Wagging Nonstop to Wilmington, North Carolina
- Luie Boone
- 1 day ago
- 11 min read
This travel spot is featured in our sixth blog series, Mutts Mingle.
Luie Boone has been hearing a lot about basketball lately, and that is entirely the fault of his hooman sister Rachel. Rachel loves basketball. She watches games very seriously and sometimes suddenly yells at the television. Luie Boone does not always understand why this is happening, but he supports her enthusiasm.
When Luie Boone heard the next vacation was to Wilmington, North Carolina, he learned something very important. This is the hometown of Michael Jordan, one of the most famous basketball players in history. Rachel was extremely excited about this discovery. She explained that Michael Jordan practiced constantly when he was young and eventually became known for incredible jumps and gravity-defying shots. Luie Boone immediately related to this skill because he is also very good at jumping when a tennis ball is involved.
Michael Jordan actually grew up in Wilmington before becoming a superstar at University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball and later winning championships with the Chicago Bulls. Rachel says people still talk about his famous buzzer-beater in the 1982 college championship game, which helped make him a legend before his professional career even began. Luie Boone thinks that is very impressive dedication, although he still believes chasing a tennis ball at full speed requires excellent athletic ability too.
So now Luie Boone is imagining what Wilmington must have been like when a young Michael Jordan was practicing basketball somewhere nearby. Perhaps a future basketball legend was perfecting jump shots while a very talented dog could have been perfecting zoomies down the street. Either way, Luie Boone thinks Wilmington sounds like the perfect place to start the next adventure.
And once you start imagining the city that way, it’s easy to see why Wilmington makes such a great place for a vacation. Taking your dog on vacation adds a special kind of joy to any trip, and Wilmington, North Carolina is the perfect coastal destination to share with your four-legged companion. With its historic downtown, scenic riverfront, and easy access to beautiful beaches, Wilmington offers the kind of laid-back atmosphere where dogs are genuinely welcome. Instead of arranging pet sitters or boarding, you can bring your pup along and turn an ordinary getaway into a shared adventure filled with fresh air, sunshine, and plenty of tail wags.
In Wilmington, spending time outdoors is simply part of everyday life. A stroll along the Riverwalk, which stretches for nearly two miles along the Cape Fear River in the historic district, offers beautiful waterfront views while your leashed dog enjoys all the new sights and smells of downtown. Luie Boone appreciates a long river walk because it allows plenty of time for careful sniffing and important sightseeing. Early mornings and evenings are especially nice for walks when the temperatures are cooler and the crowds are smaller.
If your dog prefers grassy trails, the off-leash area at Empie Park is a great place for energetic pups to run and play. The park features a two-acre fenced green space where dogs can socialize and stretch their legs safely. Luie Boone appreciates that the park thoughtfully separates large dogs from smaller pups, which helps keep playtime friendly for everyone. There are also water stations, pet waste bags, and plenty of shade, so both dogs and their humans can stay comfortable while enjoying the park.
Nearby beach towns like Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach expand your coastal options even further.
Carolina Beach is especially welcoming to dogs and allows leashed pets on the beach year-round. From October through March, dogs can enjoy the sand at any time of day. During the summer months, there are early morning and evening hours so visits stay comfortable when the weather is warm. Luie Boone strongly supports sunrise beach walks because the sand is cooler and the world smells very interesting at that hour. It’s a favorite spot for peaceful mornings along the shoreline!
Just north of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach permits leashed dogs during the off-season, typically from October 1 through March 31. During these quieter months, pet owners can enjoy wide stretches of sand with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Even during peak season, early morning or late evening visits can still offer a relaxing beach experience for dogs who love the feel of sand beneath their paws.
Dining out with your dog is surprisingly easy in Wilmington thanks to its relaxed, pet-friendly culture. Many restaurants and breweries offer outdoor seating where well-behaved dogs are welcome. One fun stop is Anne Bonny’s Bar and Grill along the lively Riverwalk. This floating bar and restaurant has a covered dog-friendly area that can be enclosed during cooler weather. Luie Boone thinks a restaurant floating on the water sounds slightly suspicious, but he's willing to float as long as tasty fiddles are involved. With menu options from both land and sea, it’s a great place to recharge before heading back out to explore. Throughout downtown and the nearby beach areas, it’s common to see dogs relaxing beside their humans at outdoor tables while everyone enjoys the coastal atmosphere.
What truly makes Wilmington shine as a dog-friendly vacation spot is its easygoing coastal spirit. The day might start with a walk along the river and end with sandy paws after a trip to the beach. In between, there are shady park trails and patio dinners under the Carolina sky. Luie Boone thinks a schedule like that sounds very well organized. Instead of leaving your best friend behind, you get to experience the charm of coastal North Carolina together while making memories filled with salty air and happy paws.
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay in Wilmington, North Carolina. Check it out below!
Rental Name: Surf4Life
This rental has 3 bedrooms with 4 beds and 1.5 baths.
Photo by Airbnb.com
It features the following amenities:
Oceanfront beach cottage
Ocean views and sounds from the bedroom window
Mike’s Beach, a private beach area, is at the base of the porch steps
Spacious front porch
Covered side deck with bench seating
Weber grill with outdoor surfboard table
Outdoor shower with hot and cold water
Hammocks for relaxing
Large landscaped yard
Beach access located right next to the house
Tiki bar and restaurant on the nearby pier, a local hotspot
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
We’re staying at Surf4Life Oceanfront Beach Cottage, right on the sand. Built in 1969 and owned by the same family for fifty years, it’s cozy and full of memories. There are porches on both the front and back for relaxing after a day at the beach. From the back porch you can watch surfers, fishermen, and pelicans perched on the old pier posts. Luie Boone will be supervising the birds very closely. The surfers may look impressive, but Luie Boone would like to make it very clear that he will not be attempting to surf. He prefers to keep all four paws on the sand. At the bottom of the porch steps is “Mike’s Beach,” a private stretch of sand where Luie Boone can run and investigate shells and seaweed. Luie Boone is not sure who Mike is. It could just be the owner. It could be a mysterious local legend. Michael Jordan did grow up nearby, so Luie Boone briefly wondered if this was secretly Michael Jordan’s beach. The evidence is currently inconclusive. If he spots any basketball imprints in the sand, he'll report back immediately. In the meantime, he'll watch the seagulls patrol the shoreline, pelicans dive for fish, and dolphins swim past in the distance. Other dogs who have stayed here reportedly spend hours relaxing on the porch and watching the ocean. Luie Boone plans to do the same while leaving a few important pawprints in the sand.
Paws Venture Here
Luie Boone sniffed out and dug up these local gems for you to check out while vacationing to Wilmington, North Carolina!
Abbey Nature Preserve
The 62-acre Abbey Nature Preserve features a 2.4-mile historic, dog friendly, trail that has been traveled for more than three centuries. The path was once used by the enslaved community of Poplar Grove and is now recognized as an important part of the Gullah Geechee National Heritage Corridor.
Today the forested trail winds through Coastal North Carolina landscapes filled with towering trees, native plants, and seasonal flowers. Along the way, visitors cross a quiet mill pond and walk through lush greenery that reflects the area’s rich natural and cultural history. The preserve is dedicated to the memory of Margaret Abbey Foy Moore.
Entropy Boat Rentals
Entropy Boat Rentals is a dog-friendly boat rental business in Wilmington that makes it easy to bring your pup along for a day on the water. Their fleet of well-maintained boats is designed for both first-time boaters and experienced captains who want to explore the Cape Fear area from the water. Both half-day and full-day rentals are available. Dogs are welcome to join the adventure, Luie Boone believes any boating trip that ends with a beach is a very good plan.
The company also has its own canine celebrity named Cletus, who greets customers with what they describe as a very clear attitude: pet me or get out of here. Entropy Boat Rentals proudly claims that while everyone thinks their dog is the best dog in the world, they are fairly certain Cletus might be the best dog on the Cape Fear Coast. Luie Boone is willing to meet Cletus and review the evidence.
Flytrap Trail
This trail is allegedly the only place in the world where Venus flytraps grow naturally in the wild. At Carolina Beach State Park, the Flytrap Trail gives visitors a chance to see these famous plants in their native environment. This dog-friendly trail loops through unique coastal habitats including pocosin wetlands, longleaf pine forests, and wiregrass savannas.
Venus flytraps can often be spotted along the edges of the pocosins, so visitors are asked to stay on the trail to protect these small and fragile plants. Parts of the path have a natural surface while other sections cross wooden boardwalks, making it an easy and scenic walk through the park. Luie Boone thinks plants that catch flies sound very helpful, although he plans to keep his nose a safe distance away. No snapping!
Fun fact for cartoon fans: there’s even a Scooby-Doo episode where a giant flytrap-inspired plant tries to eat Scooby and Shaggy whole. Luie Boone finds this slightly concerning, but he will still investigate the trail. As the dog in this situation, Luie Boone will obviously be Scooby. His hooman sister Rachel will have to be Shaggy while they search for clues and attempt to unmask the real culprit… which Luie Boone still suspects might somehow turn out to be Michael Jordan.
