Visit Airlie Gardens near your Wilmington home.Take a break without having to go far from your Wilmington home and head out to Airlie Gardens. The gardens have everything from untouched meadows to carefully planted and trimmed formal gardens. The historic Wilmington real estate location has miles of trails for walking, outdoor sculptures, and historic buildings. A self-guided tour through the gardens takes around 90 minutes. The path is mostly paved, with less than half a mile of dirt trail. Tram tours are also available. Anyone interested in getting to know local birds should come for the monthly bird hike. Held the second Wednesday of the month, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., the hike is a great choice for both experienced and novice birders.

Relax on Idyllic Wilmington Real Estate

The garden hosts many summer events for Wilmington home owners to enjoy. Come for the summer concert series, which is held the first and third Fridays from May to September from 6 to 8 p.m. Follow the life cycle of the garden’s butterflies, then attend the butterfly release parties in July and August. As the weather turns cooler, the fun keeps going. The garden hosts its annual oyster roast in early October. Celebrate the holidays at Enchanted Airlie, a beautiful light show. This runs twice a night on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from the day after Thanksgiving until just before Christmas.

The regular season at Airlie Gardens goes from March 21st to December 31st, and the gardens are open every day of the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gardens are closed Mondays during the winter season. Admission is $9 for adults and $5 for Hanover County residents with identification. Visit Airlie Gardens to learn more.