Wilmington

As Bradley Creek meets the Intracoastal Waterway, it flows by the esteemed neighborhood of Airlie. This small, well-established community is known for Airlie Gardens. Taking up about a third of the neighborhood, the historic public garden is home to centuries-old oak trees and tens of thousands of pink azaleas. “Airlie has been here as long as Wrightsville Beach has,” says Derek Criscitiello, an agent with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. “There’s lots of mature landscaping. You get the sea breeze from the Intracoastal there. Plus, great nightlife, bars and restaurants,” says Criscitiello, a Jacksonville, North Carolina native who moved to Wilmington two years ago after visiting throughout his childhood. The coveted pristine properties here feature classic Southern-style architecture and are blocks from marinas and waterfront restaurants. Like much of Wilmington, a relaxed culture can be found in Airlie, with Wrightsville Beach just across the water.<br><br>With the Intracoastal Waterway to the east and Bradley Creek to the south, boating, kayaking and paddleboarding are everyday activities here. Wrightsville Beach, known for its surfing, is less than two miles away. Two nearby trials, the Summer Rest Trail and the Cross City Trail, offer smooth tree-shaded paths for cycling. Next to the neighborhood is the expansive Country Club of Landfall, where golfers can test their skills on four courses. At the heart of the neighborhood is the awe-inspiring oasis of Airlie Gardens, visited by tens of thousands of nature lovers each year. “It’s a really good representation of old Southern gardening,” Criscitiello says. Often described as enchanted, this 67-acre public garden dates to the 1700s. Meticulously maintained over the years, it features massive live oaks that are hundreds of years old. The famed Airlie Oak is believed to be from the 1500s. Walking paths pass by freshwater lakes and colorful sculptures. Visitors hope to spot wildlife like herons and ospreys. Spring is a popular time, as more than 75,000 azaleas bloom, following thousands of tulips and daffodils as the opening act. Residents can become members to take part in year-round events, from monthly bird walks and butterfly releases to the Summer Concert Series and the annual Oyster Roast.<br><br>Wilmington’s biggest event of the year is the North Carolina Azalea Festival. The five-day event takes place in the first week of April to coincide with the annual blooming of the azaleas across the city. Revelers enjoy home and garden tours, parades and street fairs. Partners and sponsors of the festival can attend a private Luncheon Garden Party in Airlie Gardens. “Everybody dresses up in the old Southern style, kind of like the Kentucky Derby with the big hats. It has that 'who’s who' feel,” Criscitiello says. “After the garden party, everybody goes over to Dockside for the after-party,” he adds.<br><br>Properties in Airlie match its Southern fairytale feel. Narrow roads are shaded by long branches of live oak trees covered in Spanish moss that dangles like tassels. Pebble and stone driveways curve through yards decorated with flowering shrubs, manicured gardens and pristinely trimmed bushes. The luxurious single-family homes here sit close together on lots less than a third of an acre. Styles range from coastal cottages and Cape Cods covered in shingles to towering Charleston-style homes with covered porches on the first and second floors. Stately multi-million-dollar mansions sit along the waterfront with private docks and boat slips. Criscitiello says Airlie homes don’t go on the market often, and prices are well above the Wilmington area average, starting at $500,000 for a two-bedroom ranch-style home and reaching over $2 million for elaborate estates. “It’s one of the most sought-after neighborhoods because of its proximity to Wrightsville Beach,” he says. Condos and townhouses offer community amenities like pools and tennis courts and can list as low as $300,000, with most properties falling between $400,000 and $500,000. However, high-end units in the new community, The Lane, can top $1 million. Potential buyers should note that the neighborhood is in a flood zone and that hurricanes are possible.<br><br>Residents in Airlie can walk to the restaurants dotting the Intracoastal Waterway, a highway for commercial and recreational mariners stretching up and down the East Coast. Dockside is known as the local watering hole. The decades-old seafood spot with a marina entices its regulars with a relaxed atmosphere, live music and plenty of outdoor seating. “People dock there to get a beer before getting back on the boat and continuing down the Intracoastal,” Criscitiello says. Date nights happen at The Bridge Tender, a fine dining restaurant featuring a surf and turf menu enjoyed in black leather booths or out on the deck of its marina. Other restaurants and cafes are clustered around Lumina Commons. The neighborhood shopping center is anchored by a Harris Teeter and is lined with small businesses like Woof Gang Bakery, a locally-owned pet store. For dozens of national retailers and movie nights at a Regal cinema, Mayfaire Town Center is less than 3 miles away along Highway 17 (Military Cutoff Road).<br><br>The New Hanover County School District serves Airlie. Young children cross the Wrightsville Beach Bridge to attend class at Wrightsville Beach Elementary School, which receives an A grade from Niche. Located on Harbor Island, the waterside school has its own dock and a Marine Science program funded, in part, by the PTA. Students head inland for M.C.S. Noble Middle School, which has an A-minus rating and is ranked the second-best public middle school in New Hanover County. John T. Hoggard High School earns an A rating. In addition to offering an International Baccalaureate Program, the school has high-performing athletes appearing in regional championships in sports like basketball, golf and cross country. St. Mark Catholic School, Providence Preparatory Academy and Friends School of Wilmington are nearby private options. The University of North Carolina Wilmington is about 3 miles away. <br><br>Airlie Road is the neighborhood’s main street. It gently flows through the forested landscape before curving at the picturesque banks of the Intracoastal Waterway. The two-lane road is bike-friendly and connects to other bikeable streets like Wrightsville Avenue. Where Airlie Road meets Military Cutoff Road sits Saint Andrews Episcopal Church. A neighborhood landmark, the church features Mediterranean Revival architecture with a red clay tile roof, arched windows and stucco walls. Residents trying to enter the neighborhood before and after services may notice police directing traffic. Eastwood Road (U.S. Route 74) is nearby for trips to downtown Wilmington and Wilmington International Airport, both about a 10-mile drive. The Cape Fear Public Transit Authority’s Wave Transit has a bus stop at Eastwood and Military Cutoff roads.

