Riverfront Park, which encompasses a decent chunk of the popular Downtown Riverwalk, is a scenic region which will lure visitors into pulling up a bench seat, staying a while, and enjoying the miles of Cape Fear River views on the horizon.

Adjacent to the waterfront, on aptly named Water Street, the park takes up 250' ft. of Cape Fear Riverfront, and borders the outskirts of the busy downtown, including a wide range of shops and restaurants, as well as the distinguished and historic federal courthouse.

At the park, visitors will find a series of benches, a fountain, restrooms, and pristine landscaping which ranges from well-placed shrubs and hedges to pedestal plants along the borders of sitting areas. Picnic tables are on site for a breezy and effortless lunch, as well parking areas adjacent to the waterfront for easy exploring.

The most distinctive region of the park is arguably the small grassy areas, which are strategically placed along the brick walkways and wooden Riverwalk. A slightly sunken garden in the center of the park features seasonal blooms and small evergreen trees, several benches around the perimeter, and a centerpiece art installation which changes every couple of years or so.

The park is perhaps best known for the Riverwalk, the wooden boardwalk which extends for nearly a mile along the waterfront, as well as its bounty of seasonal events.At Riverfront Park, summer visitors will find the streets lined with Farmers Market vendors in the summertime, crowded with live music and delicious feasts during the annual Riverfest or Seafood Festival, and lit up with holiday cheer during the annual Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting at the end of November. Virtually every weekend brings a new reason to celebrate, and live musicians and artists frequent the area at random to bring an added dose of charm to the area.

As inviting as Riverfront Park already is, plans are in the works to make it even more inviting for Wilmington residents and visitors, with the initial planning stages of an overhaul in the works. The park has remained relatively unchanged since it was built in the 1980s to attract more tourism and business to Downtown Wilmington, and tentative strategies are in place to add a new water feature, some new vegetation and trees, and maybe even some additional "green space," or natural landscaping by the water.

In the meantime, visitors are welcome to stroll the wide wooden Riverwalk, relax in the shaded waterfront pavilion, or simply settle into one of the many park benches to watch the town of Wilmington pass by. With ample areas to explore, and panoramic Cape Fear views at every turn, Riverfront Park is easily one of the most scenic locales along Downtown Wilmington.

 


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Victory Beach Vacations

Visitors who are on the hunt for the postcard-perfect vacation rental in the heart of the Carolina Beach or Kure Beach area will find an enticing selection and plenty of friendly customer service when they rent through Victory Beach Vacations. Based in Carolina Beach in the coastal Cape Fear region, Victory Beach Vacations has more than 100 vacation rentals in all shapes and sizes to ensure that every vacationing family can find their dream home away from home on the beach.   When you book your Cape Fear getaway with Victory Beach Vacations, the fun doesn’t end when you leave the beach, it continues with an array of privately-owned properties outfitted with all of the amenities needed for a fabulous beach vacation.   Jenna Lanier, General Manager, explains that her family first opened the rental and property management business in 2002. At the forefront of Victory Beach operations is Lanier’s mother, Caroline Meeks. Meeks is both the Broker in Charge and co-owner with husband, Buck Meeks, who manages the Field Services team with Lanier’s husband, Scott.   For nearly 20 years, the Victory Beach team has worked tirelessly to establish a network of top-of-the-line rental properties for Cape Fear visitors to enjoy. “As far as our properties go,” explains Lanier, “they are all updated, well-furnished and appointed. “We have always performed post-cleaning inspections and since the pandemic, have put freshly laundered duvets over all of the comforters between rentals.”   Lanier emphasizes how important the guests experience is “we strive to give our guests a relaxing, stress free, memorable vacation.” This emphasis on customer service has led to Victory Beach Vacations having a 4.8 Google rating with over 300 reviews by happy owners and guests.In addition to Victory Beach’s superior sanitation practices, the company offers properties for every type of visitor. Choose from luxury oceanfront houses and condos to more reasonbly priced 2nd row properties with oceanviews. Many properties include pools and hot tubs as well, perfect for outdoor entertaining, and many are dog friendly.   Lanier also notes that all properties are within walking or driving distance to Pleasure Island’s main attractions – Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. The former, as described by Lanier, is the more commercialized of the two destinations and features a boardwalk, outdoor dining options and a plethora of weekly activities including fireworks, live music, amusement park pop-ups, and movies under the stars. Kure Beach offers a more residential feel with its fishing pier, intimate restaurants and family favorite, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.More water fun awaits, too. “There is a harbor and a canal that feed into the intercoastal. We have several properties on the harbor so guests can bring their boat, kayak, [or jet ski] and travel between islands,” says Lanier.   A stay with Victory Beach Vacations is an annual pilgrimage for most. “A large percentage of guests are previous guests. Some even reserve the same property for the next year as they’re checking out,” Lanier says. “It’s almost like it’s their personal vacation home.”   Even before guests arrive at their vacation destination, the Victory Beach Vacations’ website greets them with a live beach cam and exquisite aerial footage of both Carolina and Kure Beaches. See for yourself by scanning the QR code and call Victory Beach Vacations at 910.458.0868 to book your Cape Fear getaway. Start making your memories today! —Grace Silipigni