If the forecast calls for rain, there are plenty of great rainy day activities in Wilmington, NC.
Even though there are great outdoor activities in the city, such as visiting Airlie Gardens, you can still have a lot of fun in the city if it’s raining outside. That’s because there are many indoor activities you can do.
So if your outdoor plans got canceled because of the weather, I got you covered! I made this list with the best Wilmington rainy day activities to help you decide what to do. I included a large variety of fun indoor activities including museums, a cozy cafe, and entertainment.
Rainy Day Activities in Wilmington, NC
Check Out the Wilmington Railroad Museum
The Wilmington Railroad Museum is a great indoor place to check out when you are in Wilmington and it is raining outside.
At this museum, you can learn about railroad history in the Wilmington area.
You can find many different exhibits and objects at the museum.
For example, there is a very old steam locomotive here.
Furthermore, there are exhibits through which you can learn about the people that worked on the construction of the railroad in and near Wilmington.
This place is great to check out for adults and children alike.
Keep in mind that although there are indoor areas at the museum, there are also outdoor areas. So for the best experience at this place, I recommend taking an umbrella with you.
Address: 505 Nutt St, Wilmington, NC 28401
See a Movie at The Pointe 14
The Pointe 14 is another great indoor place to check out.
This is a movie theater that is located on Blockbuster Road.
At this movie theater, you can see the latest Hollywood films.
It is a multiscreen movie theater, so there are many films to choose from when you go here.
Also, there are reclining seats that make your experience here very comfortable.
The concessions that you can get here are very good as well and they aren’t very expensive.
Address: 2223 Blockbuster Rd, Wilmington, NC 28412
Have a Cup of Coffee at Port City Java
Going to a coffee shop is a great rainy day activity in Wilmington, and there are many good coffee shops in the city that you can choose from.
One of the best coffee shops to go to is Port City Java.
This is a local chain of coffee shops in Wilmington where you can get unique single origins and blends.
Also, you can get delicious smoothies at Port City Java. What’s great about the smoothies that this place serves is that they are made with real fruit and this place makes its milkshakes with real ice cream.
Plus, you can get very good food here as well. So if you want to have breakfast on a rainy day, you can do so at Port City Java.
Address: 2099 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28403
See a Show at the Cape Fear Playhouse
The Cape Fear Playhouse is a lovely local theater that you can check out.
You can often see shows here throughout the year that are very diverse.
For example, you can go to this theater to see drama shows, live theater, and plays.
Address: 613 Castle St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Visit the Bellamy Mansion Museum
The Bellamy Mansion Museum is a historic house museum. You can see the Bellamy Mansion here, which is a Neoclassical mansion that was built in the 1860s.
This mansion is one of the best examples of antebellum architecture in North Carolina.
You can do a self-guided tour of the museum using a paper route. Also, you can do a guided audio tour with your own smartphone. These tours are very interesting and through them, you can learn a lot about history!
It is also possible to do guided tours of the mansion. These are available at certain specific times for an additional fee.
At the museum, you can learn about design, architecture, and history.
Address: 503 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28401
See Unique Items at the Museum of the Bizarre
The Museum of the Bizarre is a fun museum to visit when you are looking for rainy day activities in Wilmington.
This is a science museum and museum of curiosities where you can find many different types of exhibits.
Because of the very varied collection of the museum, it is a very interesting museum to check out.
Some examples of objects that you can find here are a Bigfoot imprint, wet specimens, a unicorn horn, and movie props.
There is also a large vault maze at this museum that can be a lot of fun to check out. This is a room where you can see a lot of green lasers. You have to get to the other side of the room without breaking a laser beam.
Address: 201 S Water St, Wilmington, NC 28401
See Animals at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is a fun sight to explore on a rainy day.
You find here a very large aquarium that has more than 235,000 gallons of water.
The aquarium is filled with a lot of interesting marine animals.
For example, you can go here to see sharks, sea turtles, eels, stingrays, and many other species.
You can also see many beautiful and diverse habitats at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
Want to learn more about the aquarium? Then, you can do a behind-the-scenes tour.
During such a tour, you can learn about what goes on in taking care of the animals of the aquarium.
Address: 900 Loggerhead Rd, Kure Beach, NC 28449
Go to a Concert at the Thalian Hall
Going to a concert at the Thalian Hall is also one of the best indoor things to do when it rains in Wilmington.
The Thalian Hall is a historic city hall and performing arts theater.
The building’s construction dates back to the year 1858 and the building has a beautiful Classical Revival and Late Victorian architectural style.
The building is beautiful to see from the outside and great from the inside as well (which you likely care more about when it rains!).
Many professional shows take place at the theater which can be a lot of fun to see.
For example, there are concerts, musicals, movie screenings, and other types of shows.
Address: 310 Chestnut St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Check Out Art at the Cameron Art Museum
The Cameron Art Museum is a wonderful museum that you can visit if you like art.
The permanent collection of the museum consists of works from a variety of disciplines. Moreover, the works at the museum are created by artists from all around the world as well as national and local artists.
The collection of the museum contains a lot of great works by artists from North Carolina, such as Romare Bearden and Claude Howell.
You can only see a small part of the collection when you check out the museum. The works from the permanent collection are used to create temporary exhibitions that focus on a specific theme, and these exhibitions often change.
Also, what’s nice is that there are tours at the museum.
Address: 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, NC 28412
Go to the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
The Cape Fear Museum of History and Science is a lovely museum that you could check out when it is raining in Wilmington.
This is the state’s oldest history museum and it has a very interesting collection of more than 50,000 objects.
The objects of the museum relate to a variety of different subjects that relate to the Lower Cape Fear, which is the area that surrounds Wilmington. For example, you can find objects here that relate to local history, science, and culture.
There are also temporary exhibits at the museum that can be interesting to check out!
Address: 814 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Get Delicious Treats at Sweet D’s Cuisine
Another great way to spend time on a rainy day in Wilmington is by trying some delicious treats.
For this, you can go to Sweet D’s Cuisine.
This is a “sweet treat eatery” where you can get delicious baked goods that I’m sure you are going to like.
You can get many different types of treats at this place.
For example, there are very tasty cakes, croissants, sundaes, cupcakes, macarons, and there’s much more.
Also, you can get very nice drinks at Sweet D’s Cuisine. For example, you can go here for Iced Tea drinks.
The service that you get at Sweet D’s cuisine is great as well and it has a lovely interior, which is great as you’ll be spending time inside when it rains!
Address: 2321 S 17th St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Go to the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
The Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College is a performing arts theater that belongs to the Cape Fear Community College.
Many different types of shows take place at the Wilson Center.
For example, you can go here to see comedy shows, dance performances, live theater shows, Broadway shows, and more. Basically, you can attend a show here that you like whatever type of show you want to see!
I recommend checking out the calendar of the Wilson Center to see if there’s a show that takes place when it’s raining and you want to see a show.
Address: 703 N 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401
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Wilmington Things To Do When It Rains Tips
Whichever activity from this list you are going to check out, I recommend not forgetting to bring an umbrella with you.
The things to do on a rainy day in Wilmington on this list are indoor activities, but you do have to walk from your car to these places. So an umbrella will make sure you’ll have a much more comfortable time!
Indoor Things To Do On a Rainy Day in Wilmington Map
Thanks for reading my guide to the best rainy day activities in Wilmington, NC. As you see, there are plenty of fun indoor activities in the city!