Our family took a spontaneous weekend road trip to Wilmington, North Carolina, to meet good friends who were considering a move there. We fitted in a battleship tour, visits to nearby beaches, and a walk through downtown.
Aboard USS North Carolina
One of our first stops was USS North Carolina, across the river from downtown Wilmington. Walking the decks and looking through the exhibits gave us a closer look at the ship and the people who served aboard it.
The historical photographs included this view of a cook carrying a tray of bread. Details like this brought everyday life aboard the ship into the visit.
The boys enjoyed exploring the deck equipment. One tried the handwheel at a gun mount while I took photographs.
The tour was a highlight for my boys, although going up and down the narrow stairs took some care.
White sand and time by the water
We also visited a few beaches near Wilmington. The stretches of white sand caught my attention, and being by the water reminded me how much Mike misses the beach from our years in South Florida.
Downtown shopping and old friends
We squeezed in some shopping and a walk downtown, too.
It was good to see Alex with his best friend. They have known each other since Alex was 13 months old and are more like brothers.
By the end of the weekend, our friends were leaning toward moving to Wilmington. It turned out to be about three hours from our home, closer than I had realized. Most of our drive was along back roads, which I found less interesting than the time we spent at the coast.
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