Museum of the Bizarre
Sometimes a name says it all. The Museum of the Bizarre is a dog-friendly attraction in Wilmington that takes visitors through some of the city’s strangest stories and unusual artifacts. The exhibits change regularly and can include everything from movie props filmed in the area to historic curiosities with surprisingly odd backstories.
Among the displays are things like the Crystal Skull of Knowledge, the Fort Fisher Mermaid, Alexander Hamilton’s hair, Bigfoot’s footprint, and even Houdini’s Ouija board. Leashed dogs are welcome to walk through the museum with their humans and observe the oddities, although pets are not allowed inside the mirror maze. That’s probably for the best, Luie Boone thinks, because a maze full of his own reflections would be very distracting. He's just too handsome.
Luie Boone also suspects his hooman sister Rachel might actually belong in this museum. Not as an exhibit exactly, but possibly as part of the collection. She does love horror and strange things, which Luie Boone feels is very on-brand for a place called the Museum of the Bizarre.
Springbrook Farms Carriage
Springbrook Farms Carriage offers horse-drawn carriage rides and trolley tours through historic Wilmington. Well-behaved pups are welcome to join the ride. It’s a relaxed way to explore the charming streets of downtown, while also learning about the city’s history and the notable people who once lived there. As the carriage rolls past stately homes and historic mansions, a knowledgeable guide shares stories about Wilmington’s past. It sounds like a good opportunity to search the streets for clues about Michael Jordan’s Wilmington days.
Also, Luie Boone thinks riding through town in a horse-drawn carriage sounds very dignified. Each carriage is pulled by rescued Percheron draft horses from Springbrook Farms, which has been rescuing and caring for these beautiful animals since 1987. The tours operate on the horses’ schedule rather than a strict timetable. Between rides, the horses are given time to rest and drink water, and the next tour begins only when they are ready. Because of this, reservations are not required. Visitors simply arrive and wait for the next carriage to depart.
Greenfield Lake Park & Gardens
Since the early 1900s, Greenfield Lake has been one of Wilmington’s favorite places for recreation and relaxation. In 1925, the city officially made Greenfield Park its first municipal park after purchasing the land for $25,000 and placing a few signs to mark the new public space.
Today the park spans about 250 acres and remains one of the best places in Wilmington to enjoy the outdoors. Located beside a lake, the park features an outdoor amphitheater, boat rentals, and a scenic five-mile walking trail that winds through lush gardens and along the water’s edge. It’s a great place to walk your dog and take in the peaceful surroundings, especially when the azaleas are blooming.
Luie Boone plans to keep a careful eye on the lake while walking the trail. If you’re lucky, you might spot an alligator. Luie Boone supposes that could be considered lucky… if the alligator turns out to be Gator, his black lab nephew.
Hanover Pines Nature Park
Hanover Pines Nature Park, formerly called Battle Park, is a quiet natural area just off Carolina Beach Road. The 42.5-acre park has more than a mile of paved paths where visitors can walk with their dogs and enjoy a calm stretch of forest away from the busier parts of town.
The park was designed as a passive park, which means the goal is to protect the natural landscape rather than fill the space with large facilities. It’s a place meant for simple outdoor time where people can walk the trails and enjoy the surrounding wildlife and scenery. Luie Boone thinks “passive recreation” mostly means taking your time and sniffing the trail thoroughly.
He also discovered a bright, colorful owl statue in the park and immediately stopped to investigate. The owl did not blink or move, but Luie Boone watched it carefully anyway, just in case it was a real owl trying very hard to stay still.
Famous Toastery of Wilmington
Famous Toastery of Wilmington is a dog-friendly restaurant where pups are welcome to join their humans at a table on the covered outdoor porch. While there isn’t an official dog menu, they do offer peanut butter cups topped with treats for visiting dogs.
The menu focuses on made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch favorites like eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, omelettes, and hearty sandwiches.
Luie Boone was immediately interested in this restaurant because it has toast in the name, and Luie Boone loves toast. He isn’t entirely sure why it’s called a toastery, but he is willing to investigate.
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Wilmington, North Carolina
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
I heard my hoomans mention a place called Monkey Junction, and naturally my ears shot straight up. If you’re a dog and you hear the word monkey, you immediately pay attention. My hoomans explained that Monkey Junction is a busy intersection in southern Wilmington on the way to the beach. A long time ago, there was a gas station there that kept live monkeys to attract travelers heading toward the coast, and people would stop just to see them! Before long the whole area became known as Monkey Junction. Over time, the monkeys disappeared. The gas station changed hoomans, the monkeys were moved somewhere else, and eventually they were gone for good, even though the name stuck. I think that’s probably for the best. Monkeys deserve trees and sunshine and proper monkey adventures, not sitting at a gas station while hoomans pump fuel. Even a dog knows that.
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