Wilmington, North Carolina is a great destination for beaches, out door activities, and lots of great vegan food!
If you’re looking for a great vegan-friendly city with Southern charm, check out Wilmington, North Carolina. Located in Southeastern North Carolina, Wilmington has views of both the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean among other beautiful sites. With a university (The University of North Carolina Wilmington), an abundance of outdoor activities, amazing beaches, and a hip downtown, who wouldn’t want to visit? Not only has Wilmington got a lot going on, it also boasts a ton of vegan-friendly food and activities.
Dining and Drinks
Wilmington has a ton of great restaurants smattered all over the city. Many are vegan friendly and Wilmington even has a Vegan Restaurant and Community Guide!
Beer Barrio is located downtown Wilmington. This trendy Mexican restaurant has several vegan-friendly menu options along with a plethora of beers and drinks. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating which is lovely when the weather is nice. Their black beans are vegan and they even have vegan cheese which you can sub for regular cheese!
Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn is a must if you come to Wilmington. With a few locations around the city, Flaming Amy’s is definitely a local favorite. I was given rave reviews of this place by my mother, but I doubted it was as good as she boasted. However, I was clearly wrong. They have a large menu full of tons of vegan-friendly items including Jerk tofu and fried tofu, beans, vegan cheese and a ton of veggies. They also have a killer salsa bar. The burritos are enormous and incredibly delicious
Vegan donuts? Why not! Wake N Bake Donuts boasts several types of vegan donuts. Great for breakfast or a midday treat. Get there early on weekends as they tend to run out of vegan donuts early. However, the gal who works there informed us they may increase the quantity of donuts so this may not be a problem in the future.
Pizza was the last thing that I gave up when I went vegan so to find a really good vegan pizza for me is hard. However, Slice of Life Pizzeria & Pub knows what they’re doing, boasting a fabulous vegan cheese pizza (with a ton of veggies to choose from). They have several restaurants open around the city including downtown. They are even open late night for the after the bar crowd.
Entertainment
Downtown Wilmington is a great way to spend the day or night. You can walk down the tree-lined streets, and enjoy the beautiful Southern architecture. There’s great views of the Cape Fear River with a beautiful boardwalk to enjoy. With tons of bars, restaurants, shops and entertainment, rest-assured there is something for everyone in downtown Wilmington.
Dead Crow Comedy offers great comedy during the week and on weekends.They have a plethora of vegan-friendly menu items including a vegan burger, vegan tacos and vegan ranch. Make sure to reserve tickets beforehand as this place can sell out quickly.
Thalian Hall, a historic building downtown, offers many different entertainment options. From movies, to shows to comedy, be sure and check out all this beautiful building has to offer. They have vegan-friendly popcorn and also sell wine and beer.
Activities
The beaches of the Wilmington area are incredibly gorgeous, clean, and family-friendly. Local beaches include Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. Make sure to get there early on weekends during peak summer season as parking can run out. Also bring plenty of quarters for parking!
There is plenty of shopping throughout the Wilmington area. Downtown offers a plethora of eclectic shops and boutiques. There’s several malls including Independence Mall and Mayfair, which boasts an outdoor shopping mall and movie theater.
Airlie Gardens is a great way to spend the day while vacationing in Wilmington. Spend your time touring the beautiful gardens or enjoying a picnic on the water. Make sure to bring food as there is no restaurant service available.
Grocery
Renting a weekly beach house is a popular option for tourists in the summer. The perk of a vacation rental is a kitchen! If you plan on cooking while you’re in Wilmington, it’s not hard to find a plethora of vegan treats and snacks at the local grocery stores.
Food Lion, a large chain grocery store has several vegan-friendly options including vegan meats and plant-based milks. There’s also a local Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods which are located near each other. Additionally, there are several Harris Teeter and Aldi stores which both carry a ton of vegan-friendly options.
