Winter on the Coast: A T.I.N.Y. List
Why Summer Towns Often Have the Best-Kept-Secret Winters
Winter on the coast looks nothing like the snow-packed holiday seasons I grew up with. Instead of a blanket of snow, there’s a blanket of lights. Rather than skiing in the mountains, it’s long walks on the beach.
Winter in Wilmington, North Carolina transforms the tourist-filled summer city into a town of Christmas trees, holiday light shows, pop-up markets, and ice rinks, all while the sun still shines on your back. It’s a season I’ve experienced three years in a row, but this time, my parents were along for the ride.
Below is a snapshot of winter in Wilmington: what we ate, where we walked, and why this coastal town shines brightest when the temperatures drop.
TASTED
Seabird
Widely considered one of Wilmington’s best restaurants, it somehow still exceeded expectations. The space itself is stunning as the owner apparently spent around $2 million on renovations. From the lighting to the layout, I was taking mental notes of what I’d want to recreate in my own home one day: curved wooden chairs, sand dollar art lining the walls, aquamarine tiles paired with caramel curtains.
But the visuals didn’t stop at the décor. What stood out most was the presentation of every single dish. The broiled hollandaise oysters weren’t complete without the cilantro and NC blue crab. The redbud cheese plate only felt complete with the paper-thin apple slices and tiny turnips. The main course was no different. My dad and I split the flounder, delicate and perfectly cooked, rimmed with green sauce, and hints of dill throughout. My mom ordered their swordfish schnitzel perfectly crusted and resting in a soft pastel pink sauce.
Wandering Cone
Ice cream is welcome year-round, and Wilmington’s best ice cream shop doesn’t hibernate when winter arrives. Instead, they lean into the season with rotating monthly flavors. We ordered a flight to sample December’s offerings, and the white chocolate peppermint instantly became a favorite.
wandering cone flight with their december 2025 visiting flavors!
Taste Carolina
One of the most immersive ways to experience a city is through its food, and a tasting tour makes that easy. We joined a downtown Wilmington food tour with Taste Carolina, visiting six restaurants for small bites and drinks at each stop:
Each stop offered something different. Some bites were sweet, while others were savory, but it was a quick and fun way to get cued into the local food scene. Our tour guide not only gave background on the restaurants we visited, but also the surrounding ones and building history. It was a great way to experience the city’s range without committing to a single restaurant for the entire evening.
IN MOTION
The Loop at Wrightsville Beach
The Loop is an easy, scenic walk that feels especially peaceful in December, albeit colder. Even with the sun out, the wind usually whips in and out as you walk the over two-mile path. So bundle up with a jacket and get your blood pumping as you overlook the stunning intracoastal.
crossing over bridge #1!
Cape Fear Riverboats
One of the best ways to understand a coastal town is from the water. This was my second time aboard the Henrietta with Cape Fear Riverboats, cruising past downtown Wilmington, under the bridge, and up toward the working port where shipping containers are loaded and unloaded.
The captain shared the town’s history, the importance of shipping, and the role the port still plays today. Since Wilmington has deep ties to television, there were even nods to shows like One Tree Hill and The Summer I Turned Pretty. It’s educational without being dry, and the scenes from the top deck make me want to be out on the water 24/7.
Southport Pop-Up Ice Skating Rink
An unexpected but delightful way to lean into winter came from a pop-up ice skating rink in Southport. Bundled up and bracing for a chilly activity, I was instead met with the sun warming my face and back as I circled the icy rink. Kids giggled all around us, more than eager to slip and slide, their big smiles never fading even after looking up from the ground.
Ice skating in coastal North Carolina already felt slightly absurd, but watching more than thirty joyful falls (followed by kids happily jumping back up to try again) took it to another level. The entire adventure felt perfect from start to finish, with the cherry on top being the sunset on our ferry ride back to Fort Fisher. One of my favorite views in the whole world.
NOTED
Battleship North Carolina
Visible from Wilmington’s downtown waterfront, the battleship had been on my list since I moved here. Visiting it in winter felt especially fitting. Battleship North Carolina is undeniably impressive and deeply historical. I climbed into turrets, descended ladder after ladder, and explored what daily life looked like for sailors decades ago.
From the top deck, the view overlooking downtown Wilmington offered a perspective shift I hadn’t experienced before. Yellowed winter grass surrounded us, the air was crisp, and boats moved steadily up and down the Cape Fear River.
It was well worth seeing, but once you’ve seen one battleship, you’ve seen them all.
this thing is huge!
Bald Head Island
Even in the rain, Bald Head Island was a highlight. The ferry ride alone started the day trip off right as we were the only three people on the ferry. We looked out over the water as a pod of dolphins swam in the distance under the gray and cloudy skies. Quieter in the off-season, I watched tons of deer from the road as they watched us drive by in our golf cart. We hit the beach, a stark comparison to the people-packed shores I witnessed in the summer. A light drizzle came down, and we took shelter in a new Mexican restaurant, Cozumel.
After, we hit the road again, circumnavigating the island roads in their entirety eventually stopping at a dock to get a better look at the water. Here, we spotted a bird that looked grumpier than scrooge and a lone jellyfish traveling across the blue-gray waters.
Enchanted Airlie
Locals aren’t exaggerating when they say Enchanted Airlie is a must-see. I tried to see the show last year, but by the time December rolled around, the tickets were already sold out. They usually go on sale in October, so you must absolutely be an early bird for this one. The holiday light display transforms the gardens into a bright and feel-good display from singing Christmas trees, to an eagle soaring overhead, to a happy gator smiling in the distance, you can’t walk around without having a smile on your face.
YES, AND…
The coastal themed lights lining Wrightsville Beach in the winter might be my favorite part of the holiday season here, and one of the things I am going to miss most. With an impending move next fall, every moment is bittersweet as I know it may be my last time seeing or experiencing something. In real time, I am seeing some of the last winter sunsets over the bridge (and they take my breath away every time). Or I am seeing, for the last time, some of my favorite local businesses decked out to the nines in holiday décor. But there is also an inherent excitement in that, because if I could fall in love so deeply with a place I moved to on a whim, what else is out there that I have yet to fall in love with.
