Hey, grandparents!
If you're visiting your grandchildren who are local to Wilmington, welcome to town! Whether you're coming from out of town, or you're the Wilmington local hosting the grandbabies, let me say, on behalf of the parents: THANK YOU for giving mom and dad a break! You're a lifesaver!
The weather is warm, the azaleas are blooming, and it's the perfect weather for taking your grandbabies on a weekend adventure. I know you can't wait, but you're probably a bit nervous. You haven't packed a diaper bag in a couple dozen years, and you don't want to underprepare, but you also don't want to have to lug around a giant backpack everywhere you go. Pro tip: you don't need to pack a billion things for your grandkids! Just by picking up a chic "grandma tote" and packing a few boutique essentials, you'll have everything you need. Here's our official guide on surviving a coastal spring adventure with your grandchildren!
Your First Stop: Strolling the Wrightsville Beach Loop
The sun, sand, and general chaotic-ness of a beach trip can be a real turn off when it comes to picking which activities to do with your grandchildren, and you know what? It makes sense! You remember from your parenting days, a trip to the beach with little ones is almost always a messy affair. Instead of turning the back of your car into a sandy mess, skip the shore and take a stroll down the iconic Wrightsville Beach Loop!
Find a chic (but durable!) canvas tote bag and use it as your designated "grandmama bag." It should be a good sized bag with enough room for snacks and playthings, so you can look chic and keep your purse free of clutter at the same time.
It's also imperative that you put sunscreen on your grandbabies! Their skin is extra sensitive, and you don't want the bright sun to cause any sunburns. Pack some cute sunnies or a little hat for your grandbaby in your grandmama tote, too, for extra protection against the coastal glare. Plus, they'll look extra adorable in all of the pictures you'll definitely be texting to mom!
Learn more at the Wrightsville Beach Loop's official website HERE.
Shop hats for kids HERE!
Shop accessories for boys HERE!
Shop accessories for girls HERE!
Your Second Stop: An Afternoon at Airlie Gardens
Although this isn't a super high-energy, exciting activity for little kids, it's a great way to spend the middle of the day with your grandbabies. This is a more relaxed, lowkey activity, which your grandbabies will need after that long walk around the loop. You'll enjoy taking in the beautiful sights at Airlie Gardens, walking through the live oak trees and blooming springtime flowers.
This is a slow, low-maintenance activity to spend your afternoon with, but there's still some gear you'll need to bring. Kids, especially toddlers, are all but guaranteed to get tired of walking through the gardens, and demand you stop for a snack break in the grass. Instead of just sitting down and risking grass stains on your grandkid's outfits, you'll need to bring something to lay out for them. Don't bother packing any oversized picnic blankets! A premium swaddle, like the ones we carry from Quincy Mae, can be a real lifesaver in this situation. It can fold up to the size of a wallet, so it fits right in your grandma tote, and it's the perfect impromptu picnic blanket for chilling and snacking under the trees.
Grandpa will probably start getting tired around this time, too. If you're dealing with a grumpy gramps, Airlie Gardens allows you to bring food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, most of the time. Grandpa can sip on a beer while he strolls, and you won't have to listen to him moaning about the heat.
Learn more on Airlie Garden's official website HERE.
Find the perfect impromptu picnic blanket, and shop our Quincy Mae baby gear HERE!
Your Third Stop: Lunch at a Local Brewery or Cafe
This is the "downtime" of your day. All of the walking is done, everybody's tummy is grumbling, and it's time to eat! A great choice for lunch is Wrightsville Beach Brewery if you're hanging out around mid-town, but there are tons of great choices all around Wilmington, especially downtown!
If you and the kiddos are craving a sweet treat, my top recommendation is Kilwin's! Their in-house ice cream and fudge is next level. As a lifelong Wilmingtonian, I can't name another place with better desserts!
Here's the problem: You'll need the kids to sit still while you're waiting on your food! Tuck a small toy away in your grandma tote to save you in this exact situation. You don't want anything big or encumbering, you really don't want anything loud or with flashing lights, and you definitely don't want them just mindlessly wasting time on a tablet or phone.
Maileg mice are a great tiny toy to carry along. They come in beautiful matchbox beds that are easy to transport, and they're always ready for quiet, imaginative play. Smaller dolls, like the ones we carry from Cuddle & Kind Co. are another good option. These high-quality toys are super soft and fit right into your tote, plus the brand has an amazing mission that we love. If your grandbabies like fast things that go "vrooooooom!" you can't go wrong with a toy car from Candylab. These are the perfect quiet, screen-free distractions to keep the kids sitting still while you all wait for your food!
Learn more about Wrightsville Beach Brewery on their website.
Learn more about Kilwin's fudge, ice cream, and other sweet treats on their website.
Shop our Maileg Mice Collection HERE!
Shop our Cuddle & Kind. Co. Dolls HERE!
Shop our Candylab Toys HERE!
Your Final Stop: Visiting Wrightsville Ave Boutique!
What's the perfect way to wrap up your Wilmington weekend with your grandbabies? A trip to Wrightsville Ave Boutique, of course! Visit our store in Mayfaire and pick up a toy, outfit, or other sweet gift for your grandbaby! Days out with grandmama and gramps are exactly what fond childhood memories are made of, and this is the perfect way to wrap up your big adventure.
Need to stock up before hitting the town? Stop by the shop for sunnies, swaddles, and toys for your weekend with the grandbabies, or check out what we have online!