As much as I enjoy the beach here, I may love downtown Wilmington even more. The large old oaks with the Spanish moss dripping from their branches, the lovely old homes, the ornate architecture of the old buildings, the pre-Civil war churches, the brick and cobblestone streets, built along the bank of the Cape Fear River.
The Cape Fear, a backwater river only about 200 miles long, is believed to have been so named because of the shifting shoals offshore, but its name became familiar well beyond North Carolina’s boundaries when Robert Mitchum scared the begeezis out of us in the movie of the same name. The river is formed by the confluence of the Haw and Deep Rivers. Ever heard of them? Didn’t think so.
(Don’t be a smartass and start humming Dee-e-eep River, my home is over Jordan…. That doesn’t count.)
Today we had brunch at one of the restaurants along the river. The outside and heart of the building is a house built in the mid-1800’s, with wide plank floors and clapboard siding. We sat outside on the deck, next to the river walk, because we never tire of the view.
And across the river, to the west:
To the north, the Battleship North Carolina and the main part of town.
Out the front door and across the street, the sea wall and the houses beyond.
Cobblestone street and the old trolley track still remain in this section.
Despite the fact that every time I turned on my camera, clouds covered the sun, it was actually a beautiful, sunny day.
Food? Oh yes, definitely food:
Eggs Benedict:
Even dessert. A licked cookie yesterday, shared pie today. Bad, bad, bad… but good, good, good! I’m making this picture smaller. Fewer calories that way.
The drive back to our house takes us by beautiful antebellum homes.
I won’t include pictures of the lovely old houses in this post. Come see for yourself. There are historic tours, home and garden tours, ghost tours. I did snap this picture when we drove by because the house is for sale–in case you’re anxious to buy. I’m not sure on which tour it might be included.
Merrilymarylee's Weblog 
WIWT!! (Wish I Were There!!)
I add my recommendations to Merrilylee’s- downtown Wilmington is incredibly charming and there are many good places to eat…to shop…to walk…to enjoy and appreciate. It is indeed a lovely old town. And remember, that’s Wilmington, NC…not the “other” Wilmington.
Me, too! WIWT!!! You take the best pictures!!:):)
Were the Azaleas in full bloom or are they done and gone?
I think I know who ate the fish and who ate the Eggs Benedict. Great photographs of such a charming city.
Me three! WIWT.
Lovely, just lovely! All of it.
Despite the fact you miniaturized the pie, I double clicked it to get a better look. I think I gained ten pounds by doing so. The meals look delicious, and the scenery sublime.
Laughing at the caption, “Not my house.”
It looks like a wonderful place to spend a leisurely weekend morning. I’m jealous of the fried green tomatoes!
This makes me SO nostalgic for my hometown, Savannah. There’s something about southern cities on the Atlantic that make my heart sing. Glad you had a great day!
How far is the drive from OBX to this fairy tale place by the river that you spoke of? ^_^
This is just the type of spot I was dreaming about yesterday! So lovely. Does your DB complain when you make him wait to eat while you take a picture…I tell Cole it is a type of “bloggers blessing.” The dessert! I hope your share was the large one and you had your own fork.
I plan to “come see for myself” time for Cole and I to give the real South its due!
♥
This is just the type of spot I was dreaming about yesterday! So lovely. Does your DB complain when you make him wait to eat while you take a picture…I tell Cole it is a type of “bloggers blessing.” The dessert! I hope your share was the large one and you had your own fork.
I plan to “come see for myself” time for Cole and I to give the real South its due!
WIWT also. I’d lick your dessert and enjoy the Wilmington area all over again!
Everything is beautiful! The town, the food, the houses, the food! I’m on my way;)
Looks like a beautiful place to vacation. Any buildings that old in Oregon have long since been eaten by termites.
The Deep River winds and winds through the Piedmont and out toward the sea. You can’t drive around Greensboro without crossing it multiple times and there are little towns all along its route. It’s one of the arteries of North Carolina. My son had a band at Elon that he named Deep River. I have their CD in my glove compartment. I was so fond of those kids, enjoyed so many of their concerts all over the areas that were blessed by that sweet river.
That the one?
I’ve just learned something new…I’ve seen both Cape Fear movies (the original and the remake) but never realized it was the actual name of an actual river! Too cool! It’s no wonder you love that area so much, I would too. It’s gorgeous and oh how I wish I could go investigate it for myself.
I absolutely LOVE Eggs Benedict and it’s what I usually order when out for breakfast:-) Yum yum!!!
I want to go buy that house!! I need to win the lottery first and then move to the USA! lol xoxo
Hah! How I wish making a photo smaller meant less calories! 🙂
Love the photos!
You are taking my kind of vacation…a lot of seeing and admiring and eating…and less of that strenuous stuff. Magnificent pictures.
This looks amazing! All of it, food, historic community, southern architecture etc.. I am going to put this information in my vault!
Flounder Oscar, seriously? I’m in heaven and I want to run right out to the store to get some flounder. There used to be a restaurant here that made that dish, but they rolled the flounder around the “oscar” and it was so good. Served “open” and over grits sounds even better!!!!!
As for the dessert? Two forks? Never happen if I was there, I don’t share dessert, even though I should. My bad.