Since the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher last expanded 20 years ago, an estimated 10 million people have flowed through the facility’s aquatic offerings. “This past year was our highest visitation ever,” said Hap Fatzinger, aquarium director, referring to fiscal year 2022-2023’s count of 500,000 visitors. “It’s been incredible … ...

The New Hanover County Arboretum, a 7-acre garden oasis at 6026 Oleander Drive, is in the midst of a process that could reshape the landmark. Through Nov. 2, the county is “soliciting qualification submittals from highly qualified architects to provide complete master plan design services for the NHC Arboretum & NCSU Extension Service campus located at 6206 Ol ...

With its number of visitors on the rise, Airlie Gardens has undergone an update its facilities. “We saw a huge increase in the visitation during the pandemic, as well as a large increase in the number of people who joined as members and major sponsors,” said Janine Powell, director of donor relations for Airlie Gardens. “The silver lining of the pandem ...

The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad moved its headquarters from Wilmington to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1960, leaving behind remnants of the city’s lengthy railroad history in the form of buildings on Nutt Street. Founded in 1979, the Wilmington Railroad Museum has rented part of one of those former ACL buildings in downtown Wilmington from the city since 2006. This ...

Visitors spent more than usual in the Wilmington area in 2022, according to a recent state study, resulting in Brunswick and New Hanover counties landing as two of the top 10 counties in the state for visitor spending last year. In New Hanover County alone, domestic and international visitors to and within the county spent nearly $1.06 billion last year, a 14% increase ...

Nearly a century after it was developed, Wilmington Municipal Golf Course continues to lure golfers of all ages to its links, an 18-hole championship course whose landscape is dotted with clusters of pine trees. Thanks to good management and not a small measure of good luck, the Muni remains popular even as other public, private and semi-private courses in the area offer a ...

Accommodation and sales tax collections in New Hanover County each recently saw monthly year-over-year decreases. While modest, they mark the first downturns for the taxes – indicators of tourist-related economic activity – since the pandemic.  These metrics may suggest the record-breaking, post-pandemic tourism blaze has already peaked. But at the same ...

When a Circle K convention came to Wilmington earlier this year, attendees found themselves split between 15 different hotels, even looking to northern Brunswick County for the necessary accommodations. That conundrum is a good example of how the city’s tourism and convention industries are struggling with the challenges that come with success. “We have a ...

Last month was an all-time record-breaking month for Wilmington International Airport. ILM saw 67,110 outbound passengers in June – 36% more than last June and “exceeding any month ever recorded by 25%,” an ILM spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. Total passengers for June were 134,256, a 37% jump from last June. So far this year, total outbound p ...

Local hospitality employees navigating peak tourism season now have a new tool available to help them cultivate a memorable experience for visitors: Tourism Ambassador certification.   The new program is a free offering from the Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau for all visitor-facing hospitality employees in New Hanover County. The visitors bure ...