Wonderful Wilmington

Big City Pleasures, Small Town Charm

Wilmington is the closest city to the Compass Pointe retirement community and offers an appealing mix of elegance, culture, and history.

Early explorers such as Verrazano noted the beauty of our area and saw it as the treasured gem it still is today. Established in 1739, what was once a settlement along the Cape Fear River has been named America’s Best Riverfront by USA Today, and is currently experiencing one of the biggest booms in development in its history.  Wilmington is rich in preserved history and culture, yet offers everything you could want and more. You’ll find unique shops and boutiques, fine dining restaurants with internationally renowned chefs, live performance venues abound, art museums and galleries, local breweries and eclectic nightlife.

Take a stroll along the Cape Fear River, or window shop on Front Street, where fine restaurants abound. Catch a show at the 1,500-seat Wilson Center, which has hosted everything from Broadway shows and rock concerts to dance performances and the North Carolina and Wilmington Symphony Orchestras. Take in a locally produced show at Thalian Hall, which opened in 1858 and is one of the oldest theaters in the USA.

Wilmington is currently expanding and developing the north section of downtown with an expanded Riverwalk and Port City Marina, which has added new, modern and impressive restaurants and venues, such as Pier 33 and BlackFinn AmeriPub; four new hotels, including an Embassy Suites complete with a rooftop pool and bar; and new park spaces.

Mid-town Wilmington has an abundance of  shopping, dining, and entertainment options with Mayfaire Towncenter, The Pointe at Barclay Commons, and the expansion of Independence Mall. Wilmington’s suburbs feature popular parks teeming with playgrounds, jogging paths, tennis and basketball courts, and more.