What a wonderful small-town airport! Very clean and open. All the staff here are very friendly --…read morerental car service, Port City Java, AA FA check-in, etc. The rental car service is in the same lobby area as baggage claim, which was convenient. Our flight from SFO to Charlotte to Wilmington arrived around 11:35PM, and the rental car closes at 12AM. Luckily, because of how small the airport is, the distance from one point to the next was less than a few minutes. After picking up our luggage and rental keys, it was a short walk out to the lot. Departure was seamless. We returned our rental car without any issues. The only feedback is to avoid using the address provided online for car rental return (1740 Airport Blvd). We had to follow signs for the rental return, which may be due to ongoing construction, so watch for signage. TSA was not a concern, as there was no wait for our 9AM. flight. Pretty small. 1 line for pre-check and 1 line for regular.

ILM is perhaps the most calming airport I've been in. It is clean, small, and has a great theme!…read more Due to the construction going on, you have to walk up and down a ramp to get to the terminal. If you have difficulty walking that may be a problem, but luckily it is a ramp (not stairs) so if you need a wheelchair you can use it. The check-in area is small, but efficient. All of the airline counters are right there once you walk in to the terminal, and to your left is TSA. TSA wait times at ILM are not a problem, just in case you are concerned because of what happened for 1 month. They have multiple food options such as Port City Java, Jimmy Johns, a market for snacks and drinks, and a great restaurant called "Riverwalk Bar & Grill." There are 9 gates in the terminal. Our flight to Atlanta was delayed, but luckily we could hang out in the atrium and listen to some live music! If you decide to fly out of ILM you will likely not have a problem. This is a great airport!

Crooked operation. They charged me $9,000.00 to remove and then re-mount a Continental aircraft…read moreengine after giving me an estimate of $4,000.00 After I argued the point, they tried to lock my plane in a hangar until my attorney became involved and gave them 5 minutes to release my aircraft. Bill Cherry is one of the most smug human beings that I've ever encountered.

Air Wilmington is the General Aviation (GA) flight side of Wilmington International Airport where…read moreprivate pilots are serviced. It has a very nice and comfortable arrival /departure amenities center. Plenty of comfortable seating, TV and dining area with vending machines. The staff and the ground crew were very nice and friendly. It was a pleasant experience and enjoyed using this facility.

Private Axe Throwing Party was AWESOME!!…read more WHAT FUN! They have a really great (SAFE) facility that has LOTS of space (we plan to go back for some paintball fun!). It's really a class-act setup & a fabulous 'different' experience which made for a great party! We booked a party, which on Mon-Wed they are closed & it's only private parties (not sure if this is year round or just the winter hours?); but it was GRAND having the WHOLE PLACE to ourselves! We just had 8 people for an 18th b-day party & we could easily have had another 4-6 people with the room they have for axe-throwing. The Axes area is a nice size but also cozy, almost like a neat 'bar' environment. *FYI-it is BYOB-no liquor* We brought wine for adults & sparkling juice for the teens. 3 boys, 1 girl and 4 adults.....we ALL had so much fun! $249 isn't cheap, but it was worth every penny. 90-minutes (which the fabulous gentleman who was there for us did not start our time until all safety briefing & instruction time was over) of throw time was MORE than enough, the last 10 minutes you could tell it was time to go eat, so more than 90 min would just have been too much. There are 3 high-top tables with 4 chairs each. There are 5 throwing lanes. Each lane has mesh metal screens on the sides and thick wood-paneled walls. The targets (which I read about on their site) are really amazing, the thicker blocks they use vs. cheaper boards make the axe's stick GREAT and easily for almost any throw-er. The 'games' are projected onto the boards and have score keeping that is fun & easy (like a bowling alley) with a PC mouse & keypad. The gentleman who was there for our party experience was fantastic, even came in a few times & showed us different throw-angles to try and (as a 'mom') I felt safe that he was keeping an eye on everything too. Super nice and accommodating gent - helped make our evening even more fun! Helpful tip: If you go at night, the sign is currently not lit, so it's RIGHT after Black's Tire/Goodyear. The parking lot is dark, but you'll see the lights inside are on! OH - take snacks & drinks for your party, also any plates or utensils - they only have the tables/seating & the entertainment!

