Day 27: Battleship North Carolina - 
Walk in the shoes of those who went before you. I took the tour with my hubby who was in the Navy and listened to his stories along with information about those who served on this ship during World War II. 
This beauty sits on the Cape Fear River across from the downtown river front. They have a wonderful web site for you to visit: http://www.battleshipnc.com/page1.php What I noticed and my husband confirmed was the close living quarters. Now if you were an officer, you were awarded with a little more room. This is a must see attraction in the Cape Fear Region. Some say there are ghosts on this ship. There are been some paranormal experiences according to the following web site: http://www.hauntednc.com/investigation_ussnc.htm
Check it out and read about their investigations!! 
Very interesting and ghostly....its sends chills up your spine.......... This will be one BOOOO tiful experience not matter which way you look at it.....through the eyes of history....or through the paranormal happenings!!
Note: Images are Copyrighted by Historylink101.com and can be found at Battleship North Carolina page.
.Did
Located on Market Street, you will find a full service hobby shop that specializes in remote control cars, truck, beach buggies, boats, planes and more. They have a repair service and extensive inventory for the hobbyist and aficionado. 
Adults and kids will love this shop and best of all, outdoors they have an oval clay raceway.. More info can be obtained by visiting their web site or calling the store directly. They are open most days 10am to 6pm, closed on Sunday and Tuesday and open 10am to 5 on Saturdays. The race track is open at 11am on Saturday. Fun, Fun, Fun for the whole family.........no matter what age you are.--- 
to Freeman Park (see earlier post about Freeman Park) ..no dog restrictions there or at Topsail Beach year round.....The other beaches have restrictions in and out of season ....you can take pets year round either on the lease or under voice control....now Clayton needs a leash because "COME" is not in his vocabulary
....he tried a jaunt down the beach once and was a bit confused....so Leash is the name of the game with him.....so why am I talking about pets at the beach.....a friend of mine sent this video on you tube......http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=pkPNa4DBFHI
Don't miss one of the most exciting events in Wilmington - The Greek Festival !! http://www.stnicholasgreekfest.com/ If you don't get there tonight or tomorrow afternoon, you will have to wait another 365 days for this event. I'm sure you've seen the signs all over town. Great food, music, a tour of the church, a marketplace, more great food and desserts. Local in Wilmington look forward to this each and every year. If you have ever had the opportunity to visit the Greek Isles, you will agree that this experience brings warm memories back to you. And if you're not a local, our Mayor is Greek....so you may get an opportunity to say ‘hello.' Mosey on down to College Road...
.there is plenty of parking and shuttles....plus the newspaper has a $1 off coupon on your admission....my favorite you ask.......the almond cookies and Greek Wine and I'm partial to stuffed grape leaves and baklava.........oh I love it all!! 
This is a very education experience and something you will want to visit on your Wilmington journey. They have a feeding show and you can experience touching or holding a real live snake. Schools have taken a trip here for a field trip, and they even hold birthday parties here... Whoa who would have thought???? Check out their web site for all the scoop http://www.capefearserpentarium.com/ This is one interesting thing to do in Wilmington. Saturdays and Sundays seem to be the recommended day to see this exhibit. They do not take credit cards, so you will need cash.
.
Best of all, there always seems to be a breeze....now that can be nice on a hot day, but can raise havoc with your golf ball. 
Take a quick glance as you drive along the paths and you might see a hawk, turtle, Canadian geese and other lovely wildlife. 
Of course, I love playing this course, but driving over the wooden bridges is reminiscent of earlier days. The sound of the golf cart crossing the bridge sounds like horses hooves click and clacking on and old wooden bridge or cobblestone road. .....there is also a whistling in the wind....I found this course a little easier than most because of the wide open spaces and best of all "few lost balls." 
Lunch and a quick drink at the turn was very nice and the staff pleasant all around. This is one course to put on your list!!
With his permission we are sending you on this journey and it is one you won't want to overlook. You can discover Wilmington's hidden history and a lost time as we travel to Wilmington during the Victorian Era (1837- 1901). There is a very colorful history in Wilmington during the Civil War, cus
toms and traditions of the day, sea tales, folklore , ghosts and more. And believe me when I tell you we have ghosts....I experienced it first hand showing a property downtown....I still can't stop thinking about that day....not that was an experience.....You will definitely want to learn about Old Wilmington during our 365 journey through the Cape Fear Region and Wilmington.! Walking tours start at the foot of Market and Water Streets, look for the Victorian couple! 
so what is the ice house you ask? A restaurant, a bar....NO....inside ice skating rink......I tried it again after over 30 years off the ice.....no falls, no bruises, but oh my bones!!! Great family fun and boy I wish they had those little trainers when I was a kid... Check out the program - hockey, public skating, day camps and more..... 
.and proof, I can still SKATE my heart out!!.
You will want to check out Carolina Beach's cruise boats. 
There are party boats and fishing expeditions.....something special for everyone in the family...whether you want to go fishing or take a sunset cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway and Snows Cut ..you will find fun and entertainment here for the whole family. The boat is also available
for that special party. Check it out and start planning for some fun....http://www.winnerboats.com/SportingActivities.html
For this journey you will need a 4x4 vehicle or know a friend or relative who has one. You can drive on the north end of Carolina Beach. You can purchase a day pass for $20 or a yearly pass. If you purchase it early in the year it is $60 and after that it goes to $75 for a season pass....still great value for all the fun you can have.....the beach is divided into ZONES. There are zones where you can have an open fire and zones where you can camp overnight.
There are porta-potties scattered along the beach for your convenience. 
You can bring the family dog as well year round. Depending on the tides, pools develop which are great for the children. Now, keep in mind you could get stuck....we did the other day, even with the 4x4 Jeep and a hemi...
.first time that happened....so what do you do? Before you grind yourself into the sand, just let some air out of your tires and off you go..... HAVE FUN, SPEND THE DAY, BRING LOTS OF FOOD AND DRINK AND DON'T FORGET THE SUNBLOCK!!