Burchetta Press Releases - Explore New Hanover attractions for free this weekend

Explore New Hanover attractions
for free this weekend

By Allison Hyde
Star-News Intern
Published: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 3:24 p.m.

Weekends just haven’t been the same lately. With cash running low and prices rising high, the once eventful two-day agenda has deteriorated into all-day television marathons. Well, dread the weekend no more (or at least this week), because all of your favorite local attractions are free on Sunday

Participating venues

Airlie Gardens: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington
Arboretum at New Hanover County Cooperative Extension: 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington
Battleship North Carolina: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., U.S.17/74/76/421, on the Cape Fear River across from Downtown Wilmington
Bellamy Mansion Museum: 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 503 Market St., Wilmington
Blue Moon Gift Shops: Noon-5 p.m., 203 Racine Drive, Wilmington
Burchetta Glassblowing Studio & Gallery: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 201 Red Cross St., Wilmington
Burgwin-Wright Museum House: Noon-5 p.m., 224 Market St., Wilmington
Cameron Art Museum: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 3201 S. 17th St., Wilmington (corner of Independence Boulevard and 17th Streeet)
Cape Fear Museum of History& Science: 1p.m.-5 p.m., 814 Market St., Wilmington
Capt’n Bill’s Backyard Grill: Noon.-9 p.m. 4240 Market St. (behind “17” North Shopping Ctr.)
Carolina Beach Lake Park: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Atlanta & Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach (NHC ID needed)
Carolina Beach State Park: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. State Park Road, Carolina Beach
Federal Point History Center: 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 1121-A North Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Fort Fisher State Historic Site-Civil War Fort: 1 p.m.-5 p.m., U.S. 421, Kure Beach
Fisher State Recreation Area: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 1000 Loggerhead Road-off U.S. 421, Kure Beach near Aquarium (NHC ID needed)
Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington: Tours begin at 6:30 p.m. Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market & Water streets (NHC ID needed)
Greenfield Grind Skate Park: 1 p.m.-8 p.m., Burnett Boulevard, behind Parks & Rec offices, Wilmington
Halyburton Park: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 4099 17th St., Wilmington
Haunted Pub Crawl at Fat Tony’s Italian Pub: Noon-6 p.m., 131 N. Front St., Wilmington
Hollywood Location Walk of Old Wilmington: Tours begin at 1 p.m. Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market & Water streets, Wilmington (NHC ID needed)
Hugh MacRae Park and Nature Trail: 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Oleander & Sout College Road, Wilmington
Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park: 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 5320 Oleander Drive, Wilmington
Moores Creek National Battlefield: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., N.C. 210, Currie
N.C. Military History Museum: 12 p.m.-4 p.m., 116 Air Force Way, Kure Beach
Old Books on Front Street Storytelling: 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 22 N. Front St., Wilmington
Open House at the main Visitor Information Center: 1 p.m.-3 p.m., 24 N. Third St., Wilmington
UNCW Arboretum Campus: Daylight Hours. 601 S. College Road, Wilmington
Victorian Gardens at Latimer House Museum: 1 p.m.-4 p.m., 126 S. Third St., Wilmington
Wheel Fun Rentals: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 107 Carolina Beach Ave. N., Carolina Beach (NHC ID needed)
Wilmington Sharks Baseball Ballpark Tours: 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Legion Stadium, 2149 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington
Wilmington Trolley: 1 p.m.-4 p.m. downtown Wilmington
Wrightsville Beach Museum of History: 1 p.m.-5 p.m., 303 W. Salisbury St., Wrightsville Beach
Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours & Taxi: 9 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11 a.m., Banks Channel across from Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach

For the 14th annual “Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown” Resident Appreciation Day, all varieties of attractions will open their doors to New Hanover County residents, free of charge.

And “free” is especially appealing these days.

“Certainly everyone is watching their budgets, and free always fits into the budget. It will be interesting to see how the economy affects the turnout for an already very popular event,” said Connie Nelson, communications and public relations director for the Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. In fact, the turnout may likely include residents of surrounding counties as well. Just this year, 28 of the 33 participating attractions have decided to open their doors to all visitors, not just residents of New Hanover County.

The event will go beyond providing one day of free entertainment. “This summer especially, people will probably visit family (here) for cheaper vacations. This event is also a good chance for residents to learn some information that they can share with their visitors this summer,” Nelson said.

In addition to yearly favorites, Tourist day will include many activities and attractions new to the event.

Some of the new participants include the Wilmington Sharks baseball team and the Burchetta Glassblowing Studio & Gallery. The baseball team will provide stadium tours, a bounce house, a speed pitch, and prize wheel. The glassblowing studio will give demonstrations and gallery tours.

Another new attraction is the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s outreach mobile classroom van. It will be set up in the parking lot beside the visitor information center at the Historic County Courthouse, and people can speak with educators and get up close and personal with some of Wilmington’s marine creatures.

Cape Fear Riverboats
Catch Modern Seafood
The Cotton Exchange Merchants Association
The Golden Gallery
Katy's Great Eats
New Elements Gallery
Sandwich Pail
Unique Boutique
Wrightsville Grille
Zaxby's