When planning a vacation to the North Carolina coast, Wilmington, Cape Hatteras and Nags Head are first places to come to mind. Many people often overlook the small towns and enclaves that dot the Tar Heel state’s vast coast. These hidden gems offer history, relaxation, culture and fun activities for the entire family to discover.
A great place for a coastal North Carolina vacation is New Bern. Located where the Trent and Neuse Rivers meet before spilling into the Pamlico Sound, the city is the second oldest in the state. Settled by the Swiss in 1710 and named after the city of Bern, Switzerland, New Bern served as the capital of the North Carolina colonial government and later briefly as the state capital immediately following the Revolutionary War.
New Bern’s rich history can be seen as you wander it’s old narrow streets lined with small shops and cafes. One of our favorite places to grab a bite to eat is The Chelsea, located at 335 Middle Street. The restaurant offers casual dining at a great price. Their fried green tomatoes are superb. You can follow your meal with a short walk over to Bradham’s drugstore, located at 256 Middle Street, for an ice cold beverage. It was there that pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented “Brad’s Drink” in 1898, which was later renamed and marketed at Pepsi. Today, the store is owned and operated by Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company and offers Pepsi, of course, as well as variety of Pepsi souvenirs and memorabilia for sale. Afterwards, New Bern Tours offers a 90-minute trolley ride through downtown, providing a look at many of New Bern’s other historic sites.
If you’re a fan of history and architecture, I recommend these must-see places:
Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens
Tryon Palace was built under the direction of North Carolina Governor, William Tryon, and completed in 1770. The elaborate building became ”a monument of opulance and elegance extraordinary in the American colonies.” In 1775, when the Revolutionary War began, the mansion was siezed by the Patriots and converted into the North Carolina state capital building. It remained as such until Raleigh was declared the capital in 1794. Later, in 1798, the building was consumed by a fire that started in the cellar. To preserve New Bern’s colonial heritage, the massive structure was reconstructed in the 1950s and is now a state historic park.
When visiting this historic site, wear your walking shoes. The expansive Palace gardens, which overlook the Trent River are a great place to wander and enjoy shady trees, fountains, colorful flowers and a spectacular view. And adjacent to the Palace are other historical structures, including, a house built in the 1830s for George W. Dixon, a wealthy merchant tailor, who was also a former mayor of New Bern; the Hay House, built at the start of the 1800s; and the New Bern Academy, the first school in North Carolina established by legal mandate, in 1766. Like Tryon Palace, the original academy building was destroyed by fire. The current structure was built between 1806 and 1809.
Historic Churches
Like many colonial towns and cities, churches played a major role in New Bern’s history. Many of the old structures can be found in the city’s downtown, offering a look at some interesting architecture.
The Christ Episcopal Church celebrated its 268th anniversary in 2008 and is the oldest church in New Bern and one of the oldest in North Carolina. Located at 320 Pollock Street, the current Gothic Revival building was rebuilt in 1871–1885 after a fire gutted the c. 1821–1824 church. It’s graveyard still contains a number of eighteenth-century stone markers. King George II of England gave the church a silver communion service, a prayer book, and a Bible in 1752 that are still in use today. Another Gothic Revival church is the First Baptist Church at 239 Middle Street, built in 1847.
First organized as a congregation in 1772, construction of the Centenary United Methodist Church was 1905. Standing at the corner of New and Middle streets. The church features rounded walls and turrets that give it a Moorish look.
The oldest continually used church building in New Bern, First Presbyterian Church was built between 1819 and 1822. Located at 412 New Street, the church is surrounded by a cast-iron fence that dates from 1903.
Celebrating the Arts
Located at 516 Hancock Street, the Masonic Theatre, which dates its beginning to 1805, was once the cultural center of New Bern. Architects described it as “the largest and most elaborate building ever built in New Bern up to its time, with the exception of Tryon Palace.”
Through its more than 200 years, the Masonic Theatre was the scene of many stage plays, talent benefits, concerts, vaudeville acts, political rallies, civic conventions, school commencements, church services and other community gatherings. During Civil War, it was used as a Confederate arsenal and later as a hospital when Union forces occupied New Bern.
After having served all this time as New Bern’s chief place for civic gatherings, it became a motion picture theatre in 1917 and remained so until 1974 when it closed. It was the nation’s oldest continually operating theatre until that time. The theatre is currently being resorted to its historical glory and offers a variety of shows and performances.
For the first three decades of the twentieth century, New Bern was known as the “Athens of North Carolina” because of its many artistic and educational endeavors. While the Great Depression put a halt to much of the activity, a rebirth occurred in the 1970s, and today locals enjoy performances and exhibits from an ever-increasing number of local and touring artists. Along with with many art galleries throughout downtown, New Bern’s main venue for arts is the Bank of the Arts, located at 317 Middle Street. It’s a great place to see the work of local painters, sculptors and other artists showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.
Fun on the Water
There’s a saying in New Bern – “water sports are NOT a luxury in New Bern. They are ‘our thing.’” The city’s location on two rivers and close proximity to the Pamlico Sound certainly do make New Bern a great place for fun on the water. Whether cruising the rivers in a power boat, taking a leisurely sail boat ride, skimming across the water on a wake board, kayaking or canoeing a narrow, calm creek or casting a fishing line, there are plenty of water activities to suit everyone’s desire.
If you’re not into getting in or on the water, you can enjoy a relaxing walk at the Union Point Park, a scenic six acre site located at the point of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in downtown New Bern. The hallmark, a recently constructed Gazebo frequently used for weddings, festivals, and various special events, highlights what is a magnificent and breathtaking view. The park complex includes a walkway bridging Union Point Park with nearby Bicentennial Park, two boat launches, restroom facilities, picnic tables, fishing pier, grills, and a small playground.
And, don’t forget, New Bern is also just a short drive (or sail) from the beaches and marinas of the Atlantic Ocean. You can rent a car and head to nearby Morehead City, Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, or Atlantic Beach for a day in the sand and sun.
While in Atlantic Beach, be sure to visit the 398-acre Fort Macon state park. Built between 1826 and 1834 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the pentagon-shaped fortress was the scene of a significant Civil War Battle while occupied by Confederate troops. The fort was under a Union artillery siege from March 23 to April 26, 1862. Its fall into Union hands gave the Northern forces complete control of the entire North Carolina coast. It was re-garrisoned during the Spanish-American War and again during World War II.
How to Get There and Where to Stay
New Bern is surprisingly easy to travel to by air with daily flights offered by U.S. Airways via Charlotte and Delta via Atlanta. The airport is located just off Highway 70, just minutes south of downtown. New Bern is only a two hour drive from Raleigh via Highway 70 and a just under two hour drive from Wilmington via Highway 17.
New Bern offers a variety of accomodations from the major hotel chains like the Sheraton New Bern Hotel & Marina and Comfort Suites Riverfront Park to the small, quaint bed and breakfasts, such as the Harmony House Inn and Meadows Inn.
As always, these are just a few of the sites and things to do. New Bern offers much more that can’t be fit into a single post. Book your vacation today and you’ll discover much, much more.
Photos by Jason Roth and VisitNewBern.com
