Wilmington has a lot of fun things to do that are perfect if you’re looking for date ideas in Wilmington, NC.
From playing games to having a drink with a view to seeing a show, if you’re going on a date in the city, you have a large variety of fun activities to choose from. Whether you want to do something romantic and relaxing or something fun and active, there’s something for everyone’s liking.
It may be hard to decide what to do, and to help you plan the most fun date in the city, I made this Wilmington date ideas guide.
Date Ideas in Wilmington, NC
Play an Escape Game at The Exit Games Wilmington
You can go to The Exit Games Wilmington to play an escape game during a date.
An escape game is a real-life interactive adventure game during which you have to find and decipher clues and solve complicated puzzles to be able to escape from a room. For this, there’s a time limit.
The Exit Games Wilmington has several different escape rooms that all have a distinct theme and unique puzzles.
One of the games that you can play with 2 players is “White Rabbit Society”, which is a magic-themed escape room for which you have 60 minutes.
Another one of the rooms is called “Dog Gone Alley”. This is a room that takes place on the streets of New York City and can also be done with 2 players.
Address: 2 N Front St 2nd floor, Wilmington, NC 28401
See a Comedy Show at the Dead Crow Comedy Room
The Dead Crow Comedy Room is a comedy club in that makes for a very fun date idea in Wilmington.
At this comedy club, which opened in 2014, you can see live comedy shows from Thursdays through Saturdays, including shows by nationally famous comedians.
You can enjoy great comedy by both well-established and up-and-coming comedians at the Dead Crow Comedy Room.
The comedy club shares a space with Lush Garden Bar, where you can get all sorts of drinks when you are going here to enjoy comedy. From specialty cocktails to drafts to several wine options, you can have many different drinks at the Lush Garden Bar.
Address: 511 N 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Have Ice Cream at Gelarto
Gelarto is an ice cream store with many locations, and one of these locations is located in Wilmington. You can find Gelarto on the Cape Fear River in the historic JW Brooks Warehouse Building.
At this ice cream store, you can get delicious hand-crafted Italian gelato with your date. There are more than 40 flavors to choose from, and there are vegan flavors as well.
You can get all sorts of other food and drinks at Gelarto. For example, you can get fresh fruit smoothies and gelato shakes at this place.
Gelarto also sells imported European candies, such as Smarties and Galaxy.
In addition to that, you can get great coffee drinks here.
Address: 18 S Water St STE 5, Wilmington, NC 28401
Play Games and Have a Drink at the Broomtail Pub & Arcade
Broomtail Pub & Arcade is a fun place for a date that you can find at 7211 Market Street in the city of Wilmington.
At this pub and arcade, you can find a large selection of arcade games, there’s a pool table, you can play skee ball, and there are many other types of games.
There’s also often great live music by local musicians.
In addition to that, there’s a taproom where you can try out one of many locally brewed Broomtail brews. You can also find the “bottle shop” at the Broomtail Pub & Arcade. Here, you can shop for unique beers from local breweries in Wilmington but also from other places in America.
Address: 7211 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28411
Enjoy Lunch with a View of the Cape Fear River at The George on the Riverwalk
The George on the Riverwalk is a restaurant that you can find next to the Cape Fear River at 128 South Water Street.
This restaurant, which opened in the year 2004, has a menu with dishes of Southern coastal cuisine. Besides that, you can choose from a selection of North Carolina craft beer and lots of other drinks at The George on the Riverwalk.
In addition to the restaurant’s delicious food, the location of the restaurant makes it a great place for a romantic date. The restaurant offers incredible views of the Cape Fear River, and there’s a large outdoor dining area as well where you can enjoy breathtaking sunset views, so this is great if you’re looking for romantic things to do in Wilmington.
Address: 128 S Water St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Bowl at Cardinal Lanes Beach Bowl
Cardinal Lanes Beach Bowl is a great bowling alley that is located at 7026 Market Street in the city of Wilmington.
The bowling alley has 24 lanes in total and you can have a fun time bowling with your date here.
In addition to that, you can find an arcade at Cardinal Lanes Beach Bowl with various games.
There’s also a snack bar with all sorts of food options, including pizza and burgers.
Address: 7026 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28411
Book a Private Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
Wilmington, NC, has a beautiful historic district with amazing historic architecture that is great to see.
A great way to explore the historic district in a romantic way is by doing a private horse-drawn carriage tour.
