It’s beginning to look like, well, no holiday season we’ve ever seen – Santa’s donning a mask, Black Friday is now the whole month of November. Even Wrightsville Beach’s popular Holiday Flotilla has been grounded.   Since it began circulating here last spring (the first local case was reported on Friday the 13th of March) COVID-19 has r ...

It is not news that tourism is an essential part of the local area economy, but the true impact of the tourism and hospitality industry is clearly reflected in the results of the latest Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Visitor Profile and Expendi­ture Research Study.   Ninety-five percent of surveyed visitors to Wilmington and area beaches reported being sa ...

The Wilmington Rail Trail is one step closer to becoming a reality and beginning a chain reaction of projects that could change the landscape for pedestrians, bicyclists and outdoor enthusiasts in the downtown Wilmington area.   “We’re in the home stretch,” Rhonda Bellamy, executive director of The Arts Council of Wilmington & New Hanover Count ...

The town of Burgaw might seem a long way from California’s Tinseltown, but it has been a star in its own right as the backdrop to many Hollywood films. Now, movie buffs can visit these locations on their own.   Pender County Tourism announced the launch of Pender County Film Tours with the Hometown Hollywood Film Tour in downtown Burgaw.   The Pender Co ...

Local museums were finally able to reopen after nearly six months of closure as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. The news couldn’t come soon enough for many of them.   Two-thirds of the Bellamy Man­sion Museum’s revenue comes from people visiting the landmark, “so this is a huge deal to get people through the front doors,” Bellamy Mansi ...

The U.S. is in month six of dealing with a global pandemic. North Carolina is in phase 2.5 of allowing openings of approved businesses.   As a result, many eateries and drinkeries—including distilleries, bottle shops, wineries and breweries (still, no bars)—are expanding outdoor spaces to accommodate more customers and help with increased revenue.   ...

The tourism and hospitality industry has been among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Thursday. So the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority dba Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) presented a webinar Thursday to share information on research that has been done to align with focused recovery plans for the n ...

A new motel in the Brunswick County city of Southport began welcoming guests recently. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott officially opened its 80 rooms at 5181 Southport-Supply Road in Southport when the first guest arrived last Tuesday, according to a news release from the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.   The new hotel was created by conver ...

Local museums are preparing to reopen after Gov. Roy Cooper's announcement Tuesday that some coronavirus-related restrictions will be eased this week. Phase 2.5 of the state's reopening plan allows museums, aquariums and other facilities to welcome patrons back at reduced capacities, taking effect at 5 p.m. Friday. Those capacities are 50% for museums and aquari ...

Pender County is home to “all things blueberry,” but because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the county's cornerstone event, the N.C. Blueberry Festival, was cancelled.  The festival is usually held in June. As a result, Pender County Tourism created a blueberry trail for the blue fruit's fans to follow along to blueberry points of in ...