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PODS, a moving and storage company, has given Wilmington high marks again as a destination place.

Wilmington ranked first on the list of top locations people are moving to according to PODS' latest Moving Trends Report.

Wilmington is atop the rankings for a record-setting third year. This year it tied with nearby Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

North and South Carolina in general are seeing a steady cadence of growth with Raleigh, as well as both Myrtle Beach and Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, featured within the top five most moved to regions.

"Our fifth annual Moving Trends Report underscores the major trends that have shaped Americans' moving patterns and preferences over the past few years — an assumed desire for warmer climates, lower costs of living, and a greater focus on balance and quality of life," said Rich Schwartz, SVP of Corporate Operations at PODS.

With people gravitating toward a balanced “quiet life,” more Americans are calling Wilmington home due to lower costs of living without sacrificing their quality of life, a mild climate and access to nature, friendliness, and a laid-back lifestyle that is appealing to both families and retirees alike.

Wilmington is well known for Battleship North Carolina and the Cotton Exchange, a shopping complex consisting of historical buildings dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, located in downtown Wilmington.

Other attractions are Wilmington's 1.75-mile-long Riverwalk, seafood restaurants, markets, art galleries, narrated history tours and boat tours.

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The top 10 cities with the highest number of move-ins:

From good vibrations to country hits, several performers are set to headline a two-day Surf City concert series in November.

The Beach Boys are scheduled to play on Friday, Nov. 7, as part of Surf City Live NC at Soundside Park. The next day, Craig Morgan and Josh Turner with special guest Paige King Johnson will perform.

When do tickets go on sale?

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 23, at 10 a.m. To get tickets, go to surfcitylivenc.com.

More on The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys, which tour with original member Mike Love and longtime performer Bruce Johnston, rose to fame in the 1960s with an array of hits about beaches, girls and cars.

Some of the group's many hits include "California Girls," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Good Vibrations," "I Get Around," "Don't Worry Baby," "Kokomo" and "God Only Knows." The group's "Pet Sounds" album from 1966 remains one of the greatest of all time according to several lists, including Rolling Stone magazine.

The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 alongside The Beatles, The Supremes, The Drifters and Bob Dylan.

The 1963 song "Surf City," made famous by music duo Jan and Dean, was written by Beach Boy Brian Wilson and Jan Berry. However, it was about California beaches rather than the North Carolina one.

More on Craig Morgan, Josh Turner and Paige King Johnson

Morgan has hit the Billboard country charts more than 15 times. One of his singles, "That's What I Love About Sunday," rose to No. 1. Other songs include "Redneck Yacht Club" and "International Harvester."

Turner has also been a mainstay in country circles with songs such as "Long Black Train," "Your Man," "Would You Go with Me" and "Why Don't We Just Dance."

Johnson, a North Carolina native, has opened for several major acts including Kane Brown, Clint Black, Diamond Rio, Scotty McCreery, Tracy Byrd and Kylie Morgan.

Not too long ago, the N.C. Winegrowers Association hosted a wine-and-food event aboard the Battleship North Carolina. It was the start to this year’s N.C. Wine Month celebration in May, and a lovely evening with 17 wineries paired with samples from Wilmington-area chefs and restaurants.

It was also only the second time that they’ve hosted such an event in Wilmington. It won’t be the last, the organizers said. In fact, they’d like the event to get bigger and better in 2026.

It made me think about the last time I’d visited North Carolina’s wine country, which was probably more than 15 years ago. (In fact, the first time I wrote about Yadkin Valley was in 2003, when it became an official AVA, or American Viticultural Area.)

I shouldn’t have been surprised by how much it’s grown and developed since then. But I kinda was. It also led me to think about all of the local things we drink.

Restaurants make up the majority of what I write about, but I do try to also showcase what is happening in the bigger and broader hospitality industry. And it’s a lot, especially when it comes to beverages.

Recently, when I was reporting about Wilmington’s coffee culture, Amy Heggen, owner of Blue Cup Roastery and organizer of Wilmington Coffee Fest said that one of the things that most impressed her about Southeastern North Carolina was how robust the beverage businesses are locally, from breweries to distilleries.

We “punch above our weight,” she said. For a community our size, we have an incredible array of options here. It’s been building for years.

Front Street Brewery is celebrating 30 years in business after bringing the brewpub trend to Wilmington in 1995. The area’s own coffee brand, Port City Java, is also celebrating three decades in business this year.

Now, the area is home to a coffee (or tea) shop or brewery to fit just about every taste and mood. Three local distilleries, End of Days, Momentum and Wilmington Distillery, each have a unique tasting experience to offer visitors. Another local distillery is focused on expanding their reach. Blue Shark, in addition to working with local restaurants for custom cocktails, has been growing in availability along the coast and has most recently entered the the tough Florida market. They’re now also growing their Hacienda Chactun tequila brand and a line of flavored vodkas backed by the artist Wyland.

I was recently blown away by the very cool (ha!) ice program at Bespoke, and the small-batch bourbon cocktails aged in mini-barrels by Fred Flynn at Greenfield Lake Yacht Club.

And while regional wineries might not get the same attention, Duplin Winery, established in 1976, continues to be a leading wineseller. Closer to home, Gregory Farms Vineyard & Winery makes traditional, muscadine and fruit wine in Currie, N.C. Like Silver Coast Winery in Brunswick County, they’ve been hosting a variety of events. The owners recently told me that 800 people attended their Blueberry Harvest Festival in June 2024. They make their best-selling Red, White and Blueberry wine with local berries.

And that’s just the start. Some local companies are delving into the THC beverage business, others are making seltzers and sprit-free beverages. Local mixologists are putting just as much thought and creativity into their mocktails as their traditional cocktails.

So, when it comes to supporting local, what’s in your glass can matter just as much as what’s on your plate.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the area’s latest food news by signing up for the Port City Foodies newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.