Hi there,
I'll be headed out to Wilmington from NY this April for a wedding. What do you think, should I fly into Raleigh/Durham or the airport that is closer by? Also, do you think I should book ahead (I was thinking Jan.) for better fares? As a bonus, I'd love to hear about the top things I should do there - I don't know whether it will be beach weather yet. Thanks in advance!!

The airport in Wilmington is more convenient but more expensive to fly into. Myrtle Beach frequently has really good flights and is only about an hour from Wilmington.
The azaleas will be in bloom in early April. Wilmington has a very nice Azalea Festival.

Usually the first weekend (maybe the second weekend?) in April is the Azalea festival. The festival has a website, something like azaleafestival.com/gov/net/org.

The gardens will be alive with color. There is a city park (sorry, can't thing of the name) with a walk around the lake and the Ornton gardens. Also the USS North Carolina. And one of the NC aquariums is nearby. There is a movie studio (Screen gems?) where "Dawson's Creek" was filmed. I don't know if they give tours.

Water temps will be on the cool side, but you could stroll along the beach. Wrightsville is the closest, Myrtle Beach isn't that far (and check prices to their airport).

RDU airport is about 2 1/2 hours down I-40 to Wilmington. I don't know how the fares compare, but it is an easy, but boring drive.

Thanks, these are great ideas! And I hadn't considered Myrtle Beach, which would be much closer than R/D (perhaps less expensive than Wilmington, too). Off to check out fares!

The azaleas should be beautiful in April. You may get to be an extra in a movie as lots are filmed there. Better yet, you may run into JohnBoy, know him?

Robin,
USAir offers one direct flight a day to and from LGA - Wilmington. It leaves in the evening from LGA and first thing in the morning from ILM. I find it very convenient to leave right from work on Friday, then return on Monday morning, arriving at work in midtown just a few minutes after 9. That way I have two full days there. Last time I did that, I paid around $215 rt., purchasing a few months in advance. That is probably what you would pay to MB or Raleigh anyway, and even if it is more, it's worth it to me not to have to do the additional driving to Wilmington. I would more than make up for the $ difference in car rental.

Bring your sunscreen just in case you can get to the beach - the worst sunburn I ever got was on the beach at Wrightsville one Easter Sunday.

As tommy suspected, the prices look pretty much the same for Wilmingon (about $250 now) & Myrtle Beach, so I'll probably go that route. I'll definitely look into the azaleas - but I don't know JohnBoy...

I was thinking of renting a car to get around either way, unless you think cabs/buses are a better way to go?

You DEFINITELY want a car.