Wilmington sits where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic, and its beaches — Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure — stretch out along a wide, sandy coast that catches swell from a range of directions. It’s a laid-back college town with a historic downtown riverfront, but the coast is where locals actually spend their weekends.

Surf here is generally beginner- and longboard-friendly, with the best conditions showing up during fall hurricane season and clean winter groundswells. Outside of the water, the historic district’s cobblestone streets, riverfront breweries, and easy day trips to Carolina and Kure Beach make Wilmington an easy base for a few days on the North Carolina coast.