Field notes, history and honest tips from the travellers who love Wilmington International — written to make your trip more enjoyable.
The best thing about ILM: these days you can fly to most of the big cities around the world. Pick a row, read the field notes.
From a stubborn little airstrip to an international airport — a story of passion, fate and resilience.
The airport has been on a growth trajectory thanks to its connections to many other cities within America and beyond — but it all started with a small airstrip, a love story, and a fallen hero named Bluethenthal.
Read the historyIt was never an outright commitment to succeed in the airline industry. Longer runways, a new terminal, customs and immigration — and in 1988, the field was ready to welcome the world.
Follow the journeyNamed Bluethenthal Field; Warren Pennington makes the first flight.
WWII: the field becomes a US Air Force command and operations center.
Piedmont Airlines begins commercial flights — soon three a day.
The runway is rebuilt for the biggest planes of the day, led by the Boeing 737.
International status: the New Hanover International Airport is born.
Renamed Wilmington International Airport — ILM, aligned with its hometown.
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Treats every scene the way good travel writing treats a city — with feeling.
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Proves the most interesting rides never follow a fixed route.
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The terminal's not the only place built for curves.
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Some seasoned travellers refuse to sit quietly in the lounge.
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Makes home feel like the strangest destination on the map.
Visit partnerOnce you've landed: where to eat, sleep, wander and play in Wilmington and along the Cape Fear coast.
Dolphins, deserted islands, kayaking and a beach for every taste — a field guide to one of the country's best-kept coastal secrets.
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Four hotels we'd happily check into again — from riverfront luxury to smart mid-priced picks near Wrightsville Beach.
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Five spots where the chefs were born to take care of your stomach — oyster bars, buffets and a 19th-century riverside house.
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Trails, piers, Segway tours through haunted streets and an 18-hole championship course — recreation for every season.
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Dallas comes closer for the holidays: the story behind ILM's first direct route into the Central Time Zone.
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No long security lines, a putting green, free car-seat checks and rocking chairs — a love letter with evidence.
Read the notes →Our three-part inquiry into a simple question: why are Wilmington's tourist attractions so attractive?
Yacht charters, a family-run animal park, an old trolley and a battleship with fifteen battle stars.
№2Riverwalks and piers, water sports, family fun and 67 acres of gardens under a 470-year-old oak.
№3What actually makes an attraction attractive? A closing argument — and an open question to you.
Ten minutes from downtown Wilmington, just off 23rd Street. Look for the control tower.
Businesses worth landing on when you touch down in Wilmington or beyond.
Its directors bring the same obsessive craft as a great travel documentarian.
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An unsorted library worth exploring between connecting flights.
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ILM's layover list just got a lot more tempting.
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Redefines what it means to hand over the controls entirely.
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Behind every ordinary-looking front door, a remarkable story waits.
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