The mixed-used community of Autumn Hall blends the style of historic Wilmington with the vibe of coastal living to achieve a look and feel unique to the Cape Fear area. Raiford Task III developed the land near his grandparents' former home with the intention of keeping as much greenery as possible. The result is a neighborly community hidden by dense trees. While it may feel secluded, Autumn Hall has a convenient location. "You're very close to Wrightsville Beach, but you don't have the Wrightsville Beach prices," says Jacki Hedgecock, Broker and Luxury Property Advisor at Christie's International, who specializes in the area. Modern amenities give the neighborhood a feeling of luxury. Residents can spend the day poolside or, on a chilly night, gather around the large, stone outdoor fireplace in Arbor Park.<br><br>The neighborhood is characterized by larger three- to five-bedroom houses between 3,000 and 4,500 square feet. Prices range between $1 million to just over $1.5 million. "The houses are very aesthetically pleasing and newer," Hedgecock says, "But you're not paying the premium that you would pay if you were in a gated community." Since the first house was constructed in 2009, over 152 homes have been built on 173 lots. Some are Charleston-style with large front porches, while others are Craftsman-inspired with Southern coastal details like ironwork, metal roofs and outdoor rooms. In 2023, only eight homes sold, and five were on the market for less than 10 days. There is also an apartment complex in the neighborhood called Headwaters at Autumn Hall and a retirement called Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall. In the future, the neighborhood is expected to have more mixed-space housing and townhouses.<br><br>College Park Elementary scores a B-minus rating on Niche, while Noble Middle earns an A-minus. New Hanover High's building was completed in 1922 and is the oldest high school in Wilmington. The B-plus-rated high school has won 40 state championships for eight different sports. Most recently, the men's soccer team took home the title in 2021.  "All of the schools in the area have really great offerings," Hedgecock says.<br><br>Autumn Hall is the only neighborhood in the area with a pool that doesn't require a country club membership, although there is a homeowner's association fee that goes towards amenities. The eight parks in the neighborhood are semi-private and include playscapes and walking trails. Residents can rent Arbor and Chapel Park for personal use. The eight-acre lake provides a peaceful spot to watch geese gather while crossing the wooden bridge. It also offers docks for kayaking and canoeing. The 15-mile Cross-City Trail is a multi-use, offroad option for alternative transportation, or a 1.5-mile run through Autumn Hall. Wrightsville Beach is just 4 miles away, making it a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. "I take my kids to the beach probably once a week," Hedgecock says.<br><br>Since Autumn Hall has its own village center, residents don't have to travel far for a cup of coffee or a seafood lunch. Hedgecock says Origins, within walking distance, is "one of the hottest restaurants in Wilmington," and she recommends the oysters and the seafood tower. The commercial space also has a med spa and a Starbucks. On the other side of the neighborhood, Drift Coffee and Kitchen has a menu of specialty coffee drinks and breakfast bowls. The shops and restaurants at Mayfaire are just minutes away. There are upscale shops like Anthropology and Talbots, as well as grocery stores, including a Harris Teeter. As the neighborhood continues to expand, there will be more mixed-use areas with commercial spaces on the bottom and housing on top.<br><br>"The neighborhood has a private Facebook group reserved for people who live there," Hedgecock says. "They'll do cook-off competitions and summer get-togethers." Downtown Wilmington has annual events like The North Carolina Azalea Festival and Riverfest.<br><br>Highway 74 borders Autumn Hall. Although it's a primarily car-dependent neighborhood, there is a lot of walkability within the neighborhood and a few bus stops via Wave Transit. Downtown is less than 10 miles away. "Wilmington isn't a place where everything only happens downtown," Hedgecock says. "It's more spread out, which is why Autumn Hall's location is so great because it's close to everything." Wilmington International Airport is about a 7-mile drive.

