From learning about history to enjoying breathtaking views of the ocean, there are a lot of great things to do in Wrightsville Beach, NC.
Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful town in North Carolina with a large variety of great activities. You can visit a museum and learn something, enjoy live music, have lunch with a view at a restaurant, go to a fun event, and do much more!
It may be hard to decide what to do in Wrightsville Beach. I made this guide with the most fun activities you shouldn’t miss out on to help you plan your trip!
Best Things To Do in Wrightsville Beach
Take in Views of the Ocean from the Historic Crystal Pier
The historic Crystal Pier is a pier that was built in the year 1939. When it was first built, the pier was named “The Mira Mar”.
The pier is made from wood and expands 475 feet into the water. You can find the Crystal Pier towards the south end of Wrightsville Beach.
Restoration of the pier started in 2013, and it is now a beautiful attraction in Wrightsville Beach that the public can visit for free to enjoy views of the ocean.
You can also find the Oceanic Restaurant on the pier where you can have great food and drinks while enjoying a view of the ocean.
Learn About Local History at the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History
The Wrightsville Beach Museum of History is a museum that you can find next to Wrightsville Beach Park.
At the museum, you can learn about the history of Wrightsville Beach. It tells the stories of the people and structures that make up Wrightsville Beach, and the museum links the past to the present.
You can see all kinds of artifacts, photographs, and displays with interesting information at the museum.
There are various exhibits that sometimes change and that focus on a specific part of the town’s history.
In addition to that, the museum organizes various annual events, including art events, sporting events, and other types of events.
Address: 303 W Salisbury St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Go to the Crystal Pier and Have Dinner at The Oceanic
You can find the Oceanic Restaurant at the Crystal Pier.
This is a restaurant that opened in 1990. It is the only restaurant in Wrightsville Beach that is situated on he Atlantic Ocean.
You can enjoy incredible dishes at the restaurant while enjoying panoramic views of the ocean and the beach.
The restaurant serves coastal cuisine and for its dishes, the restaurant uses local seafood whenever possible. In addition to that, the Oceanic Restaurant uses produce and other ingredients from local farmers from North Carolina.
The dinner menu of the restaurant offers many seafood options, including the “Oceanic’s Seasonal Fish”. You can also get tacos, burgers, salads, soups, and many other dishes at the restaurant.
In addition to having dinner at The Oceanic Restaurant, you can also go here to have lunch or Sunday brunch.
Address: 703 S Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Attend the Annual Bark in the Park
Bark in the Park is an annual event that makes for one of the best things to do in Wrightsville Beach. This is a dog competition and the public can attend the event for free to see the participating dog.
You can also take part in the event with your dog.
Spectators of the event vote for the winners of the competition and choose the best-dressed dog, the dog that displays the most personality, and several other titles. There’s also a canine disc championship.
Bark in the Park is held at Wrightsville Beach Park.
Enjoy Lunch With a View of the Ocean at Shell Island Resort
Shell Island is a resort hotel that is located at Wrightsville Beach. The resort hotel has 153 guest rooms that each overlook the Atlantic Ocean and more than 3,000 feet of the beach.
At the hotel, you can find the Shell Island Restaurant and Oceanfront Lounge.
This is a restaurant that offers oceanfront views where you can have breakfast or lunch.
You can enjoy all kinds of classic breakfast menu items at the restaurant, such as Belgian waffles, breakfast quesadillas, and much more. You can also get a fresh cup of coffee at the restaurant.
The lunch menu, which is served from noon until the start of the ending, includes burgers, toasted sandwiches, salads, and other food options.
You can also get a drink at one of the two bars of the Shell Island Resort.
Address: 2700 N Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Enjoy Food With a View of the Water at Bluewater Waterfront Grill
Bluewater Waterfront Grill is a restaurant that you can find at the Wrightsville Beach marina.
At this restaurant, you can enjoy a selection of traditional American fare and fresh seafood dishes. The restaurant serves a mix of both classic and modern dishes, and it has a seasonally rotating menu with dishes for which the restaurant uses local ingredients from North Carolina.
The menu of Bluewater Waterfront Grill also includes great desserts, such as tableside s’mores, Key Lime Pie, and coconut cheesecake.
While you are having dinner at the restaurant, you can enjoy a great view of the marina and yachts, and it is also possible to see the sunset.
Address: 4 Marina St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Have Fun During the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla is an annual event that makes for a fun activity in Wrightsville Beach. The event takes place at the start of the holiday season.
The event takes 3 days in total.
The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla starts with a kick-off party on the first night of the event.
On the second day, there are many festivities. There are arts and crafts vendors, you can enjoy delicious food from various food vendors, there is a car show, and much more takes place.
The main event of the festival, a boat parade with lighted boats, takes place on the night of the second day. The boat parade goes along many spots in the town and ends with a fireworks show.
On the third day of the event, the boat parade winners are announced.
Visit and Shop at the Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market
The Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market is a market that started in 2009. The market usually takes place on Mondays and lasts for several months in the year.
At the market, you can shop for fresh and locally-grown produce as well as craft items, baked goods, and other products.
There is a large variety of vendors, so there’s something for everyone’s liking. Usually, there are more than 40 vendors at the market.
Sometimes you can also enjoy local music at the market.
The Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market is held at the Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex, close to other interesting places in Wrightsville Beach, such as the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History.
Have Lunch at EAST at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort on Saturday and Sunday
EAST is a restaurant that you can find at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort.
At this restaurant, you can enjoy unique dishes that are curated by Chef Stephen Ollard. The dishes that you can get at this restaurant are made with local seafood and local and self-grown produce.
You can go to the restaurant for lunch, which is possible on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 PM.
From a delicious burger to an avocado tartine to a croque madame, there are delicious main dishes to choose from.
You can also get great salads for lunch at EAST.
In addition to great food, the restaurant’s interior and setting make having lunch here a great idea as well. EAST is an oceanfront restaurant where you can enjoy food and drinks in a garden setting, and it is possible to both have food indoors and outside.
Address: 275 Waynick Blvd, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Enjoy Live Music During Sounds of Summer Concerts in the Park
The WECT Sounds of Summer Concerts in the Park is an annual concert series that is held in Wrightsville Beach Park. Attending the event is a great thing to do in Wrightsville Beach in summer. During the summer months, you can enjoy great weekly concerts.
Each week, there’s a different band that performs great music that you can listen to, and the genres vary. For example, you may listen to soul music during one of the concerts.
You can bring your own lawn chair and blankets and enjoy great live music during the summer.
In addition to that, there are food trucks that serve delicious food and drinks. For example, you can get ice cream from one of the food trucks.
You can get more information about the event and about the food trucks and bands of each week on the website of WECT.
See a Movie During Movies in the Park
Movies in the Park is an annual event series during which you can see free movie screenings.
The event is held at Wrightsville Beach Park, and you can bring your own blanket or lawn chairs to have a fun evening during which you see a movie under the night sky.
You can enjoy the event for free and there are concessions available.
On the website of the Town of Wrightsville Beach, you can get more information about the movies that you can see during the event series. You can also get more information about the concessions that will be available. For example, in the past, you could get pizza and other concessions during the movie screening.
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When you’re choosing what to do in Wrightsville Beach, I also recommend at least choosing to do one of the activities on this list during which you get a view of the ocean, as the view is incredible. For example, you can visit the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History to learn about the town’s history and go to the Crytal Pier to enjoy a view after doing that.
What To Do in Wrightsville Beach Map
This was my guide to the best things to do in Wrightsville Beach, NC. I hope I helped you find some great activities in the town!