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New Bern, NC: Where Fun and Adventure Meet – The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do!

New Bern is a photogenic town and it knows it. Tryon Palace photographs itself. The bear statues are scattered deliberately, so that finding them is the activity. It is worth being honest that this is a town of surfaces, and a good one. What you take home is a camera roll and a story about where Pepsi came from, which is a good deal more than a town this size usually manages.

You have arrived in New Bern, North Carolina and you are ready to see what the town holds. Historical landmarks through to natural escapes, artistic corners through to the downtown streets, and a long list of things to do and places to visit in New Bern.

Start with the history. The New Bern Civil War Battlefield Park is where Union forces took control of the town in 1862, and the ground still shows it. Tryon Palace was the first permanent capital of North Carolina and the Georgian-style architecture is worth standing in front of properly. And the birthplace of Pepsi is here, which is where one of the world’s better-known soft drinks actually started.

For time outdoors, head to Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park and take a quiet hike through the green. A boat tour gets you the waterways of New Bern from the water itself. And Union Point Park is where you take a picnic, with the Neuse and Trent Rivers running past in front of you.

Key Takeaways

• New Bern offers a variety of historical landmarks, natural escapes, and unique attractions.
• Downtown New Bern is a hub for artistic strokes, outdoor activities, and family-friendly fun.
• Don’t miss the birthplace of Pepsi and the town’s many historic churches.

Historical Journey

If you are a history buff, New Bern gives you a great deal to work through. From the Georgian-style Tryon Palace to the New Bern Civil War Battlefield Park, the history here is standing rather than commemorated. Here are the stops worth making:

Tryon Palace

You cannot discuss history in New Bern without Tryon Palace. The site was the former home of Royal Governor William Tryon and now works as a museum preserving the history of the area. The palace is a Georgian-style structure that will make you stop walking when you see it. Take the guided tour for the history of the building and the people who lived in it.

New Bern Civil War Battlefield Park

For Civil War history, the New Bern Civil War Battlefield Park is unmissable. The park holds the remains of the original New Bern battlefield and runs several walking trails through the historic ground. You can see the trenches and fortifications used during the battle, which are more affecting in person than any account of them.

New Bern Academy Museum

The New Bern Academy Museum is the other stop for history buffs. The museum occupies the former New Bern Academy, built in 1809. The exhibits cover the history of the academy and the people who attended it, alongside the wider history of New Bern. The collection of Civil War artifacts is the part worth the extra time.

Colonial history, Civil War history, or simply curiosity about New Bern, these stops are where to start. Step back and work through the history of this North Carolina town properly.

Natural Escapes

If you want a break from city noise, New Bern has real natural escapes. Relaxing parks through to scenic waterways, and the outdoors here starts at the edge of downtown. Here are the natural escapes worth the time:

Union Point Park

Union Point Park is a small green space in the heart of downtown New Bern, looking out over the Trent and Neuse Rivers. Walk the riverwalk, take a picnic onto the grass, or sit and watch the boats go past. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are there if you want to get onto the water yourself. Wild horses graze on the nearby marshes and turn up more often than you would think.

Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park

To get properly into nature, Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park is where to go. This 185-acre park holds deer, turtles and birds among other things. You can hike the forested trails, fish in the ponds, or take a picnic into the open fields. The park’s commitment to preserving the habitats is visible once you are walking in it.

Neuse River

The Neuse River runs through the heart of New Bern and carries most of the outdoor recreation here. Fishing, boating and kayaking all happen on it, and sitting and watching it is a legitimate use of an afternoon. Guided tours cover the river’s history and ecology if you want to understand what you are looking at.

Nature lover or somebody who simply wants a break, New Bern has the natural escapes. Relaxing parks through to scenic waterways, and all of it within reach of downtown. Pack a picnic, bring a camera, and go and look at it.

Artistic Strokes

If you care about art, New Bern, North Carolina will hold you. The city runs a number of galleries and studios carrying a broad spread of work, from paintings and ceramics through to sculpture. Go and explore the artistic side of the town.

Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Gallery

The gallery to prioritize in New Bern is the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Gallery. The gallery shows the work of local artists alongside artists from across the country. The range covers paintings, ceramics, sculptures and more besides.

The gallery sits in the heart of New Bern’s historic district, so you can walk the streets and look at the architecture before or after your visit. The artists themselves often come in to show new work, which means you may end up talking to the person who made what you are looking at.

Art collector or somebody after a souvenir with some character, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Gallery is worth the visit. You never know what will be on the wall when you walk in.

