Station/Boat Location~
USCGC Diligence(210') - Acet Program - MSO - Small Boat Station
Date there~
August 2006 - present 02/08
Weather~
Gorgeous!!! Perfect really, we arrived in August and were outside all day except from the hours of 11am-3pm when it was in the upper 90's. But Spring is in the 70's, summers peak in the 90's, Very humid, but all things air conditioned. There were a handful of days that hit 100. But few and far between. The fall is 70's to 50's. The winter is steady 40's and 50's. Never rains for more than a day. Then sunny sunny sunny. Wilmington is funny really, we get knicked by the cold fronts from the north, for a day or two then warm fronts from the south we're perfectly medium weather all year round. Though a note: if you have asthma or allergies they will kick into gear here. Be stocked on your asthmas medicine or antihistamines before you come.
Military facilities~
Aside from the work stations or gov't buildings NONE for spouses.
Medical~
TONS! For active duty they have assigned civilian MD's and Dentists, but if you don't like them it's easy to ask for a referral. We are Tricare standard by choice, and live on the economy and have had No problems finding Doctors, pediatricians, dentists etc to take tricare. There are 3 hospitals ( New Hanover reg. medical, Wrightsville Hospital and Brunswick Community Hospital in a 25 mile radius, along with MULTIPLE clinics, private practices, there are hundreds of doctors to choose from. My personal favorites , my pediatrician is Dr. Maria Austria , Leland Pediatrics, (Leland is 5 miles outside Wilmington, across bridge) and New hanover regional medical associates have a host of wonderful Adult doctors and referring specialist.Medical care is easy here as North Carolina is a hot bed for the medical world, Chapel hill University Hospital is a short 2 hrs drive away for the best pediatric/ women's / oncology etc hospital around. Unfortunately we've had the privilege of being patients at the pediatric hospital and it's outstanding, they take all tricare NO problems and world class specialist in my opinion. Wilmington has everything you could possible need medically here.
Housing~
No Coast guard housing, economy is a must, but there are affordable housing is you look just outside of the downtown area. Basically ther is historic downtown Wilmington, lots of houses, but in historic district expensive, if you look in Leland, Ogden, monkey junction and greater Wilmington you can buy a house for under 200k. Otherwise lots of houses, apts and town house for rent within BAH and within Wilmington. ( all of the above towns are basically Wilmington, just outskirts of. )
Shopping~
Lots of shopping, again everything you could need or want. There is Independance mall, with all your typical women's, kids apparel, electronics, ( gap, victorias secret, abercrombie fitch, American eagle, hallmark, books a million, radio shack, bath and bodyworks, etc. all typical mall sears, dillards, macys , belks etc)The Area grocery stores are Harris Teeter, food lion, Lowes grocery , and yes a piggly wiggly. Also downtown has plenty of cute historic shops, kilwins home made confections, island passage clothing, retro music , clothing, wine shoppes, sushi, thai food, german food, irish pubs, REAL New york pizzeria, you just have to go downtown hungry and explore. Plus there's Mayfaire plaza, a shopping area near the beach, upper end shopping with 16 movies cineplex. My favorite stores like Starbucks, Ann taylor clothing, Barnes and Noble , just to mention a few. You will also find health food stores ( Tidal Creek) olive garden, Romanos macaroni grill , texas steakhouse, red robin, taco bell etc Again, wilmington has at least one of everything you could possibly want.
Child Care/Schools~
Preschools are big business here, there must be over 50. No exaggeration. You have everything from home daycares, to daycare preschools, to church preschools, to private preschools to montessori, co-op, and 5 star preschools. Go to www.wilmingtonparent.org this is a magazine about wilmington for families, it has a good list of schools public and private K- 12th, plus monthly local happenings, festivals, children's museum, library events, farmers markets. There are 7 or 8 elementary schools 4-5 middle schools and 2 high schools. New hanover highschool, brunswick high. Roland grise is middle school.
Adult Schools~
For Adults, there is Cape Fear Community College a highly accredited community college and of course UNC-Wilmington branch, UNCW is huge, probably 10k students. with large campus and housing.
Fun Activities~
Again for nightlife and shopping go down town, Fondue, sushi, pizza, thai, french food, southern fusion food, southern comfort food, seafood, All downtown along with clubs, theater, live music. More shopping go to Mayfaire plaza, independance mall, or drive on 3 main roads for everthing else like target, costco, sams club, walmart etc. 1) market st. 2) oleander 3) college road these are main roads of wilmington and will have everything for dining, dancing and shopping.Now the beach!!! Love the beach,wrightsville beach is the closest and most family friendly, also check out tower 7 restaurant for some fish tacos and waiting for the surf. we live in leland and love it, we're across the bridge minutes from downtown, but we have parks, schools, restaurants, doctors and a brand new walmart within 3 miles. wilmington has lots of parks for kids, Children's museum is excellent, Fit for Fun , ( indoor park for kids under 5) cape fear museum, surfing surfing surfing! Deep sea fishing, and if you want the mountains that's a car ride away. But again check out wilmington parent even if you don't have kids it will give you activities like jazz society, BEER festivals, other arts, culture, free concerts at the park and anything else you want to do.
