Each time I've had to make a trip to the Brunswick County Government Center in Bolivia, I've…read moreenjoyed the experience. The main administration building, where you can renew licenses and tags as well as pay county taxes, is staffed by friendly, knowledgable staff and there's rarely a wait. There's so much going on at this sprawling complex. In addition to the main building, the sheriff's offices and the jail are just around the corner. You can register to vote, and you can change your voter registration if needed. It's a one-stop place for all your Brunswick County government needs. One of the newest features is the Brunswick County Botanical Garden, located next to Building N, where the county's extension services offices are located. Inside, you can pick up free soil sample kits, consult with a master gardener, and leave with colorful pamphlets on native plants and seasonal color. Outside, wander the grounds and take in the pollinator garden, the vegetable garden, rain garden, and much, much more. The garden is free to the public and open during daylight hours seven days a week.

Came across the City of Wilmington thanks to some pictures posted by a Yelp friend. I…read morethought.....what the hell. I'm going to review this sucker. Now if you are not deep in to the Yelp world, you could be surprised that Yelpers will review about anything. It's not just stores, restaurants and the trades, but also cities, parks, downtowns, football stadiums, etc. Hell, I have even read reviews about "the winter snow of 2018" (WTH?), Dogs, Cats, etc.. Yes, it is amazing the crap we will review on here. So reviewing the City of Wilmington isn't as extreme as some of the examples I gave. What I am not exactly sure of with this entry is, is this the city government or the city itself as a whole? Who the hell knows man. I am going to wing it. The downtown area is a slam dunk 5 stars. I am rating this based on similar cities in the South of similar size. Love the history of the city, and the historic homes and businesses, The river walk is great (not as good as Savannah's but still very nice). The restaurant scene is vibrant. At least is was prior to the coronavirus coming along. Hope it comes back strong. Bars are good, with plenty of places to get an adult beverage. Shopping downtown is very good. Highly recommend the Cotton Exchange but don't over look the many other places. Parking is abundant and cheap. I just walk down from the house so screw parking. Outside of downtown is more of a 4 star. Mainly losing a star due to traffic. Good news is they got every store you want in town, east of downtown. Short drive from downtown to get to Wal-Mart, Lowes, clothings stores, etc.. Oh, and the beach. Quick drive from Wilmington to the beach. People are very friendly and have been very welcoming to me and my family. My only compliant is the crime in neighborhoods just outside of downtown. Hate to end on that note. Overall, Wilmington is a great midsize city to visit and live.

Washout flop. This is a beautiful city and the Riverwalk is a great asset but people who run this…read morecity starting with the Mayor really did a bad job tonight. Earlier today we stopped at the information booth on the Riverwalk and the lady behind the counter was very clear about where and what time the fireworks will be, no smiles but she was clear about the time 9pm and location: right in front of the "battleship". Well we had dinner and were there, right in front of the battleship at 8pm waited until 9:10pm and the fireworks started about ONE mile away on the river, we could barely see it, we could hear the noise but were very dissatisfied and disappointed. We know you are a very popular Mayor but you failed big time on this 249 anniversary of our Independence. That woman that should be told to smile said " fireworks will be visible from any point on the riverwalk" I took a picture of your City Hall and one of the Battleship that will serve as a reminder of your uselessness, you let down thousands of people by changing the location at the last minute

Every time we go back, the homes and grounds look less and less maintained. The rentals are dirty…read moreyet expensive! The island is definitely struggling and being a full time resident there would be nearly impossible. Having no control of the ferry and no dedicated water taxi to Wilmington is a big miss for revenue. We were going to move there but it's too transient and unpredictable for us with no real plans for the future.

Bald Head Island retains much of its uniqueness even with the inevitable growth associated with all…read morebeach areas in the state. Located on the eastern side of the mouth of the Cape Fear River, the island is reachable only by ferry from Southport or by private boat. There are few motor vehicles here, and those belong to the island's municipal department, and to the array of building and maintenance contractors working on the local residences. The small marina remains the heart of the island for most of the 200 permanent residents and the flow of tourists that seasonally visit BHI. That's were the 2 public restaurants, Delphina Cantina and MoJo's on the Harbor, are located. Both are rather good in most respects, but are on the expensive side. Dining is also available at the BHI County Club for most renters. There is some shopping opportunities there as well, but these are limited to some apparel items, renting bikes and golf carts (the primary mode of transportation for most on the island. The local lighthouse, Old Baldy is near the marina, as it the local, quaint post office. There is only one food market on BHI, the Maritime Market, located about in the middle of the island. There is a reasonable variety of meats, produce, beer & wine, canned & packaged goods, breads, eggs, dairy products, but the prices are higher than you'll be used to, in most cases. And, there is no ABC Store on BHI, so bring an adequate supply, because the only choice is to take the ferry to Southport, which entails time and money, or be content with beer & wine. The beaches are nice, though some are rather narrow at high tide, and there are some strong currents swirling around this small island, because the Cape Fear River and the Gulf Stream collide here. The surf fishing can be outstanding, but beach access is limited to certain points, and carrying your equipment, chairs, etc to the water's edge can be daunting, and tiring. Commercially available bait is limited, and many catch their own bait, mullet minnows, in the surf with a hand throw net - not always easy or always available. This is a small, laid back place, with limited activities other than water related ones, biking, walking, and very limited dining opportunities. A fair amount of the inland part of the island is composed of maritime forest, and it is nice to walk, bike or cart through it, but this can occupy only some much attention.Folks refer to being on "Turtle Time" here, and it is a great place to relax. But if you and/or your family are into a more energetic life style, some boredom may be encountered. We liked much that the island offers, but also found there were some limitations (dining, food shopping, transportation, etc) and requirements to get there (ferry rides, luggage restrictions, ques, etc which were similar in some ways to those faced when going on a cruise) that we didn't care for, and just not being able to jump in a car and move about a bigger area.

