Fort Fisher State Historic Site

Fort Fisher helped shape the outcome of the Civil War by keeping the port of Wilmington open to blockade runners supplying goods, and today it’s one of the coast’s most compelling places to step into that story. Explore exhibits in the visitors center, then head outside to walk the brickwater, trails and overlooks where sweeping views of the Cape Fear River meet the Atlantic. It’s an easy add-on to a Kure Beach day, especially if you want history you can actually wander through, and to spot some sea life at the nearby NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher.