Weekend in Wilmington

Jon and I just returned from a weekend getaway to Wilmington, North Carolina. We decided to go somewhere fun at the last minute this weekend because the weather forecast was looking be-a-utiful (in the 70's), plus today is our six-month wedding anniversary (yay!). This was our first time really getting to enjoy our new close proximity to the coast. For a couple of Ohio kids, living within driving distance of the ocean is a dream come true!

We were lucky to get a room in the most amazing bed & breakfast - an "Italianate Mansion" dating back to before the Civil War. It was all newly restored with lots of character and several great places to sit outside and read a book. It was easy to get caught up in the Christmas spirit as the home was fully decked out and carols echoed through the main floor. I'm a tried and true fan of Marriott hotels; however, I may quickly jump aboard the B&B bandwagon. The owners greeted us on Saturday evening with glasses of wine and freshly baked cookies. This morning my alarm clock was the scent of a hot, gourmet breakfast wafting up from the kitchen below. We were even given the Christmas placemats we ate off of this morning to take home as their gift to us. How can you beat that?

Wilmington itself is an incredible town. WB fans may recognize it from shows like Dawson's Creek (Katie Holmes' only claim to fame prior to TomKat) & One Tree Hill. It has a great boardwalk along the Cape Fear River and tons of nice restaurants & funky shops within the historic district. During Christmas season, Santa drives his "sleigh" through town led by Dasher & Dancer, his reinhorses. This town definitely makes my highest recommendation list for future NC visitors!