Residents played the role of tourist Sunday

Wilmington’s beauty, history, and entertainment attract thousands of tourists to the city every year; Sunday was a chance for residents to play tourist. Azalea belles and the Wilmington Sea Dawgs mascot, Salty Dawg, greeted the “hometown tourists” at the historic county courthouse.

A popular stop on the tour was the Burchetta Glassblowing Studio. Residents got to witness how glass is turned into art.

The Cape Fear Museum’s newest additions were also on display. It includes a gallery of southeastern North Carolina tobacco barns, and an exhibit highlighting the century of service the Cape Fear chapter of the American Red Cross has contributed to our region.

Bill Lash of Wilmington said, “Even though we live here in this beautiful city, we just go to work and get into a routine. Today gives you an opportunity to go out and enjoy everything that’s going on in your hometown and just to see things that you usually don’t visit. That is usually reserved just for the tourists, so it’s really a lot of fun to be out and about.”

Other popular stops along the tour included the Battleship North Carolina, Airlie Gardens, the Cameron Art Museum, and many more.