The company “Springbrook Farms” provides these kinds of tours using rescued horses. You can do a private horse-drawn carriage tour which is a romantic activity in Wilmington during which a costumed driver gives you interesting information about the historic district.
In addition to that, it is possible to join a public horse-drawn carriage tour. You can do such a tour daily without needing a reservation. You can find the start of the tour on Market Street between Water and Front Streets.
Have Fun at DEFY Wilmington
DEFY Wilmington is an indoor trampoline park where you have a fun date. At this place, you can find all kinds of fun attractions that you can explore with your date.
The main attraction of DEFY Wilmington is an open-air trampoline court where you can find many wall-to-wall trampolines that you can jump on.
Another attraction at DEFY Wilmington is a ninja obstacle course where you can find many obstacles that you need to cross to get to the other side.
You can also find the “Stunt Fall” attraction at the park. This is an attraction that allows you to jump from a platform on an air cushion.
Address: 6431 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28405
Go to an Event at Wrightsville Beach Brewery
Wrightsville Beach Brewery is a brewery that you can find at 6201 Oleander Drive. At this brewery, you can try out one of its many unique beers. Some of these are seasonal ones.
Besides that, you can have delicious food at the brewery, such as veggie tacos, tasty burgers, sandwiches, pasta, and much more.
Also, throughout the year, there’s a rotating “Beer of the Month”. Every month a different local non-profit gets the proceeds from this featured beer.
Lots of events take place at Wrightsville Beach Brewery that you can attend with your date. For example, many nights of the week you can listen to live music.
Address: 6201 Oleander Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403
See a Show at the Thalian Hall
Thalian Hall is a historic performing arts theater that dates back to the year 1858. You can find the theater in downtown Wilmington.
Lots of different shows take place at the theater that you can see during a romantic date night in Wilmington. For example, you can go to concerts, musicals, and lots of other types of events. Going to a show here is also one of the best things to do in Wilmington.
In addition to that, sometimes you can see movies at Thalian Hall.
Thalian Hall is a historic building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has a Late Victorian and Classical Revival architectural style, which adds to the romantic ambiance of the building.
Address: 310 Chestnut St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Attend a Show at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
The Greenfield Lake Amphitheater is an open-air amphitheater that you can find in Greenfield Park. The amphitheater has a capacity of 1,200 people.
You can attend a variety of concerts and other types of events at the amphitheater. The concerts that take place at the theater are of a large variety of genres of music.
Another event that you can attend at the theater, which can be a great event for a romantic date is “Shakespeare on the Green”. During this free festival, you can see great productions of works of Shakespeare.
Address: 1941 Amphitheatre Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401
Roller Skate at Scooter’s Skating Center During Adult Skate Nights
Scooter’s Skating Center is a roller skating rink that you can find at 341 Shipyard Boulevard in the city of Wilmington.
You can roller skate here on adult skate night, which takes place every Thursday from 8 PM to 10 PM. For the current skating schedule, such as a seasonal schedule, I recommend checking out the rink’s website.
Sometimes there are special events that take place at Scooter’s Skating Center. For example, there might be a skating night during which you can listen to a certain genre of music, such as country music.
Scooter’s Skating Center also has a snack bar where you can get burgers, nachos, candy, all sorts of drinks, and much more.
Address: 341 Shipyard Blvd, Wilmington, NC 28412
Go to Wake N Bake and Have Donuts
Wake N Bake is a donut shop that you can find in downtown Wilmington at 114 Princess Street.
You can get very delicious donuts at this place, and there are many flavors of donuts to choose from, including lots of creative options.
In addition to amazing taste, the donuts also look amazing, which alone is a reason to go to Wake N Bake.
You can also get a variety of incredible vegan donuts at this donut shop.
I recommend choosing a few types of donuts and trying them together during a date.
Address: 114 Princess St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Go to a Concert at the Live Oak Bank Pavilion
In historic downtown Wilmington, you can find the Live Oak Bank Pavilion. This is an outdoor amphitheater with a capacity of 7,200 people.
Throughout the year, lots of concerts take place at the venue, such as rock concerts, which can be great if you’re looking for date ideas in Wilmington.
While enjoying a concert at the Live Oak Bank Pavilion, you can enjoy views of the Cape Fear River, which is a magical and romantic experience.
There are many vendors selling all sorts of drinks at the venue.
Address: 10 Cowan St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Go for a Stroll Along the Wilmington Riverwalk
The Wilmington Riverwalk is one of Wilmington’s best attractions. This is a two-mile walkway that you can find along the Cape Fear River in historic Downtown Wilmington.
