Local Gift Guide for Wilmington, NC

This is an updated Wilmington Gift Guide to showcase some fun ideas and local busineses to support this holiday season. This was HIGHLY requested by all my fellow Wilmington friends! I’m so excited to shop local this season because we have so many amazing options.

Wilmington Experiences

I’m such a quality time person so I love giving and getting experiences over stuff. These are some great options for so many different people! A gift to your parents for date night, your sister, brother, significant other, friend, boss… whoever! You can gift this to an individual to use how they choose or gift these experiences as a way to spend time together.

Cooking Classes

This is such a great gift for a fellow foodie like me! I’m not super great at cooking but I love food, this would be such a great way to spend time together that has an extra step to just going out to eat at a nice restaurant. La Mar Salada is a local business that offers Paella cooking classes. One of my favorite experiences in Wilmington!

Pottery Classes

Give the gift of trying something new! My husband and I tried a date night class with Bookworm Pottery and loved it. I also did a multi week course that I highly recommend.

Fishing Charter

A dream gift for someone outdoorsy or who loved to be on the water. Also, a great way to spend some quality time with friends or family! We did a private charter with Rising Sun Fishing charter and he put us on SO many fish! Once we started catching them, we couldn't stop.

Food Tour

This was gifted to me by my husband when we first moved to Wilmington. I seriously recommend this 10x over for all my fellow foodies! We used Taste Carolina and had an awesome time. We were able to try some of the best restaurants downtown Wilmington has to offer, meet new people, and even learn more about Wilmington! It was so cool getting to know this town through food.

Some awesome stops we made on our food tour!

Oyster Farm Tour

This is one of my favorite experiences in the Wilmington area. Technically up the road in Hampstead, Ghost Fleet Oyster tour is a blast for anyone who loves to do some hands on learning and be on the water. All you can eat oysters and the nicest owners!

Adult Craft Camp

Crafted Outpost has cultivated amazing creative experiences in our community. Rachael offers craft camps throughout the year! Check out her Website and Instagram to find out more.

Just a few of the awesome craft camps Crafted Outpost offers! Including natural dying, paint a pot, wreaths, flower crowns, and more.

Backyard Movie and Picnic

This is another gift great for anyone! Backyard Blockbusters will come to your house and set up a movie of your choice.

Facial or Spa Treatment

Someone you know is in desperate need of a spa day. The perfect gift for your mom, SO, sister, friend, etc. I HIGHLY recommend Soul Skin Studio for an all natural and holistic experience or Moon Me Wax Studio for a fun witchy experience.

Surf Lessons

If you live in Wilmington and you haven’t at least tried surfing or know someone who hasn’t, this is a great gift. Recommended locations are Topsail Surf Adventures, South End Surf Shop, and Wilmington Surf Adventures.

Massage

Is there anyone that wouldn't want a massage?! Shine On is the best in the area and my personal fav. My husband and I love the couples massage with the sauna and cold plunge add on (only available at the Cargo District location).

Self Care for Men

Okay hear me out.. downtown Wilmington has a new luxury barbershop for mean that has everything from haircuts to beard care to facials! And cocktails for them to enjoy while they get pampered. Men need some self care too! Checkout The Exchange Barbershop and Lounge.

Ghost Tour

Learn more about our town history through some fun ghost stories! Another unique experience that would be fun for so many ages. I recommend Haunted Wilmington!

Historic Walk and Wine Tour

Even after living here for years, this was such an awesome way to learn more about historic Wilmington. Throw in stops for wine and this tour is a blast! Check out Wilmington Walking Tours.

Coffee Cupping

This is the perfect experience for coffee lovers! Maven Coffee offers coffee cupping which is basically like a wine tasting, but with coffee. It is such a unique and fun experience anyone would love. Contact them for more info!

Sailing

This would be a really romantic gift for someone you love. My husband and I had a great time sailing at sunset with Soundside at Blockade Runner.

Other Gift Ideas:

Gift cards from local businesses

Restaurants, breweries, bars: The Half, Salita Pizza, Outer Dunes Brewing, Quanto Basta, Olio Provisions, Rosalies, Fermental, Savorez, Eagles Dare, Mad Mole, Ceviches, On Thyme, Pipeline Poke, Mess Hall, Boombalattis, Grimm Burger, RX, Starling

Coffee: Hidden Grounds, Social Coffee, Grinders, The Ibis

Retail: Auggie & Zo, Hues of Violet, Crafted Outpost, Edge of Urge, Modern Legend, Papercut Books

We have so many great options! Comment below if you gift one of these and don’t forget to follow me on instagram (@laurenssuitcase) for more.