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There and Back Again: 8 Beaches
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There and Back Again: 8 Beaches

Explore the Wilmington area’s diverse coastal destinations

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Backroad Portfolio
Jun 26, 2025
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There and Back Again: 8 Beaches
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Photo of Carolina Beach Boardwalk courtesy of VisitNC

Backroads transport us to the places in-between. This regularly occurring feature takes you to and from two southeastern destinations via winding rural roads lined with charming small towns, captivating landscapes, historic structures and, in this particular journey, wide open beaches.

Our summer excursion is inspired by Bob and Darian Poliachik, residents of Leland, North Carolina, who decided to visit eight Wilmington-area beaches in one day. (Check out their story, written in their own words!) In honor of the Poliachiks’ ambitious idea, we’re stretching their journey out to two days, starting day one with a sunrise experience in Wrightsville Beach and finishing with dinner at Sunset Beach. The return trip home includes stops at a coastal museum, state park, and unique restaurants.

Driving time on day one amounts to 2 hours, 44 minutes, and 77 miles. The return trip takes 2 hours and 33 minutes, and covers 100 miles.

In this post, paid subscribers will find Google Maps links from Wrightsville Beach to Sunset Beach, then back again from Sunset Beach to Wrightsville Beach, plus bonus info about unique accommodations so you can book an overnight stay to break up your trip.

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