Generally, when I tell people that my favorite show is Dawson’s Creek I get exactly three reactions! Either I get people that say, “Oh my gosh I love that show,” or I will get, “That show is so old. Why do you watch that? And aren’t you too old for that?” And some people get Dawson’s Creek confused with One Tree Hill which was also filmed in Wilmington but even though I kind of dug the show for a bit the show just became insanity and One Tree Hill cannot be compared to Dawson’s Creek!
Basically, I have learned to turn off any negative comments throughout the years and yes I am a newly 34-year-old woman and I am allowed to fangirl any freaking thing that I want! I will probably fangirl about Dawson’s Creek for the rest of my life and I am actually ok with that!
I have wanted to visit Wilmington, North Carolina forever and after 18 long years, my parents actually got to take me to visit the birthplace of Dawson’s Creek on December 30, 2016!
Now it is time to cue the Paula Cole, “I Don’t Wanna Wait” (Especially since the song is now axed out of the original credits!) and row Joey’s boat over to Dawsonland!
The first day of the trip! We went over to Southport first before we settled to Wilmington! They filmed many of the beachy/dockside scenes in Southport and the picture above is where The Longest Day Season 3 was filmed! In this picture, there is a scene of Pacey and Joey sneakily kissing inside this yellow shed while Dawson is literally outside!
I think that the season one Boyfriend episode did a few shots here!
The town of Wilmington! Literally feels like I am stepping into the set of DC!
The famous Black Cat Shoppe! Black Cat Shoppe was the CD store set for Dawson’s. They have DC memorabilia here as well as some One Tree Hill stuff as well.
Wilmington looks magical at night and it’s actually pretty quiet! Walking around at night felt like getting transported to an episode of DC! It’s literally identical to the show! Even the sounds around the town are the same! Can’t explain it!
Dinner time spot at The Reel Cafe and I just couldn’t resist ordering the Dawson’s Creek drink and sitting right by the Dawson table!
The University of North Carolina was the backdrop for Capeside High School! If you visit Alderman Hall you will see the exact building where they filmed the outside of Capeside High! This experience was so surreal and I found it so cool that they dedicated a bench to the show!
Having an awesome time exploring Wilmington with my Mom!
Causing some trouble in Capeside High and hoping to attract Pacey’s attention!
The Dockside Restaurant was filmed for scenes of The Icehouse where Joey Potter worked!
This is Airlie Garden and this spot here was the scene in the first season where Pacey and Joey were hunting for snails! Love this episode where they first bonded!
More amazing pictures of Airlie Garden! This spot is known as the famous “ruins” where Dawson and Jen had their first kiss and where many intimate moments were shared by the DC kids in general!
I was absolutely in love with The Ruins! The spot is quite magical and it’s actually used frequently for weddings!
I went on a Dawson’s Creek Tour called Wilmywood located in the Black Cat Shoppe. Wilmywood Tours happened to mention a cool place to get DC memorabilia called Whatever…Wilmington! I just have to say thank you Wilmywood Tours because I found a season five Dawson’s Creek script “100 Light Years From Home” and a vintage 90210 comic book! They have so many original pop culture items here that it’s well worth the visit for anything pop culture related!
Pacey and Andie had some romantic moments here in front of this building called the Alton Lennon Federal Building! Especially in front of the fountain!
The scoop from Wilmywood Tours is that Blue Post Billiards is the spot where Katie Holmes went with Joshua Jackson to get a drink and at the time Holmes was only 20-years-old and they refused to serve her. Supposedly both of them stormed off! Scandal!
The picture of the building in South Water Street is where Joshua Jackson and James Van Der Beek actually lived together through the filming of the show!
Village Market is the place where Mitch (Dawson’s dad) went to get milk and the fatal ice cream! The picture next to Village Market is the famous wall where Pacey painted the famous words, “Ask me to stay,” to Joey Potter!
Now, this is the famous Elijah’s seafood restaurant which is filmed as Pacey’s restaurant in the last season! I was never able to eat here but I intend to eat here on my second trip to Wilmington! This spot is absolutely breathtaking and has some pretty amazing views of the Cape Fear River!
Ok I can explain this picture…on the season finale of DC Joey walks into Pacey’s restaurant holding an umbrella and here is my mom taking a picture of me goofing around pretending to hold an umbrella!
Thalian Hall is the place that was filmed as the movie theatre for Capeside! They were many awkward dates held in this very spot! Thalian Hall is actually held as a performing arts center… so you can say that it was kind of odd for me to ask if I could go inside an empty stadium!
BUT I DID IT ANYWAY!
Hell’s Kitchen is like transporting yourself right into Season 6 of DC! This is the location where Joey Potter took a job as a waitress in Hell’s Kitchen and fell for the adorable Eddie Doling! #drool. Hell’s Kitchen is literally a carbon copy of the show and it’s very much a college town kind of restaurant! We spent New Year’s Eve here and it was the perfect spot to chill and kick off the New Year!
Our waitress literally looked like an Emma! Emma was the waitress that hired Joey Potter!
I am sure this is where Audrey and her band performed! This band was kind of awesome btw since their repertoire consisted of 90’s to early 2000’s alternative covers!
Island Passage was filmed as a boutique for DC and I believe it was a makeup boutique kind of place! Correct me if I am wrong! Right next to Island Passage are pictures of Black Cat Shoppe and the views of lovely Wilmington during the day!
Kabob Grill is the location of Dawson Leery’s Fresh Fish! Totally got some weird looks as I was taking pictures inside the restaurant!
My DC gang took a picture in this very spot! Minus the trash can of course!
Sadly this is the end of my trip but I ended it by reading the Dawson’s Creek script on my flight back home! Ahh! #nostalgicjunkie
Happy 20th Anniversary Dawson’s Creek!
I can’t possibly believe that twenty years ago I was 14-years-old on January 20, 1998, when I watched the first episode air of Dawson’s Creek! I knew the show was going to have a huge impact on me when I saw Joey rowing her boat away from Dawson’s house in dramatic fashion to the Pretender’s song in the background I’ll Stand By You. I remember when Joey was in tears because Dawson wouldn’t answer her question about, “How many times does he walk his dog?”
The emotion of this scene made me cry along with Joey even though I had no freaking idea what the heck Dawson was really saying when Joey asked Dawson this personal question! Even though there were so many things that went over my head at 14-years-old, this show is near and dear to my heart, it taught me about growing up, how decisions can affect the whole trajectory of our lives, and most importantly to NEVER SAY NO TO PARIS!
Do you <3 Dawson’s Creek as much as I do?! Let me know what your favorite teenage show is in the comments below!