As my brother served on the Kearsarge (the much more modern one), and Wilmington is the home of the…read moreUSS North Carolina, this was particularly cool. The marker reads, "John A. Winslow. Capt. U.S.S. "Kearsarge," which sank Confederate raider "Alabama," 1864, rear admiral United States Navy, 1870-1873. Birthplace was one block west." Online, there is more information. "A naval officer of some repute during the Civil War, John Ancrum Winslow (1811-1873) was born in Wilmington. He enrolled as a midshipman as early as 1827 and served in the Mexican War. As enthusiastic abolitionist, his allegiances were not in doubt with the outbreak of the sectional struggle in 1861." "As an officer in the Union Navy, he commanded the USS Kearsarge in 1863-1864. He was ordered to pursue the CSS Alabama and blockaded that vessel in the harbor of Cherbourg, France, June 14-19, 1864. Captain Raphael Semmes of the Alabama engaged Winslow's vessel and, after ninety minutes of fighting, raised the white flag of surrender. The victory was made all the more glorious by virtue of its European setting. The recipient of wide acclaim, Winslow was promoted to commodore and to rear admiral after the war. He died in Massachusetts." [Review 14517 overall, 14 of 2021, number 2762 in North Carolina.]

This marker is alongside River Road between Wilmington and the Caswell/Oak Island beaches. It is in…read moregood condition and there is a grassy area where you can stop. Probably not legally, but I was only here for a minute. The marker reads, "Major General Howe was the commander of Southern Department of the Continental Line, 1776-78, and North Carolina's highest ranking officer. Lived 4 1/2 miles east." Online, there is more information. "Robert Howe, Continental army general, was born in 1732 in New Hanover County. Howe inherited a considerable fortune from his parents and grandparents, owning several large plantations in the New Hanover and Bladen counties. He served in several minor public posts in Bladen County, including as a militia captain and magistrate in the 1750s and 1760s. After Brunswick County formed, Howe was elected to the colonial assembly, a post he held for six consecutive terms. He also served as a militia officer for Brunswick County, and commanded Fort Johnston from 1769 to 1773. During the War of the Regulation, Howe commanded that artillery of Governor William Tryon at the Battle of Alamance." "At the outbreak of the Revolution, Howe served as a member of the Wilmington Committee of Safety and led the local militia that took control of Fort Johnston. On September 1, 1775, Howe was appointed colonel of the 2nd North Carolina Continental regiment. After the death of James Moore in 1777, Howe was appointed to succeed him as commander of the Southern Department and was promoted to major general on October 20, 1777." "Howe returned home in 1783 at the war's end, intent on resuming his life as a planter. In 1786 he was elected to the House of Commons, however he died on December 14, while traveling to the meeting of the body. He was the highest-ranking officer from North Carolina to serve in the American Revolution." [Review 14233 overall, 1556 of 2020, number 2676 in North Carolina.]

The Price's Creek Range Light is the last remaining a series of range lights that once guided ships…read morealong the Cape Fear River between the Atlantic and the port of Wilmington. Price's Creek originally featured two range lights - a shorter front tower and a taller rear light with keeper's quarters. Mariners would align the two lights vertically to stay centered in the channel, a vital technique for navigating the shifting sands and shoals of the river. Built in 1849, it is a modest two-story brick tower that is tucked along the eastern edge of Southport where Price's Creek meets the river. During the Civil War, the lighthouse served as a signal station for Confederate forces, helping coordinate communication between Fort Caswell and Fort Fisher and guiding blockade runners past Union ships. After the war, the lighthouse was decommissioned and never maintained. Today, the front tower stands as a weathered shell with its lantern and lens long gone, visible only from the water. The rear tower was long ago scavenged for its bricks by locals. We spotted the front tower today as we approached Southport on the Fort Fisher ferry. The structure is on private property owned by Archer Daniels Midland making animal feed here. The lighthouse and the land are not open to the public, remains a quiet icon for lighthouse enthusiasts and history buffs. [Review 1362 of 2025 - 4481 in North Carolina - 24914 overall]

We joined the Little River Chamber of Commerce last month, and immediately they reached out to help…read moreus to network and get our name out there. They are professionals, who are dedicated to providing the very best in local services. If you are a small business owner in the Little River area, we highly recommend joining and getting involved. We will be with the chamber for a long time! Tricia Meyer, owner of My Obsession Cleaning, Inc.

Along the way to Fort Fisher, this marker points out some industrial history that looks to be long…read moregone. It's all beach houses and such along here now. The marker has the same text on both sides, reading "Ethyl-Dow plant, which operated here, 1934-1945, pioneered extraction of bromine from sea water. Element used in Ethyl, anti-knock gas compound." There is more information online. In 1934, Dow Chemical's plant commercially extracted bromine from sea water. Bromine was primarily used in Ethyl, an anti-knock gasoline additive, and the site was chosen for its ideal water conditions and natural features, including a Carolina bay and a Civil War-era trench. Built during the Depression for three million dollars, the plant treated 2,000 gallons of sea water to produce one pound of bromine, reaching a peak output of 15,000 pounds per day. Though operations ended in 1946, remnants of the facility remain. This is marker number D-98 and it was erected in 1993 by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. There isn't really space to park and read the marker. [Review 1358 of 2025 - 4477 in North Carolina - 24910 overall]