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Meet Hunter
Hi, I’m Hunter Ingram, Assistant Museum Director at the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens in Wilmington. I’ve lived in North Carolina my entire life, growing up in Salisbury before heading to East Carolina University in Greenville to study communication and film. After graduating in 2013, I moved to Wilmington to work as the film industry reporter for the Wilmington StarNews.
What started as a job quickly became home. Wilmington’s history, natural beauty and close-knit community are a big part of what keeps me here and why I love sharing this corner of the state with others.
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My Wilmington go-tos
- Sugar Loaf Trail at Carolina Beach State Park: This hike culminates in scaling the dune that was vital to native communities here in the area for centuries. The view from the top of Sugar Loaf is the best part, and you can even make out Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site across the river.
- Kayaking Greenfield Lake: The Spanish moss-strung trees are incredible, and renting a kayak is easy. Just watch out for the docile but toothy alligators that call it home.
- Oakdale Cemetery: This historic burial ground has more stories than any historian could ever tell in a lifetime. In the spring, its clusters of azaleas compete for the prettiest showcase in all of the Cape Fear.
- Ibis: I’ve been writing here lately. It's a fantastic Soda Pop District coffee shop with immaculate vibes in the morning and then an identity change in the evening for its bar service. Many of my morning writing sessions are fueled by their cold brew with brown sugar and a bagel with cream cheese. Or a chocolate croissant, if I’m feeling wild.
- Flaming Amy’s: Is it a trip to Wilmington if you don't eat here? The famous burrito barn still has the best queso in town, and I eat at least three of their Thanksgiving special Churkeychangas every November.
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More ways to wander in Wilmington
- Burgwin-Wright House: This is the only structure from the Colonial era in Wilmington open to the public, with daily tours of both the city’s first jail (circa 1744) and the home built on the remaining jail buildings in 1770. The monthly walking tours are a must, with topics including local legends and lore, colonial history, and the local ties to the book and TV series "Outlander." The spring and fall craft markets in the acre of meticulously manicured gardens are also the perfect way to shop local year-round.
- Wilmington Water Tours: The scenic and informative river cruises are perfect for the whole family and will give you plenty of fun facts, incredibly engaging and gorgeous photos to take home. Their signature rum punch isn’t bad either!
- Fort Fisher: A few times each year, I take the ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher because that ride on a calm, sunny day is unmatched. While you’re on the Fort Fisher side, take the walking path at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and visit the Hermit of Fort Fisher's bunker. The boardwalk/beach path takes you through the marshes and right to the tip of the island, with views in every direction. Plus, you can stop by Britt's Donuts in Carolina Beach for a donut or 12 on the way home!
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A Wilmington-area splurge & a budget pick
- The splurge: I’m incredibly fortunate to have visited one of the most remote places in NC — or rather 32 miles off the coast of it. Frying Pan Tower stands like a sentinel on the tip of Frying Pan Shoals off Bald Head Island, and it served as a light station for the Coast Guard from 1964 to 1979. I visited to record an episode of the podcast I was hosting, and I spent an illuminating night separated from the bustle of life with my head in the stars. Literally. On a clear night out there, you can lie on the helipad and look up at the Milky Way, no light pollution in sight. Getting out there may not be in everyone's budget, but if you can, I'd recommend it!
- The budget pick: Be on the lookout for all the historic markers downtown. From the granite markers put up in the 20th century and the hitching posts that still stand around downtown (find the oldest one between Front and Second streets on Orange Street!) to the old building names etched in stone, there is so much history around you. Just be ready to look up, down and around.
This insider authorship was produced in partnership with Wilmington and Island Beaches.