Crossfire Does It Again!…read more Crossfire gets better and better every time I visit. They rebuilt after the hurricane, a beautiful new interior for paintball and nerf. After COVID, they added GellyBall. And now, AXE THROWING! I had never thrown axes before and it was easy to get the hang of enough to have fun. Also, the computer projects different games onto the wooden target so you never get bored. I went with just one other person but this would be a blast for a group - co-workers, friends, bachelor/bachelorette party, school organization, fraternity/sorority outing. No limits.

Hot Mess Studios is one of a few great pottery studios in the Wilmington. They have group and…read moreindividual private lessons and parties for on wheel pottery, canvas painting, and piece painting. They have 3 speciality nights you can sign up for in advance. On Thursdays they do Ladies Night Sip & Spin where you get one hour 1 pot, throw as many as you like, keep what you like for just $10 more + wine. Fridays are "Filthy Fridays" where adults 16 and over can sign up for a 7 pm or 8:30 pm time slot and get 1 pot + 1 ball of clay with the option of more at $10 each. On Saturdays they do the same thing but it's family friendly sessions (ages 7+) from 1 - 6pm, and 16+ reservation only from 7-8 pm. They're closed Monday - Wednesday with an exception of private reservations in advance. If you have special time and group number requests I'm sure they can accommodate if you call ahead and plan. They're very responsive, professional and easy to schedule with. I did all my scheduling through email and received prompt responses. The gal running our lesson, Emma, was also so professional and sweet. She's great at what she does and I'd recommend any beginner taking lessons from her. When we arrived Emma greeted us at the door, walked us through the studio, showed us the process and helped us whenever we needed throughout the activity. I had a certificate for 2 hours, 2 people, and 4 pieces each. It was plenty of time and almost too much clay for two first timers, which is a good problem to have. I'm not sure if that special is still running but check their website to see active discounts - they run great deals, often, and are super affordable for what it is! I would highly recommend trying it out or giving as a gift!

Awesome studio, highly recommend that date night package. Fun place to take my wife on a date. Good…read moreatmosphere!

This was... interesting. I had no idea what Pachinko was all about but after reading the entry on…read moreAtlas Obscura https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pachinko-world, I had to stop by. I spent about 15 minutes learning how pachinko works and then playing through $10 worth of pachinko balls. The object is to shoot the balls (basically ball bearings) so that they land in the right spot to win prizes. The moving parts are all behind glass so there's no danger but there are lots of flashing lights, ringing bells and interesting animations to keep you hooked. This was definitely unusual and I'm glad I made the stop at the only pachinko parlor in North America. [Review 18874 overall - 3359 in North Carolina - 2397 of 2022.]

All COVID rules are being followed, we have never been to a place such as this , super nice guy…read moreinside took the time to grab some balls and explain how the game was played, we had our grandson and daughter and her boyfriend playing while grandma and grandpa took pictures, We enjoyed watching everyone have fun and encouraged them to be loud and have fun, great place to have some fun, recommend

Photography by 3Spade7Star @3Spade7Star_photography…read moreJanuary 25, 2026 - Sunday One of the quirkiest & pleasant things to do in Wilmington, North Carolina is to visit the Museum of the Bizarre. It is like a smaller version of Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum with a few surprise twists. The staff was friendly and helpful in answering all my questions. Museum fee is $3. If you want to explore the mirror maze of labyrinths, the ticket for both events is $5 . I was told that the museum was from a private collector, who owned the museum and collected all the artifacts in it. Most of the exhibits are not to be photographed unless you see a sign by the exhibit saying you can photograph it. Each exhibit has a scan code you can scan and find a link to - providing you info about the exhibit. I got permission to photograph the link info of each exhibit before proceeding further into the museum. A surprise highlight is the live performance of the sword swallower in the museum. Very fun and reminiscent of a circus performance. The kids loved it, and I liked the optimism of the performer. At the end of the museum visit, we explored the mirror maze labyrinth - very trippy. They make you wear plastic gloves to prevent smears on the mirror. Inside is a gigantic Minotaur at the end of the maze. This is a place to explore the weird and wonderful in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The Museum of the Bizarre is located in downtown Wilmington. The museum itself is on the smaller…read moreside, but the general admission price is just $3, and you can add on a mirror maze for $2 more. The museum has excellent air conditioning, which is a major plus on a hot day, as well as a clean restroom. Photos were only allowed in specific areas, but it wasn't entirely clear what you could photograph there, so I might have taken photos of things they didn't want me to take! While I usually like quirky museums, this one seemed too crowded, and the exhibits didn't appeal to me. This was a very quick stop that took under 30 minutes. Honestly, I found the building's history much more interesting than the museum itself. The original 1869 building was a naval stores warehouse used to store tar, turpentine, and pitch extracted from the area's pine forests. It stands today as the last remaining structure related to Wilmington's naval stores history. In 1925, the site was modified for heavy metal manufacturing. For almost a century, the Wilmington Iron Works Machine Shop operated here, where workers manufactured gears, engines, saw blades, structural doors, iron fences, and heavy steel parts for passing locomotives and steamboats. The ironworks finally closed in 2000, and the building housed a few different things before being saved from demolition and repurposed into a tourist attraction. I did attempt the mirror maze while I was there, and they thoughtfully have you wear plastic gloves so you don't leave fingerprints on the mirrors. I found the visual illusion incredibly disorienting and claustrophobic, so I would highly recommend skipping the maze add-on if you are sensitive to tight spaces or prone to panic attacks!