You can enjoy a romantic stroll along the river when you go here. You can get great views of the Cape Fear River, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, and the North Carolina Battleship at the same time.
In addition to that, along the Riverwalk, you can find local restaurants, boutique shops, and other attractions that you can also check out when going for a walk here. For example, you can get delicious ice cream at Gelarto when you are exploring the Wilmington Riverwalk.
See Art at the Cameron Art Museum
The Cameron Art Museum, or CAM, is one of the best museums in Wilmington. It’s an art museum that you can find on South 17th Street.
At CAM, you can see lots of temporary art exhibitions that are on display for several months. Throughout the year, you can see a variety of art exhibitions, which means that there’s always something new to explore at the museum.
In addition to seeing an art exhibition during a date, you can attend an event that takes place at the museum. For example, you can attend a performance or see a film screening at the museum.
You can have an even more fun time when you also check out the CAM Café, where you can enjoy great food and drinks, during a date.
Address: 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, NC 28412
Have Italian Food with a View at Floriana Wilmington
Floriana Wilmington is a great restaurant that you can find at Market Street close to the Riverwalk where you can enjoy delicious Italian food for dinner. At Floriana Restaurant, which is a restaurant that opened in 1979, you can enjoy tasty dishes made with seasonal and local ingredients.
The menu of the restaurant is updated each season. You can get delicious pasta, lasagna, and many other dishes at Floriana Wilmington.
In addition to that, the dining room has a great atmosphere, making it ideal for a romantic dinner. You can also enjoy a view of the Cape Fear River when having food on the restaurant’s balcony.
Address: 2 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Go Axe-Throwing at Axes & Allies
You can go axe-throwing during a date in Wilmington at Axes & Allies, which you can find at South 3rd Street in the South Front district.
At this place, you can experience the increasingly popular activity of axe throwing during a date, which is an activity that is very similar to darts, except that you use an axe instead of darts.
During axe-throwing, you throw axes at a target and try to hit the center of the target.
Axes & Allies is an 18+ venue after 9 PM.
You can also throw using knives instead of axes.
In addition to that, you can get all sorts of drinks at Axes & Allies, including local beers and ciders.
Address: 1122 S 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Enjoy Incredible Food at Circa 1922
Circa 1922 is a restaurant that you can find in downtown Wilmington where you can enjoy seasonal American fare.
At the restaurant, you can enjoy all sorts of traditional dishes in a modern setting. The dishes are all made from scratch and made using locally sourced ingredients. For example, you can get great seafood dishes here made with local ingredients.
The restaurant also has an extensive wine list with more than 25 options by the glass. The sommelier of the restaurant can also suggest a wine that pairs well with your meal.
In addition to that, the restaurant’s desserts are incredible. For example, you can get the “7 Layer Cake” and there are seasonal sorbets and gelatos made with local, fresh fruit.
Address: 8 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Go to Jungle Rapids and Have Fun
Jungle Rapids Wilmington is a fun water park that you can find at 5320 Oleander Drive. You can go here for a date during the summer season.
At Jungle Rapids, you can find all kinds of water slides and pools.
Besides that, there are all sorts of other fun attractions at Jungle Rapids.
For example, you can go here to play miniature golf and to play a fun game of mini-bowling.
There’s also a large arcade at Jungle Rapids where you can find all sorts of fun games that you can play.
You can also ride the “Sky Tower”, which is an attraction from where you can enjoy a view of Wilmington at a height of 40 feet.
Address: 5320 Oleander Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403
Attend an Event at the Airlie Gardens
The Airlie Gardens, which date back to the year 1886, is a public garden that used to be a private garden of the Pembroke Jones Family.
Airlie Gardens is home to all kinds of flowers and trees. For example, you can find palms, wisteria, magnolias, and all kinds of species in the gardens. The Airlie Oak is also located at Airlie Gardens, which is a live oak tree that is about 500 years old.
There are many events that make for romantic things to do in Wilmington for couples. For example, you can do guided tours through which you can learn about the garden.
During the holiday season, you can go to the annual Enchanted Airlie event. During this event, you can enjoy holiday music & lights in the garden.
Address: 300 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403
Go to See You at Bill’s and Have Great Food and Drinks While Seeing Volleyball
See You at Bill’s is a sand volleyball facility with volleyball courts that you can visit for drinks and great food.
