Can't beat the community spirit we enjoy in our lovely Coastal Cape Fear Region! This weekend is a prime example of that spirit, as the community gives back to its residents on The 12th Annual "Be A Tourist in Your Own Hometown" Residents' Appreciation Day ! On Sunday, March 4, 2007 participating area attractions open their doors to New Hanover County residents free of charge. It's a great way for residents to learn out more about our tlocal attraction so they can become ambassadors. It's also a rewarding way for the attractions to thank residents for their support. LIST OF PARTICIPATING ATTRACTIONS & EVENTS
"BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN HOMETOWN" APPRECIATION DAY
Sunday - March 4, 2007
(Presenting Sponsor: STAR-NEWS)
Airlie Gardens, 9am-5pm, 300 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, 798-7700. Guided tours available at 1pm and 3pm. Stroll through the winding paths of this century-old garden by the sea.
Arboretum at New Hanover County Co-op Ext., 8am-6pm, 6206 Oleander Dr., Wilmington, 452-6393. Explore 6+ acres of demonstration and trial gardens to discover the newest and best plants for area landscapes & gardens.
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, 8am-5pm, Hwys.17/74/76/421, on the Cape Fear River across from historic Downtown Wilmington, 251-5797. Discover how this heroic Ship and brave crew fought in every major naval offensive in the Pacific of WWII. This is an historic adventure you don't want to miss! Last boarding 4pm; closes 5pm.
Bellamy Mansion Museum, 1-4pm, 503 Market St, Wilmington, 251-3700. Visit the formal areas and kitchen in the basement of the mansion, hear historical information about the original slave quarters and its restoration in the rear garden & peruse the gift shop.
Blue Moon Showcase, 1-5pm, 203 Racine Dr., Wilmington. 799-5793. Over 100 shops feature works by artists and craftspeople. Refreshments and craft demonstrations.
Burgwin-Wright Museum House, 1-4pm, 224 Market St., Wilmington, 762-0570. The house will not be open; however, visitors may tour the historic gardens and visit the Colonial kitchen, former jail and the craft room. A self-guided garden tour is available, with layout, historic facts, plant identification, etc.
Cameron Art Museum, 11 am - 5 pm, 3201 S. 17th St., Wilmington (Independence Blvd and 17th St. intersection) 395-5999. View ongoing exhibitions, including Floored! Traditional and Unconventional Art on the Floor, Printed in Beauty and Darryl Lauster: Recreating. At 3:00 pm, enjoy a gallery talk with Karen King Carter, a local quilter. Experience our exhibitions through the eyes of an artist!
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, 1-5pm, 814 Market St., Wilmington, 798-4350. Explore the history and science of the Lower Cape Fear. Visit the new Arrivals exhibit that presents an orientation to the region through maps and first-person accounts. Appreciate fifty original Civil War photographs, and enjoy the Willie Ann Wright pin hole photos of 20th-century Civil War re-enactors. The photo exhibits are on 3-month loan from the Chrysler Museum. Discover the Learning Center for some picture perfect family sharing with historic clothing, daguerreotypes, and the history and science of photography.
Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill, Noon-8pm, 4240 Market St. (behind "17" North Shopping Ctr.), Wilmington, 762-0173. Free volleyball. Grill will be open with food & drink specials.
Carolina Beach Lake Park, 10am-2pm, Atlanta & Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach. Wheel Fun Rentals will offer free paddle boat rentals. 910-617-9792.
Carolina Beach State Park, 8am-7pm, State Park Rd, Carolina Beach, 458-8206. Bring picnic, fishing supplies. Explore nature trails, pier, visitor ctr. and more. (Boat ramp access/campsite rentals not included.)
Children's Museum of Wilmington, 1-6pm, 116 Orange Street, Wilmington, 254-3534. Children's interactive play stations to delight one and all. Come visit us in our new, state-of-the-art Downtown facility!
Federal Point History Center, 10am-4pm, 1121-A North Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, 458-0502. Enjoy exhibits & audio-visual presentations portraying periods in the Federal Point community, including pre-historic, colonial, Civil War and development of Carolina-Kure Beaches and Seabreeze as tourist attractions. Refreshments.
Fort Fisher State Historic Site-Civil War Fort, 1pm - 4pm, Hwy. 421 Kure Beach, NC, 458-5538. Guided tours @1:30pm & 3pm. Film shows on quarter-hour; 10-min. battle narration via fiber optic map on demand.
Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, 8am-5pm, 1000 Loggerhead Road-off US 421, Kure Beach near Aquarium, 458-5798. Visitor center, free access to the 4WD beach and 4-mile stretch of undeveloped beach for shell seekers, bird watchers.
Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, Meets at Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market & Water sts., Wilmington, 794-1866. Guided tours start at 6:30pm only. Reservations are required and will be on a 1st come, 1st served basis. Guide will take larger than normal groups and the tour will be somewhat abbreviated. Space is limited.