Homeport NC
USCGC Diligence(210') - Acet Program - MSO - Small Boat Station
Date there~
August 2006 - present 02/08
Weather~
Gorgeous!!! Perfect really, we arrived in August and were outside all day except from the hours of 11am-3pm when it was in the upper 90's. But Spring is in the 70's, summers peak in the 90's, Very humid, but all things air conditioned. There were a handful of days that hit 100. But few and far between. The fall is 70's to 50's. The winter is steady 40's and 50's. Never rains for more than a day. Then sunny sunny sunny. Wilmington is funny really, we get knicked by the cold fronts from the north, for a day or two then warm fronts from the south we're perfectly medium weather all year round. Though a note: if you have asthma or allergies they will kick into gear here. Be stocked on your asthmas medicine or antihistamines before you come.
Military facilities~
Aside from the work stations or gov't buildings NONE for spouses.
Medical~
TONS! For active duty they have assigned civilian MD's and Dentists, but if you don't like them it's easy to ask for a referral. We are Tricare standard by choice, and live on the economy and have had No problems finding Doctors, pediatricians, dentists etc to take tricare. There are 3 hospitals ( New Hanover reg. medical, Wrightsville Hospital and Brunswick Community Hospital in a 25 mile radius, along with MULTIPLE clinics, private practices, there are hundreds of doctors to choose from. My personal favorites , my pediatrician is Dr. Maria Austria , Leland Pediatrics, (Leland is 5 miles outside Wilmington, across bridge) and New hanover regional medical associates have a host of wonderful Adult doctors and referring specialist.Medical care is easy here as North Carolina is a hot bed for the medical world, Chapel hill University Hospital is a short 2 hrs drive away for the best pediatric/ women's / oncology etc hospital around. Unfortunately we've had the privilege of being patients at the pediatric hospital and it's outstanding, they take all tricare NO problems and world class specialist in my opinion. Wilmington has everything you could possible need medically here.
Housing~
No Coast guard housing, economy is a must, but there are affordable housing is you look just outside of the downtown area. Basically ther is historic downtown Wilmington, lots of houses, but in historic district expensive, if you look in Leland, Ogden, monkey junction and greater Wilmington you can buy a house for under 200k. Otherwise lots of houses, apts and town house for rent within BAH and within Wilmington. ( all of the above towns are basically Wilmington, just outskirts of. )
Shopping~
Lots of shopping, again everything you could need or want. There is Independance mall, with all your typical women's, kids apparel, electronics, ( gap, victorias secret, abercrombie fitch, American eagle, hallmark, books a million, radio shack, bath and bodyworks, etc. all typical mall sears, dillards, macys , belks etc)The Area grocery stores are Harris Teeter, food lion, Lowes grocery , and yes a piggly wiggly. Also downtown has plenty of cute historic shops, kilwins home made confections, island passage clothing, retro music , clothing, wine shoppes, sushi, thai food, german food, irish pubs, REAL New york pizzeria, you just have to go downtown hungry and explore. Plus there's Mayfaire plaza, a shopping area near the beach, upper end shopping with 16 movies cineplex. My favorite stores like Starbucks, Ann taylor clothing, Barnes and Noble , just to mention a few. You will also find health food stores ( Tidal Creek) olive garden, Romanos macaroni grill , texas steakhouse, red robin, taco bell etc Again, wilmington has at least one of everything you could possibly want.
Child Care/Schools~
Preschools are big business here, there must be over 50. No exaggeration. You have everything from home daycares, to daycare preschools, to church preschools, to private preschools to montessori, co-op, and 5 star preschools. Go to www.wilmingtonparent.org this is a magazine about wilmington for families, it has a good list of schools public and private K- 12th, plus monthly local happenings, festivals, children's museum, library events, farmers markets. There are 7 or 8 elementary schools 4-5 middle schools and 2 high schools. New hanover highschool, brunswick high. Roland grise is middle school.
Adult Schools~
For Adults, there is Cape Fear Community College a highly accredited community college and of course UNC-Wilmington branch, UNCW is huge, probably 10k students. with large campus and housing.
Fun Activities~
Again for nightlife and shopping go down town, Fondue, sushi, pizza, thai, french food, southern fusion food, southern comfort food, seafood, All downtown along with clubs, theater, live music. More shopping go to Mayfaire plaza, independance mall, or drive on 3 main roads for everthing else like target, costco, sams club, walmart etc. 1) market st. 2) oleander 3) college road these are main roads of wilmington and will have everything for dining, dancing and shopping.Now the beach!!! Love the beach,wrightsville beach is the closest and most family friendly, also check out tower 7 restaurant for some fish tacos and waiting for the surf. we live in leland and love it, we're across the bridge minutes from downtown, but we have parks, schools, restaurants, doctors and a brand new walmart within 3 miles. wilmington has lots of parks for kids, Children's museum is excellent, Fit for Fun , ( indoor park for kids under 5) cape fear museum, surfing surfing surfing! Deep sea fishing, and if you want the mountains that's a car ride away. But again check out wilmington parent even if you don't have kids it will give you activities like jazz society, BEER festivals, other arts, culture, free concerts at the park and anything else you want to do.
Homeport NC