Beau Rivage lays along the gentle greens of Beau Rivage Golf & Resort. The 18-hole public fairway is the backyard for the neighborhood’s patio homes, where golf carts drive on and off the course. The links connect two subdivisions: Willow Glen Estates at Beau Rivage Plantation and Beau Rivage Plantation. HOAs oversee both gated enclaves, monitoring things like road maintenance and streetlights. “There isn’t any through traffic,” says John Theodorakis, Broker/Realtor with Intracoastal Realty Corporation, who lives in Beau Rivage Plantation. “Most people have golf carts, and I can easily drive mine to my friends’ houses in Willow Glenn without having to get on a public road," he says. "If you want to drive a car or an actual vehicle though, you’ll have to leave the neighborhood.” Outside the gated greens, the community offers proximity to Carolina Beach, a top-rated school system and a short drive to Wilmington – without the city taxes. Under oak trees and Spanish moss, The Beau Rivage Plantation and Willow Glen subdivisions are connected by a golf course, not roads. Both communities are gated; the latter is fully closed-off, while the former has one public entrance for those looking to access the fairway. To accommodate the greens, many streets feature uniform lots and home layouts. The Beau Rivage Plantation subdivision was first built in the 1980s, while Willow Glen began construction in the early 2000s and development continued into the late 2010s. Both communities offer New Traditional homes; some are brick, while others have siding and Craftsman-style architectural influences. Properties include hardwood floors, crown molding and stainless-steel appliances. Single-story houses in either community typically cost between $300,000 and $435,000 and usually occupy 1,100 to 1,900 square feet. Two-story homes with bigger yards and a pool or fire pit in the back may range in price from $550,000 to $865,000 and can sit on over 3,000 square feet. Brick Colonial-style townhouses are also available, typically costing about $300,000, while condo units will run potential buyers $190,000 to $235,000. The 18-hole Beau Rivage Golf Course sits amid long-needle pine forests and meanders behind homes. It’s privately owned and, other than aesthetics, doesn’t have any real association with the neighborhood. “A lot of folks are members of the club, but being a homeowner doesn’t automatically make you a member,” Theodorakis says. If they choose to join, residents pay an annual fee, allowing them to access to fairways year-round, and can relax at the Pavilion, the club’s recreational facility. Leagues and lessons are available at the six pickleball and two tennis courts, while the Cabana Bar serves cocktails for members to sip by the Olympic-sized swimming pool. The indoor ballroom is rented out for events, from baby showers to corporate meetings. While Beau Rivage is also a resort, with overnight suites near the fairway, Theodorakis says, “It’s not really affected by tourists.” Those who live in the Willow Glen subdivision earn access to the Willow Glen Clubhouse via their HOA fees. It also has an event space and a pool where many neighborhood festivities occur, from cocktail tastings to a pumpkin carving contest. The closest outdoor space to the neighborhood is River Road Park. It sits amid coastal brush on the shores of the Cape Fear River. A fishing pier leads out to the water, where many visitors cast their line while children with sandy feet run around the playground behind them. Students are zoned for New Hanover County Schools. They can attend Heyward C. Bellamy Elementary School and Charles P. Murray Middle School, which both receive A-minus scores from Niche. They can finish their public education at Eugene Ashley High School, which Niche gives a B and ranks as the No. 7 Public High School in the Wilmington Area. Eugene Ashley offers the Marine Science Academy, a program in partnership with the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Enrolled students can take college-level oceanography and biology classes. Shopping and dining options sit along Carolina Beach Road. Locals can get groceries from Harris Teeter or eat out at one of the various restaurants in the same shopping center, from Eggs Up Grill for breakfast to Ida Thai Cuisine for dinner. Nearby Fish Bites Seafood is both a restaurant and a fish market, serving and selling fresh fish and shellfish from its laid-back coastal interior, where lobster eaters wear bibs. To dine on the water, Carolina Beach and its boardwalk are about 6 miles south of Beau Rivage, and offer numerous shore-side restaurants, like Hurricane Alley’s, where visitors can eat comfort food on the outdoor deck, shaded by grass umbrellas. For dessert, there’s Latella Gelato, a Carolina Beach mainstay that serves a variety of rotating flavors. In the Willow Glen subdivision, the clubhouse hosts events throughout the year. Families run before Thanksgiving dinner at the Turkey Trot, kids get sticky fingers at poolside ice cream socials and neighbors perfect their recipes and athletic abilities before the Cornhole Competition and Chili Cookoff. Theodorakis explains that in Beau Rivage Plantation, the golf club doesn’t officially operate as a neighborhood gathering place in the same way because it's not formally affiliated with the neighborhood. However, he notes, “The owners of the country club live in the neighborhood and will open the pool for a big Fourth of July pool party and other things of that nature,” he says. “Beau Rivage [the neighborhood] does multiple golf cart parades whether it be the Fourth of July or Christmas. At Halloween, there's trunk or treat.” Walking trails weave under palm trees throughout Beau Rivage. Wilmington’s Historic District, with its cobblestone streets, riverwalk and architecture that has earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, is about 10 miles northwest using Carolina Beach Road. Traveling north on College Road, locals can reach UNCW in about 8 miles or Wrightsville Beach in about 13 miles. The U.S. Interstate 40 and U.S. Interstate 140 interchange is about 20 miles north of the neighborhood and will lead locals throughout the Carolinas. I-40 also leads to Raleigh, about 136 miles north. Or, to make the trip to the state capital shorter, locals can head to the Wilmington International Airport, which will begin construction on a new terminal in 2026, about 13 miles north of Beau Rivage.