Greenfield Lake Eco Tours, 12-5pm, Burnett Blvd. off S. 3rd St., Wilmington, 409-1378. Cape Fear River Watch, Inc. offers free paddleboats and canoes for those who want to explore the plants and wildlife of beautiful Greenfield Lake. Guided eco-tours will be available from 12-3pm on a first come, first served basis.
Halyburton Park, 4099 17th St., Wilmington. 794-6001. Discover Hike, 1pm-2pm, join a guided hike through the park discovering the many plants and animal species living here. Park is open daily during daylight hours.
Hugh MacRae Park & Nature Trail, 8am-5pm, Oleander & S. College Rd., Wilmington, 798-7181. Playgrounds, lighted tennis courts, athletic fields, picnic areas, nature trails, etc. Free everyday (except for shelter, horse ring, baseball fields and garden rentals). Baseball fields must be reserved in advance. Visit the Hugh MacRae Nature Trail located across the street behind the New Hanover Co. Senior Ctr.
Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, 1-4pm, 5320 Oleander Dr., Wilmington, 791-0666. Offering a choice of one (1) of the following activities to each participant: 1-free round of Jungle Golf -OR- 1-free go-kart ride -OR- 1-free wall climb.
Latimer House - Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, 1-4pm, 126 South 3rd St., Wilmington, 762-0492. Victorian house with period furnishings, artwork, family portraits, and garden open for tours 1-3pm (last tour at 3pm).
NEARBY: Moores Creek National Battlefield, 9-5pm, Hwy 210, Currie - 20 miles from Wilmington, 283-5591. Park rangers will offer guided tours and musket demonstrations. Park features a newly renovated museum, film and bookstore. Experience the pivotal 1776 battle that ended British hopes for an early victory in the South and was a major step towards declaring independence in July.
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 9am-5pm, 900 Loggerhead Rd, Kure Beach, 458-8257. (15 miles south of Wilmington on US 421, just beyond Kure Beach.) Visitors will journey from freshwater rivers and swamps to saltwater marshes and estuaries; into reefs and the open ocean. Free admission to all visitors.
Screen Gems Studio Tours, 10am, 12pm & 2pm. 1223 N. 23rd St, Wilmington, 343-3433. Take a guided tour of the movie studio lot, soundstages, and screening room! Tours meet at the studio gate promptly at stated times. Limit 50 per tour-first come, first served. Call 343-3433 with questions. We hope to see you on the tour!
Sherriedale Morgan Boxing & Physical Fitness Center, 9am-8pm, 302 S. 10th St, Wilmington, 341-7872. Fitness facility aerobics offered 1pm - 2pm and 6pm - 7pm. Drop by during the day, meet the staff and get physical!
SPECIAL GUESTS at the Riverfront Visitor Information Booth: 12-3pm (weather permitting), Cape Fear Riverwalk (Water & Market sts.), Wilmington. Team and event mascots will greet residents, hand out schedules, provide photo opportunities, and sign autographs from 12-3pm on the Cape Fear Riverwalk at the foot of Water Street. Confirmed special guests include "Salty Dawg" (Wilmington Sea Dawgs professional basketball team) from 12-2pm; "Sharky" (Wilmington Sharks baseball team) from 1-2pm; Azalea Belles (courtesy of the Cape Fear Garden Club) from 1-3pm; "Finnegan" (Wilmington Hammerheads professional soccer team) from 1-3pm; The Chick-Fil-A Cow from 2-3pm and storyteller/musician John Golden from 2-3pm. Stop by to meet the special guests, receive a complimentary balloon, and get a list of attractions participating in the "Be A Tourist in Your Own Hometown" event.
Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 1-6pm. 310 Chestnut St, Wilmington, 343-3660. We warmly invite participants to stop by and tour the facility. See why Thalian Hall has been recognized as Wilmington's cultural epicenter of the past century and a half. Built in 1858, it is one of the finest examples of 19th century theatres in the US. Docents will be available to answer questions.
UNCW Arboretum Campus, daylight hours, 601 S. College Rd., Wilmington, 962-3107. Explore this institutional arboretum campus with plant identification signs. Three areas are of particular interest: "The Heritage Garden" at the front quadrangle; "The Campus Commons" in the center of campus; and "The Bluethenthal Nature Preserve," located off Price Drive behind the University Union.
Wheel Fun Rentals, 10am-2pm, 107 Carolina Beach Ave. N, Carolina Beach, 617-9792. Free bicycle & specialty product rentals.
Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, 1-5pm, 303 W. Salisbury St, Wrightsville Beach, 256-2569. Explore permanent exhibitions and revolving exhibitions on history and nature.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY I.D. REQUIRED. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOURS OF OPERATION AND RESTRICTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE INDIVIDUAL ATTRACTIONS. IN CASE OF RAIN, CALL ATTRACTIONS TO CONFIRM OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS CAN BE DOWNLOADED ONLINE AT www.capefearcoast.com/hometown.
.
Comments(0)