Think Spanish moss, dreamy boats, and beautiful sunsets…and you have New Bern. It’s a charming little riverfront city just east of Raleigh, known as the birthplace of Pepsi and the home & inspiration of Nicholas Sparks. And it’s jam-packed with history!
Spring in the Carolinas is unbeatable, so I’ve been scheduling some trips around the area this season. New Bern is a few hours from Charlotte and the perfect destination for a peaceful, nature-filled weekend away from the hustle and bustle. What’s more? The location is extremely walkable (I didn’t use my car once).
Here are some of the highlights of our trip:
TRYON PALACE
Formerly known as Governor’s Palace, Tryon Palace was actually North Carolina’s first permanent capitol! The property features 21 acres of gardens and grounds, with gorgeous views of the Trent River. Spring is the perfect time to visit because the sculpted revival gardens are in bloom and so vibrant. You can also see the state-of-the-art Kitchen Office where meals were made, and the Stable Office where horses were kept in the 1770s.
CYPRESS HALL
If you visit, you HAVE to enjoy a meal at Cypress Hall! It’s a brand-new restaurant in the downtown area, specializing in Southern cuisine with fresh ingredients from Eastern North Carolina. From the ambiance & service to the food, drinks, and desserts, the experience was top-notch. It was probably our favorite dinner from the whole trip.
As you can see, we had a very strawberry-themed night with the drinks, salad, and dessert! If you do like a more fruity dessert, the strawberry cake slice is to die for. It tastes identical to strawberry shortcake, and is super light and fresh with a whipped cream frosting.
SCENIC RIVER CRUISE
You can’t visit New Bern without enjoying the beautiful scenery from the waterways! I recommend Anchors Up—the cruise is about 2 hours and they use a quiet, 22-foot enclosed duffy boat (so you can hear the water & birds chirping). It was super relaxing and our guide knew all about the local area, its history, and the gorgeous waterfront homes down the Trent River. We even saw a few osprey in their nests!
Persimmons is a easy ending point for the water tour! It’s a locally-owned waterfront restaurant located on the shores of the Neuse River with an elegant yet casual atmosphere. The restaurant has three dining venues (downstairs, upstairs, or waterfront) and is gorgeous at sunset too. You can sip a cocktail and enjoy delicious bites while watching the boats drift by…it doesn’t get better than that!
THE CHELSEA
This cute indoor/outdoor bistro is a perfect lunch stop. The Chelsea serves new American cuisine and is actually a popular catering spot in the area as well. Their seafood is fresh and flavorful, and they have such a fun menu of seasonally-inspired cocktails. The brussels salad and shrimp pasta were an amazing pick-me-up after a morning in the sun at Tryon Palace!
Another fun fact: This little spot is mentioned in a couple of Nicholas Sparks’ novels, as are many of the landmarks/hotspots around New Bern—and I see why!
DOWNTOWN EXPLORING
Because New Bern is so walkable, everything on this list is within a short radius. But, if you’re wanting to explore a bit without a plan, the downtown area is perfect for that. There’s dreamy Spanish moss, quaint homes, a clock tower, Nautical Star Coffee Company (the coffee shop we loved each morning), and plenty of local shopping.
Oh, and ice cream! Historic towns always seem to have the BEST homemade ice cream, and New Bern definitely proved that theory right. We tried the strawberry and peach from Cow Cafe downtown—but they had so many unique flavors if you aren’t on a fruit kick like we were!
LOCAL ART
If you’re an art lover, the Craven Arts Council & Gallery is a fantastic place to see the amazing creativity of local artists. They also do community events and more! We visited during New Bern’s very first Arts in April, so there were lots of exhibitions and live concerts which made for a fun atmosphere while exploring.
OTHER FAVORITES
Baker’s Kitchen is a local hotspot! It’s a restaurant and bakery with all-day breakfast and always seemed to have a long line outside the door (which is always a good sign). They have daily pies, fresh breads, and more!
If you love sushi, Kuma Sushi Bar was incredible! Along with Cypress Hall, it’s one of the newest additions to the downtown area. The vibe and decor inside are so beautiful, and it’s right next to Baxters 1892—which made for an easy pop over after dinner!
Baxters 1892 is a Roaring Twenties-inspired cocktail bar located in the historic Baxter Building. There is live music, a huge menu of amazing savory and sweet tapas, and unique drinks. The outside of the building is so fun too, with a whole display of antique clocks!