Lots of volleyball events take place at the volleyball facility and you can see a volleyball game while having food and drinks here.
The menu includes all sorts of burgers, wraps, sandwiches, seafood, and many other items.
You can also get local craft beers and cocktails here.
Address: 4238 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28403
Go to Port City Java and Have a Cup of Coffee
Port City Java is a coffee shop that opened in 1995 with various locations in North and South Carolina, and you can find many locations of the coffee shop in the city of Wilmington.
Port City Java is a great place for a coffee date during which you can enjoy high-quality coffee drinks. The coffee shop, which roasts the coffee beans itself, is focused on serving fresh and flavorful coffee drinks.
You can also get other types of drinks at Port City Java, such as milkshakes and smoothies.
In addition to that, the food menu includes all sorts of food options, including breakfast sandwiches, English muffins, wraps, and much more.
Address: 2099 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28403
Go on a Shopping Spree at Independence Mall
The Independence Mall is an indoor shopping mall that is located on Oleander Drive. The mall is home to more than 100 stores, including many fashion stores, making it a great place to go on a shopping spree during a date.
You can also find all kinds of restaurants at the Independent Mall where you can enjoy great food and drinks during a date.
Lots of events also take place at the mall, from classes to demos to events during the holiday season.
Address: 3500 Oleander Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403
Visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and See Marine Animals
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is a large aquarium where you can see all sorts of species of marine animals with your date.
Some of the animals that you can find here include sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, and eels. Moreover, the aquarium is home to a large variety of habitats.
In addition to seeing the animals in a regular way, one of the best date ideas in Wilmington is going here and doing a 1-hour tour during which you can learn about what goes on behind the scenes of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. For example, you can learn about the life support systems of the aquarium and get backstage access to the exhibits.
Address: 900 Loggerhead Rd, Kure Beach, NC 28449
Ice Skate at Polar Ice Wilmington
Polar Ice Wilmington is an ice skating facility that is located at 7201 Ogden Business Lane that offers public ice skating sessions.
It is possible to ice skate at Polar Ice Wilmington every day of the week. There are also adult pick-up hockey sessions for people 18 years and older.
Polar Ice Wilmington is also a great place to go if you want to learn to ice skate. There is a “Learn to Skate” program for all ages during which you can learn the basics of ice skating, and there are more advanced classes for adults as well.
It is also possible to learn to figure skate at Polar Ice Wilmington.
Address: 7201 Ogden Business Ln, Wilmington, NC 28411
Have Delicious Brunch at The Basics
For a romantic brunch, you can go to The Basics. This is a restaurant where you can get brunch on Saturdays.
The restaurant has an extensive menu with lots of options to choose from, including many Southern dishes.
For example, you can get delicious blueberry oatmeal pancakes at The Basics, and the “platter of biscuits” is a great choice as well. The latter option includes various small biscuits with a condiment of your choice. You can also choose from a variety of burgers and sandwiches at this restaurant.
The desserts at The Basics are great as well. For example, you can get the Hummingbird Cake, which is a traditional spice cake with buttercream frosting.
Address: 319 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Check Out the Bellamy Mansion Museum
The Bellamy Mansion Museum, or the Bellamy Mansion Museum of History and Design, is a museum where you can see interesting changing exhibits related to history and design.
There are also all sorts of events that take place at the museum throughout the year. For example, during the holiday season, you can see the house while it is beautifully decorated.
In addition to that, the mansion is a great example of antebellum architecture and interesting to see. The building dates back to the 19th century and features a neoclassical style.
To learn more about the history of the building and to explore the different rooms of the Bellamy Mansion, you can do a tour of the museum.
Address: 503 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Go to a Performance at the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
You can attend a performance at the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College, which is located on North 3rd Street, and enjoy a romantic date night.
Lots of events take place at the Wilson Center. Students of the Cape Fear Community College work on every production that you can attend at the Wilson Center.
You can also go here for incredible Broadway shows, and you can also go here for a concert by the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.
Also, when you are planning a date in Wilmington during the holiday season, you can see the annual production of The Nutcracker. There are other wonderful events during the holiday season as well.
Address: 703 N 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Enjoy a Drink With a View at Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar
The Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar is a great rooftop bar that you can find in downtown Wilmington. You can go here to have a drink with your date and enjoy a view of the Cape Fear River.
A very romantic thing to do in Wilmington for couples is to go here and see the sunset over the Cape Fear River.
The Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar has a great food and drink menu with a lot to choose from.
For example, the drink menu includes hand-crafted cocktails, various draft beers, and many wine options.
For food, you can choose from a variety of delicious pizzas. You can also choose from a variety of shareables, including a variety of antipasti.
Furthermore, there are weekly specials, such as a day of the week during which you can have a burger. The rooftop bar is also great if you’re looking for things to do at night in Wilmington.
Address: 9 Estell Lee Pl, Wilmington, NC 28401
Enjoy the Fireworks of the NC Azalea Festival from the Battleship North Carolina
The NC Azalea Festival is an annual festival that takes place in April and that has been taking place since the year 1948. The festival started out as a way to promote local gardens in Wilmington, NC.
Nowadays, each year, a variety of events are part of the festival schedule. For example, you can enjoy a spectacular fireworks show during the festival.
If you’re planning a date on the day of the fireworks show, you can go to the Battleship North Carolina. It is possible to see the fireworks from the upper deck of the Battleship. Keep in mind that there is a limited number of tickets to see the fireworks from the Battleship.
Address: 1 Battleship Rd NE, Wilmington, NC 28401
Have Breakfast at Savorez
Savorez Restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic date at the start of the day by having brunch there. You can find the restaurant in downtown Wilmington at 402 Chestnut Street and you can get great Sunday brunch here.
You can enjoy delicious Latin food made with locally sourced ingredients at Savorez.
There is a brunch menu with all kinds of delicious items, such as the “Pan Francés”, which is a dish that consists of fried Cuban bread, brown sugar, cinnamon syrup, powdered sugar, strawberries, and whipped cream.
You can also get high-quality cocktails here and there is a wine list with rotating wines from all around the world.
Address: 402 Chestnut St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Go to The Peppered Cupcake and Have Incredible Cupcakes
The Peppered Cupcake is a cupcake shop that makes for a great date idea in Wilmington. You can get incredible gourmet cupcakes there. There are two locations in Wilmington, NC.
The cupcakes that you can get here are baked fresh and are made from scratch, and you can get all sorts of unique flavors of cupcakes. The cupcakes at The Peppered Cupcake also are a little bit larger than regular cupcakes.
There are some flavors that you can get every day, including the caramel macchiato, the vanilla, and the creme brulee. There are also some flavors that are only available on some days of the week. If you want to be able to choose from every flavor, you should go here early as it is a “first-come-first-serve cupcakery”.
Address: 105 S Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401
See Animals at the Tregembo Animal Park
Tregembo Animal Park is the oldest zoo in Eastern North Carolina. It is a private zoo that is operated by the Tregembo family and was established in the year 1952. You can go here to see animals during a romantic date.
You can find more than 100 different species at the zoo, including species of mammals, insects, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. The animals at the zoo include zebra, bear, and giraffe.
Keep in mind that the Tregembo Animal Park is closed during the winter season, which lasts from November to mid-March.
Address: 5811 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington, NC 28412
Play Golf at the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course
The Wilmington Municipal Golf Course is a great golf course that opened in the year 1926 where you can golf with your date.
This is an 18-hole championship golf course that was designed by Ronald Ross and that is great for all skill levels.
The golf course is open to the public and you can get a discount when you live in New Hanover, Brunswick & Pender Counties.
Address: 311 Donald Ross Dr, Wilmington, NC 28409
Have a Coffee Date at Spill Coffee Co.
Spill Coffee Co. is one of the best coffee shops in Wilmington. It started out as a coffee truck and you can find it at 104 4th Street.
At the coffee shop, you can get all sorts of delicious coffee drinks, including unique lattes made with creative ingredients and incredible iced lattes.
The coffee shop’s atmosphere is also perfect for a romantic date. Inside, you can see neon signs and all kinds of pink decorations that also provide many opportunities for taking pictures.
Address: 1207 S Kerr Ave Suite 1, Wilmington, NC 28403
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Wilmington Date Ideas Tips
The Wilmington date ideas on this list are great if you want to have a romantic time when you are in Wilmington, NC, but you can have a better date when you choose two of the ideas and do them both in one day. For example, you can go to Spill Coffee Co. and see a performance after that.
Also, some of the places that I mentioned in this article can become very busy or require a ticket, so I recommend making a reservation or buying a ticket in advance.
Date Ideas in Wilmington Map
This was my list of date ideas in Wilmington, NC. I hope I helped you find some great activities for your date!