Get to Know Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach is located just east of Wilmington and includes two islands — its namesake four-mile stretch of beach and the interior Harbor Island — as well as a few pockets of commercial areas on the mainland. A beloved summer idyll for generations, Wrightsville Beach is famous for its water sports, including surfing, paddleboarding, and sailing. In its earliest days, when the island could only be reached by boat, the town’s first permanent structure was the Carolina Yacht Club, established in 1853 and still in operation today. In 1909, local Burke Haywood Bridgers became an early surf proselytizer, promoting riding the waves to his neighbors and helping to organize the town’s early surf culture. More than 100 years later, Wrightsville Beach is now known as one of the state’s best surf spots. The year-round population in Wrightsville Beach has less than 2,500 residents but can swell in the summer to almost 50,000 people.

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Living in Wilmington

Wilmington is a lovely port city located between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, bursting with history and charm. The Wilmington metropolitan area, which comprises New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender Counties, also includes three nearby island beach towns: Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach. Wilmington has an unusual mix of lifestyles — it’s home to UNC Wilmington, so it’s a college town, but it’s also a beach destination and a major city at the same time. And thanks to its cinematic good looks, Wilmington has long had a thriving film industry, serving as the backdrop to tons of movies and television shows for everything from Dawson’s Creek to Weekend at Bernie’s. Moving to Wilmington can mean living in a country club-style community, a beach retreat on a private island, or in a historic house downtown — all three picks are quintessential Wilmington options, as varied and delightful as the city itself.