The 11-block neighborhood of Brookwood was registered as a historic district in 2015. “There was a trolley line that would run from downtown to what is now Wrightsville Avenue,” says Matt Orr, a Broker and Realtor with Nest Realty who lives in the nearby Carolina Place neighborhood. “Brookwood was one of the communities built on the trolley line.” However, it quickly adapted to the automobile. The neighborhood tends to be quieter and less social than neighboring communities. “It’s smaller, so it’s not as concentrated,” says Celeste Salzberg, a Realtor with Momentum Companies. “People tend to keep to themselves.” The population is a mix of older residents who have lived there for many years, as well as younger families moving in. The sidewalked streets provide views of charming historic homes, established trees, shrubbery and picket fences.<br><br>Most homes here were built between 1920 and 1964. While many homes have been updated and added on to, most renovators strive to stay true to the original time period. "The problem with tearing homes down and making them new is that it stays on the market longer,” Salzberg says. “If you want it to sell like a hot cake, it has to be historical.” Styles include Colonial Revivals, Craftsman-style bungalows and cottages. They typically range in price from $400,000 to $600,000. However, larger homes bordering the Forest Hills neighborhood can cost $700,000 to $900,000. A total of five homes sold in 2023, and they stay on the market for an average of 23 days.<br><br>Forrest Hills Global Elementary scores a C-plus on Niche, while Williston Middle earns a B-minus. Hoggard High has an A rating and allows students to graduate with an International Baccalaureate diploma, which creates an international standard and utilizes an integrated curriculum. Part of Brookwood is zoned for New Hanover High, a B-plus-rated high school that has won several state championships among its many sports teams.<br><br>To the west of the neighborhood, Wallace Park, formerly known as Brookwood Park, is a quiet green space with a playscape and basketball court. People can walk their dogs along the unpaved walking trail by a creek with fish and turtles. The 15-mile Cross-City Trail is a multi-use, offroad option for alternative transportation. "Pretty soon, the trail will connect right through Wallace Park and end at the new train station downtown," Orr says. The Nir Family YMCA is close by with a gym, racquetball courts, an outdoor track and two indoor pools. Brookwood is less than 10 miles from Wrightsville Beach.<br><br>About 1 mile south is the beginning of The Cargo District. Mess Hall is a popular spot that opened in 2020. It serves burgers, chicken sandwiches, and vegan options with crispy tater tots on the side. "It's a foodie town," Orr says. "On the restaurant front, you've got to be good to survive down here." More shopping and dining options are located downtown or in Independence Mall, both around a 2-mile drive. Residents can reach Harris Teeter, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's within about 3 miles. The Soda Pop district is close by, featuring Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard. “We have an overabundance of breweries and restaurants,” Orr says of Wilmington. “Everything is outdoor seating and mostly kid- and dog-friendly.”<br><br>During The North Carolina Azalea Festival, Cape Fear Garden Club's annual Garden Tour stops at a few Brookwood homes. Live Oak Pavilion is a newer downtown venue hosting shows and events. “It’s put us on the map for major music shows,” Orr says. “For the first time ever, Wilmington is getting top-performing artists."<br><br>While Brookwood is primarily residential, its location is only about a 15-minute drive from the best Wilmington has to offer in every direction. It’s bordered by Market Street and U.S. 17, which connects to I-40. Some locals walk or bike within the neighborhood, especially with the Cross-City Trail. However, Salzberg says, “Wallace Park kind of breaks up the walkability.” Wilmington International Airport is a 3.2-mile, or 8-minute drive away.