With it being winter in North Carolina and having just moved to the area, we haven't had a lot of time to get out sailing on the water. That doesn't mean we haven't been checking out some pretty cool sailing stuff. We recently took a ride down to Wilmington, NC for a day trip to see the Battleship North Carolina. It is currently moored along the Cape Fear river. It is a fair sail up the river or it is about 10 miles West of the ICW if you are traveling the ICW and looking for something to do while in North Carolina.
The North Carolina participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater earning 15 battle stars. It is a piece of military and naval history. At 728 feet long I probably won't be owning anything near her size which is a good thing. I'd hate to think of the maintenance and upkeep on something like that. Swabbing over 700' of deck doesn't seem like it would be a good time. The museum has an introductory movie that runs every 15 minutes in a small theater near the entry. The movie covers the first iteration of a US Navy ship named the North Carolina through the fourth. The Battleship North Carolina was the third. A submarine now bears the name. From there it is a self guided tour with hundreds of informational plaques along the route. Some of the 40mm guns still rotate and you can take a turn at the wheel. You are free walk along all the main deck and some of the upper decks. Then climb down to the lower decks to see the engine room, steering, living quarters, dining area and more. The entire tour takes around 2 hours to complete. Some linger longer and some walk quickly through each area. They also conduct special tours for a larger fee. The standard self guided cost is $14 a person and $12 for military.
After we completed the Battleship tour Lisa and I had a bite to eat at the Pilot House Restaurant along the Wilmington Downtown Riverwalk. The river is lined with several places to eat and relax along the Cape Fear River. We split an order of spring rolls. Lisa had a turkey sandwich with peppers and pesto while I ordered the Cheeseburger and freshly made chips. All the food was tasty and we had great view of the river.
If you're sailing along the ICW near Wilmington and are looking for something different to explore, be sure to check out BB55 and take a walk through history. That and downtown Wilmington along the water will be well worth your time.
The North Carolina participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater earning 15 battle stars. It is a piece of military and naval history. At 728 feet long I probably won't be owning anything near her size which is a good thing. I'd hate to think of the maintenance and upkeep on something like that. Swabbing over 700' of deck doesn't seem like it would be a good time. The museum has an introductory movie that runs every 15 minutes in a small theater near the entry. The movie covers the first iteration of a US Navy ship named the North Carolina through the fourth. The Battleship North Carolina was the third. A submarine now bears the name. From there it is a self guided tour with hundreds of informational plaques along the route. Some of the 40mm guns still rotate and you can take a turn at the wheel. You are free walk along all the main deck and some of the upper decks. Then climb down to the lower decks to see the engine room, steering, living quarters, dining area and more. The entire tour takes around 2 hours to complete. Some linger longer and some walk quickly through each area. They also conduct special tours for a larger fee. The standard self guided cost is $14 a person and $12 for military.
After we completed the Battleship tour Lisa and I had a bite to eat at the Pilot House Restaurant along the Wilmington Downtown Riverwalk. The river is lined with several places to eat and relax along the Cape Fear River. We split an order of spring rolls. Lisa had a turkey sandwich with peppers and pesto while I ordered the Cheeseburger and freshly made chips. All the food was tasty and we had great view of the river.
If you're sailing along the ICW near Wilmington and are looking for something different to explore, be sure to check out BB55 and take a walk through history. That and downtown Wilmington along the water will be well worth your time.
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