The two bookends to Wilmington’s historic downtown — The Brooklyn Arts District and South Front/Greenfield Lake — are bustling with activity, shopping, dining, nightlife, and tourism. With dive bars by the port and lots of green space with Spanish Moss-covered trees to explore, here is a full day’s itinerary to help you spend sunrise to sunset in the Greenfield Lake and South Front neighborhood.
Early morning
Start early with a stroll through the neighborhood’s main attraction — Greenfield Lake Park and Gardens. A 5-mile walking and biking trail winds through the 250 acres of ancient trees growing up through a freshwater lake. Work up an appetite by taking out a paddleboat rental to get even better views and float by a few of the lake’s friendly alligators.
Coffee and brunch
Head across the street from the playground to find Love, Lydia (1502 S. Third St.) for fresh baked goods and coffee, or The Second Glass (1540 S. Second St.) to reward your athletic morning with a boozy brunch and chef-driven menu.
Afternoon exploration
To beat the afternoon heat, take shelter in some cooler areas. Dip into Native Salt Cave and Wellness (1540 S. Second St.) to soak up the healing effects of a salt cave, or shop through their wellness storefront. Check out an open house listing for the newly designed modern living condos — LaRue Modern Living. Finally, try your hand at axe throwing at Axes and Allies (1122 S. Third St.)
Lunch
One of Wilmington’s greatest staples: the favorite hamburger by popular vote, again and again, is Winnie’s Tavern (1895 Burnett Blvd). Tuck into a large burger loaded with fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, and side of sweet potato fries in this dive next to the city’s port.
Jump on a FREE trolly to downtown Wilmington’s riverfront area and other neighborhoods. Learn more about the trolly here.
Evening
Grab a pint of Guinness at the neighborhood pub, The Harp (1423 S. Third St.), or some brews at New Anthem Beer Project (116 Dock St.) before enjoying a show at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. Some of the industry’s biggest names drop by to give performances at this stunning outdoor venue with views of the surrounding lake. Check their website to follow updates for performances during COVID-19. For a culinary adventure head to Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria (206 Greenfield St.), owned and operated by PBS “A Chef’s Life” star, Vivian Howard.
Late night
The after-party in this neighborhood is not hard to find. Satellite Bar (120 Greenfield St.) may seem desolate by day, but come evening, you’ll find live music and nightlife spilling from the bar into the streets. Satellite even has its own taco stand, Block Taco. The night was not rowdy enough unless you nabbed a photo next to the taco stand’s donkey statue that sits atop a station wagon.
