Wellness Trip Ideas in Wrightsville Beach, NC

Surfing

Named one of the top surfing towns in the world and the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina, the year-round waves of Wrightsville Beach attract amateurs and experts alike. Learn how to ride the waves with surf camps and schools like Indo Jax Surf School, Sean's Private Surf Instruction and WB Surf Camp, which offer private lessons and group classes for all ages. Whether you participate or cheer on competitors, experience the energy of the Carolina Pro-Am SUP Surf, held in Wrightsville Beach every spring. Visit a local surf shop, suit up with rental gear and hit the waves. Check out the current surf conditions here.

Yoga

Open to all ages, abilities and levels, BeUnlimited’s seasonal beach yoga classes on the Crystal Pier use movement, breath and the sounds of the Atlantic Ocean waves to produce a perfect “flow.” Register for a class and roll out your mat to experience true island Zen with breathtaking views of the sea.

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

Navigate Wrightsville Beach’s crystal blue waters while enjoying one of the island’s most popular activities: stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Thanks to the variety of nearby waterways, Wrightsville Beach is one of the best "SUP hubs" in the U.S., according to Outside magazine. Join in the fun of signature races like the annual Carolina Cup, one of the largest and most competitive SUP races in the world, as well as the largest race on the East Coast. Rent all the gear you'll need from local outfitters, including Cape Fear Paddleboarding and Wrightsville SUP. For an unforgettable experience, book a Wrightsville SUP night paddle, which features LED lights illuminating the water around you as you discover inland creeks under the moon and stars. Or, schedule a boat charter with Epic Excursions and add paddleboards to your customized excursion to explore uninhabited islands and picturesque waterways.

Biking

Take your adventure to two wheels and bike the scenic route around The Loop, or take a spin on the 11-mile River to the Sea Bikeway, which starts at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier in Wrightsville Beach and stretches to Historic Downtown Wilmington. Select from a range of rental options, including bikes from South End Surf Shop, or reserve fat tire and beach cruiser bikes from Wrightsville SUP.

Sailing

Come sail away on our island blues with a lesson or a relaxing, captained sailing cruise. Driven by steady breezes, our beautiful waterways and year-round sailing conditions make our island the perfect spot for sailors of all skill levels. Lessons are offered by Wrightsville Performance Sailing and the Blockade Runner Sailing Center, one of only five ASA-certified sailing schools in the state.

Kayaking

Paddle along the salt marsh lining the Intracoastal Waterway through the interior of the island along Bank's Channel or into the Atlantic Ocean surf. For a remote island adventure, kayak to Masonboro Island Reserve and discover an uninhabited, unspoiled barrier island full of local and migratory wildlife Rent a kayak from Soundside Adventures, Wrightsville Kayak Company or Wrightsville SUP. For a guided experience, sign up for a group kayak tour. Alternatively, rent an outrigger canoe from Wrightsville SUP for an invigorating day on the water.

Jogging

Take a walk, jog or run around The Loop – a 2.5-mile paved trail around the island – and savor sights of the inner island's waterways and marshes.

The Wilmington Road Runners host a weekly run starting at Wrightsville Beach Park that is open to visitors. The group also organizes the Seaside Shuffle 5K each fall. Lace up or cheer on competitors during the annual Novant Health Wilmington NC Marathon each February. Follow the course of this Boston Marathon qualifying event and USATF certified qualifier from Wrightsville Beach to Wilmington. Challenge yourself to the IRONMAN 70.3, which begins in Wrightsville Beach and combines a half marathon (13.1 miles) with a 1.2-mile swim and 56-mile bike ride.

Scuba Diving

Dive beneath the waters just off our island shore to explore hundreds of sunken sites. Through charters with WB Diving and Aquatic Safaris SCUBA Center, discover offshore reefs, ledges, shipwrecks and underwater habitats within a few miles of Wrightsville Beach. The Alexander Ramsey, a liberty ship purposefully sunk as an artificial reef, is popular with beginners. More advanced divers will find a day's worth of exploration at the Hyde and the Markham, two shipwrecks found just a few hundred yards away from each other. Marvel at natural underwater oases, such as Lobster Ledge and Fossil Ledge, home to abundant aquatic life, beautiful reef structures and Megalodon fossils. In fact, Wrightsville Beach is one of the few places in the world to find high concentrations of giant prehistoric Megalodon teeth!

Golf

Add tee time with your beach time at the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course. Created in 1926 by Donald Ross, this course was named in the top best municipal golf courses by Golf Week Magazine and is open year-round to the public.