Downtown Delights

Looking for somewhere to spend a day? Downtown New Bern is the answer. Charming streets, historic buildings and unusual shops, and it is compact enough to work through on foot. Here are the stops worth making:

Middle Street

Middle Street is the heart of Downtown New Bern and it is easy to see why. The street is lined with shops, restaurants and galleries, which makes it the straightforward place to spend an afternoon. A good meal, some shopping, or simply a slow walk, and Middle Street covers all three.

Some of the highlights on Middle Street include the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, where you can learn about the history of one of America’s favourite soft drinks, and the New Bern Civic Theatre, which hosts a variety of shows throughout the year. And if you’re looking for a unique souvenir, be sure to stop by Bear City Fudge Company, where you can sample some of the best fudge in the state.

New Bern Farmers Market

If you’re a fan of fresh produce, handmade crafts, and friendly people, then the New Bern Farmers Market is the place for you. Located at 421 S Front St, this vibrant market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it’s the perfect spot to stock up on local goodies.

From peaches and apples through to handmade soaps and candles, the New Bern Farmers Market carries a real range. Live music turns up often enough that a musician playing is not unusual, which makes the whole thing worth photographing as well as shopping.

For a genuinely good way to spend a Saturday morning, head down to the New Bern Farmers Market. It is the part of the weekend people remember.

Outdoor Activities

Looking for outdoor time in New Bern? There is plenty here to keep you busy. Here are the outdoor activities worth doing in and around the town:

Fishing at Broad Creek

If you like fishing, Broad Creek is where to go. This waterway holds bass, catfish and more besides. You can fish from the shore or rent a boat and work the creek properly. Bring your gear and a cooler to keep what you catch.

Hiking and Biking Trails

New Bern has hiking and biking trails in quantity. A leisurely walk or a hard hike, both are available. The Neusiok Trail, the Croatan National Forest and the Emerald Isle Woods Park are the popular ones. For biking, rent a bike and cover the area on two wheels.

Canoeing and Kayaking

For something more active, canoeing or kayaking is the answer. New Bern has several waterways suited to paddling, including the Trent River, the Neuse River and Brice Creek. Rent a canoe or kayak and work through the scenery at your own pace.

Fishing enthusiast, hiker, or somebody after an adrenaline rush, New Bern’s outdoors covers all three. Get out there and use it, because most of it costs nothing.

Was Pepsi genuinely invented in this town? Yes, in 1893, by a pharmacist called Caleb Bradham, who first sold it under the name Brad’s Drink. And was Tryon Palace really the first permanent capital of North Carolina? Also yes, on both counts. Facts of that size do not usually turn up in the same small town, and both of them are still standing exactly where they happened.

Fun For Kids

If you are in New Bern with children, there is plenty here for them. Here are the options they will actually remember:

New Bern Firemen’s Museum

What child does not love fire trucks? At the New Bern Firemen’s Museum, your child can see and touch firefighting equipment from antique hand pumps through to modern engines. They can try on real firefighter gear and climb aboard a truck. It is a straightforward way to learn the history of firefighting and what firefighters actually do.

Hands-On Exhibits

Children want to touch things, and New Bern’s hands-on exhibits let them. From science museums to art galleries, there are interactive exhibits across the town that will hold them for hours. At the Children’s Museum of New Bern they can explore a mini city with a bank, a grocery store and a post office, climb a giant pirate ship and play at a water table. And at the Tryon Palace Museum they can dress in colonial costume and learn what life in 18th-century America looked like.

Whatever your child is interested in, New Bern has something that will catch it. Pack the family and head to this North Carolina town for a long weekend.

Historic Churches

If you are a history buff or you simply like good architecture, the historic churches in New Bern are worth the walk. Here are the ones to add to your itinerary:

Christ Episcopal Church

Christ Episcopal Church sits in the heart of downtown New Bern and is a clear example of Gothic Revival architecture. Built in 1855, the church carries stained-glass windows and a spire visible from a long way off. Take the guided tour for the church’s history and the part it played in the community.

First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church is the other one, established in 1809. The current building went up in 1923 and carries a neoclassical design with a dome that dominates the skyline. Inside, the sanctuary holds intricate woodwork and stained-glass windows worth the time to look at.

Both of these historic churches are religious sites and significant landmarks in New Bern’s history at the same time. Add them to your list of things to do and places to visit in New Bern.

The Birthplace of Pepsi

If you drink soda at all, the Birthplace of Pepsi in New Bern, North Carolina is unmissable. This small pharmacy-turned-gift-shop works as a Pepsi Museum, covering the history of the drink from the beginning.

Caleb Bradham’s Legacy

It started in 1893, when Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist, created a drink he called “Brad’s Drink” from sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg and other natural additives. The drink took off quickly, and Bradham renamed it Pepsi-Cola in 1898.

