated in-deck swimming pool, picnic table, outdoor billiard table and 2 common living room areas all available for your enjoyment!!!!****Please Note: As of 4/16/25, pool heating and cooling not available until further notice due to repairs. Notable & Unique Features:- Roomy home for entertainment.- Located on the relaxing west end of Oak Island- Spectacular sunrise AND sunset vistas over the ocean- 2nd row home with public beach access across the street and to the left- Convenient to Bluewater Point Marina for boat launch, great stores, eateries, piers, golf, putt-putt, sky diving, and other fun activities- Short 10-15 min. drive to historic Southport and ferry rides to NC Aquarium and Civil War Museum in Kure Beach and to Bald Head Island- Beds: 2K, 2Q, 1T, 1BB T/F- Entertainment: Flat screen Intelligent TVs. Basic cable. DVD Players. Roku in the two master suites. All bedrooms have TVs with basic cable and DVDs. Outdoor billiard table. Board games, puzzles, books.- Kitchen: Extensive breakfast bar. Stainless steel appliances. Double oven. Toaster. Toaster oven/Air fryer. Crockpot.- High chair- Open/reverse floor plan- 2 Common living rooms- Ceiling fans- Granite countertops- Luxury plank floor- Two oceanside-covered porches - Private elevated in-deck swimming pool - Charcoal grille- Picnic table- Enclosed hot/cold outside shower- Private/covered parking- Boat parking - No family pets allowed Standard Features;- Bed linens and towel sets (shower towel, hand towel and washcloth) included per the capacity of the home- Totally equipped kitchen- Free WIFI- Drip Coffee Maker- Washer/Dryer- Iron/ironing board- Departure housekeeping- Non-smoking This impressive 4 bedroom 3.5 bath, 2nd row home is located on the calming west end of Oak Island. Calypso is charmingly decorated and a beach lovers dream with two roomy ocean-view bedrooms to watch the spectacular sunrises & sunsets. You can appreciate the pleasant sound of waves rolling onto shore as you fall into the most restful sleep you've had in a long time. All the bedrooms have TVs and DVDs and you can stream Roku in the two master suites. The chef in the family will adore the modern, entirely equipped kitchen for making pancakes in the morning, low country boils for lunch, and steaks for dinner. Don't forget to grille out your favorite seafood or some hotdogs and hamburgers on the outdoor charcoal grille! Everyone can gather around the outdoor pool table and picnic table for hours of fun. There is an ample amount of outdoor seating to savor meals or just to breathe in the fresh, salty ocean air. Plenty of parking for cars and boats! Three cavernous oceanside decks offer a great opportunity to relax in the warm sun. If you feel like a walk on the beach, the beach access is just across the street. CALYPSO will leave the "Calypso beat" in your heart for many years to come and will have you singing and dancing just as the name implies. Exterior Video & Monitoring on Premises
- Oak Island
- 4 Bedrooms
- 3 Bathrooms
- Sleeps 11