The kids and I look forward to opening season all year long, we love to to stock up on fruits and…read moreveggies for the week. Love that it encourages them to try new foods and learn to eat by season

I was craving boiled peanuts and kept asking the locals I ran into about where to find boiled…read morepeanuts. 98.2% of them had no clue what I was even referring to. I found them at a Farmer's Market called Biggers Market! This place has everything! When I say, everything, I mean it! I never knew there was a thing called strawberry onions. Like, onions grown near and in strawberry fields! Super cool! I actually visited this place 3 times while in town for 7 days. By my second and third visit, the cashier recognized me and thought I was a local. I wish!! I told her that I'd be back because they had great nuts! Lol.. she thought that was funny! The ambiance gives happy workers and a happy community that knows they can bring the kids and dogs, have a few local brews on the weekend, get a great pick from fresh veggies, to fresh seafood, dips, fresh breads and jams, and anything else you may be looking for! This place is winning! I WILL be back!!

My group of 7 did the Hidden Needle Tattoo Parlor room. It was a good challenge, but the puzzle…read moreweren't too crazy. We got 2 clues and finished with 18 minutes left. We'd definitely go back!

The tattoo parlor was a lot of fun! We had five newbies to escape rooms and me (I've done more than…read more5 escapes) and everyone had a great time. Our gamemaster, Nico, who monitors you during the event, did an outstanding job of giving hints after we struggled on something a while but not waiting too long where you get frustrated. Nico also did a great job role playing the hiring manager for the tattoo parlor at the start of the room. All around a satisfying experience and fun memories.

Come see the history and beauty while walking on, around, and within the halls of the USS North…read moreCarolina. These ships have typical tight spaces and steep ladders for those who have difficulties involving such movements. Plenty to see. Nice gift shop on grounds and friendly greeters at the door to welcome you on board. All photography shown were uploaded also to Instagram: @3spade7star_photography and Facebook ThreeSpade SevenStar

I visited in the early 2000's, went back on 2026-04-11, and had a great time on the self-guided…read moretour (~2 hours). Be prepared for a lot of walking and climbing steps. Most areas are kind of confined, some more than others! The ladders can be a little challenging but just take it easier. I found it easiest to go down ladders (aka stairs) backwards, facing the steps. The signage could use improvement. Sometimes it was hard to know which way to go or how to exit. It's a little like a maze! More photos at https://postimg.cc/gallery/SqN0YdB

This place was so fun!…read more Note, check in here on yelp first so you get the free weapons upgrade!!!!! I did after and was so sad I didn't get it. Anyway, this was absolutely fun and unlike laser tagging experiences I have had elsewhere. They have 1h 30 of different challenges. You do get split up from your group, so be aware. Still fun though as you make a lot of new friends. It just so happened that I was with a bachelorette party, and there was a completely unrelated bachelor party. Worked out :D They do head bands that the sensor attaches to, but they are washed.. I double checked, because as soon as I got sweaty, and you will get sweaty, I started to think about all the individuals sweating on the thing... the guy chuckled and was like.. "yes of course" but I knew he was actually thinking... "that is what you care about in the middle of this game?.." Anyway, the challenges consist of a variety ranging from strategy to all out free for all. It was so great, and so worth it!

We had the best time! Our leaders were super helpful, organized, and kind! Thanks for a great time!read more