Despite the name and the stories, pepsin was never an ingredient in Pepsi-Cola. The name came from the digestive enzyme pepsin, which was thought to aid digestion. Bradham himself claimed the name Pepsi came from the words “pepsin” and “cola.”

Today you can visit the Birthplace of Pepsi and stand where it started. The original drugstore where Bradham invented Pepsi-Cola is still standing and now works as a museum and gift shop. You can work through the history, look at the artifacts and memorabilia, and drink a fountain Pepsi while you are in there.

So if you are in New Bern, stop at the Birthplace of Pepsi and pay your respects to Caleb Bradham. You may leave wanting to invent something yourself.

Unique Attractions

New Bern is full of things you will not find anywhere else. From bear statues to self-guided tours, there is a good deal here worth photographing.

Bear Statues

If you like bears, and most people do, the bear statues scattered through New Bern are the thing to look for. The statues are part of the “Bear Town Bears” project, which started in 2005 to promote tourism and support local artists. Each bear is decorated differently, so keep watching for them as you walk. The pirate bear, the firefighter bear and the one dressed as a ballerina are the favorites.

Self-Guided Tour

If you would rather set your own pace, a self-guided tour is the answer. New Bern runs several options, including a historic homes tour, a Civil War tour and a bear statue tour. Pick up a map at the New Bern Visitor Center or download one before you arrive. Be prepared to walk, because the stops are spread out.

New Bern also holds several statues honoring figures from the city’s past. Watch for the George Washington statue in front of Tryon Palace, the Richard Dobbs Spaight statue in Union Point Park, and the William Gaston statue on Middle Street. History buff or somebody looking for a good photograph, these are worth the detour either way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the deal with New Bern Museum? Is it a good spot for history buffs?

If you are a history buff, the New Bern Museum is unmissable. It covers the history of the area properly, from the Native American tribes who lived here first through the colonial settlers and beyond. The museum sits in the heart of downtown, which makes it an easy afternoon.

Looking for something to do in New Bern today? Any suggestions?

New Bern has plenty on whatever you are after. For outdoor time, head to Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park or Union Point Park. For culture, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Gallery or the Birthplace of Pepsi Store are the stops. And to simply sit down, the local breweries and coffee shops will take care of it.

What are some fun things to do in New Bern at night? Any recommendations?

New Bern is a small town and it does not lack an evening. For a night out, Beer Army Burger Company or Morgan’s Tavern & Grill do the food and drink. For live music, The City Laundry or The Brown Pelican are the places. And if you are feeling lucky, the slot machines at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino are there.

Where’s the best place to go shopping in New Bern? I need some retail therapy!

For shopping, downtown New Bern is where to go. The streets are lined with boutiques and shops, including The Accidental Artist and Bear City Fudge Company. For something more conventional, the New Bern Mall or the nearby Carolina Premium Outlets will cover it.

What are some must-try restaurants in New Bern? I’m hungry!

New Bern eats well, with plenty of good restaurants to work through. For classic Southern cooking, The Chelsea or The Country Biscuit are the answer. For seafood, try Captain Ratty’s or MJ’s Raw Bar & Grill. And for something further afield, Thai Angel or La Casetta Italian Cuisine.

Any fun activities for kids in New Bern? I need to keep them entertained!

New Bern has plenty for children of any age. Take them to the New Bern Firemen’s Museum for the history of firefighting, or the New Bern Aquatic Center for swimming and water slides. For something more active, rent a kayak or paddleboard from Bear Town Adventure Co. And for indoor time, the Bear Towne Escape Room or the New Bern Bowling Center will fill an afternoon.

Frequently asked questions about New Bern, North Carolina

Which New Bern park is worth a full afternoon rather than a walk-through?

Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park. It runs 185 acres with forested trails, ponds that you can fish and open fields to sit down in, and the wildlife shows up without being hunted for. Union Point Park is the other one, sitting downtown on the water, and it is better for an hour than for a whole day.

Is the Birthplace of Pepsi an actual museum or really just a gift shop?

Both, honestly. The original drugstore where Caleb Bradham invented the drink back in 1893 is still standing, and it now holds artifacts, memorabilia and a working soda fountain. It is a short visit rather than a whole afternoon. Have the fountain Pepsi while you are in there, because that is rather the point of going.

How much of the New Bern Civil War Battlefield Park can you actually see?

More than you would expect. The trenches and the fortifications from the 1862 battle are still in the ground, and the walking trails run directly through them. It is quiet and largely unstaffed, which suits the subject matter. Give it a morning and read the signage properly while you are there.

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