The 15 Best Things to Do in New Bern, North Carolina

If you’ve ever read a Nicholas Sparks book (or seen a movie adaptation), you’ve likely fallen in love with a fictional character. We can’t help but swoon over the chemistry between Will and Ronnie in The Last Song, or the tragic young love between Landon and Jamie in A Walk to Remember. And of course, we’re forever in awe of the unbreakable bond between Noah and Allie in The Notebook. While the characters in Sparks’s novels aren’t real, many of the places where their love stories unfold are. Take for example, New Bern, North Carolina. Sparks’s adopted hometown also happens to be the setting for some of his most popular novels. A Bend in the Road, The Return, The Wedding, and most notably The Notebook are all set in New Bern.

Everything about New Bern, from its scenic setting on the Trent and Neuse Rivers to its centuries-old churches and historic downtown, make it the perfect backdrop for a Southern romance. The town of around 31,000 people in east North Carolina was founded in 1710, making it the second oldest town in the state. It’s part of a region known as North Carolina’s Inner Banks, which means while it’s not quite on the ocean like neighboring Outer Banks towns, it’s still decidedly part of the Carolina coast. Expect days to be filled with activities like standup paddle boarding, pontoon boat cruises, and waterfront dining. If you've ever wished to be transported inside one of Nicholas Sparks’s novels, New Bern quite literally gives you the opportunity to live out your dreams. Here are the 15 best things to do in New Bern, North Carolina.

Walk Around Union Point Park

It doesn’t get more picturesque than a golden hour walk at Union Point Park that ends with a sunset show under the park’s iconic green-roofed gazebo. The six-acre site in historic downtown marks the convergence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, and is a popular gathering space that includes two boat launches, grills, a playground, picnic tables, and a fishing pier.

Shop At Downtown’s Local Businesses

Stroll the tree-shaded streets of historic downtown New Bern to find all kinds of treasures, from quirky antique stores and art galleries to artisan shops and boutiques housed in historic homes. The Black Cat Shoppe is a colorful spot for eclectic oddities and The Next Chapter Books & Art carries on the town’s rich literary history that dates to 1783 when the state’s first bookstore was opened in New Bern.

visitnewbern.com/new-bern-downtown

Take A Self-Guided African American Heritage Tour

Learn about Black history in New Bern and its surrounding regions by exploring its African American Heritage Trail. The trail is made up of 16 panels at 10 sites in the Craven Terrace and Dryborough neighborhoods that tell the stories of historical events, people, and places that pertain to Black history in New Bern. The entire trail covers 1.3 miles and takes around 30 minutes to complete.  

visitnewbern.com/african-american-heritage-tours-and-history

Visit Tryon Palace

New Bern was once home to the state’s capital building, and you can see a replica of it, plus historic homes and spectacular gardens at Tryon Palace, which was built in the 1760s as a home for the Royal British Governor when North Carolina was just a colony. A one-day pass to the site includes entry into the North Carolina History Center, a tour of the governor’s mansion, and access to four historic homes and the complex’s 21 acres of meticulously upkept gardens.  

tryonpalace.org; 529 South Front Street, New Bern, NC 28562; 1-800-767-1560

Have A Drink At The Birthplace Of Pepsi

One of New Bern’s many claims to fame is that Pepsi was invented there in 1898. 100 years later, the town decided to honor the major milestone with a Birthplace of Pepsi historical site and experience in the heart of downtown. Free to the public, head inside to learn about the history of Pepsi, buy Pepsi-themed merchandise, and get an ice-cold Pepsi from the old-school soda fountain.

pepsistore.com; 256 Middle St., New Bern,  NC 28560; 252-636-5898

Have Breakfast At Baker’s Kitchen

This downtown eatery is beloved for breakfast thanks to two things, their Dutch Potatoes and their Butter Syrup. The creamy, rich, and cheesy potato dish is perfect alongside a short stack of pancakes smothered in their addictive butter syrup. The stuff is so good they’ve even bottled it for diners to take home.

bakerskitchennb.com; 227 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560; 252-637-0304

Enjoy Dinner At Cypress Hall

After training at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina, Chef Ashley Moser returned home to open Cypress Hall Kitchen + Bar in New Bern. His menu focuses on seasonal, local, and fresh ingredients in New American dishes like ricotta gnudi with summer squash, asparagus, brown butter, and Parmesan or pork cheeks with rice grits, collards, smoked ham, lemon, and chive.

cypresshallrestaurant.com; 219 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560; 252-633-5909

Sample Smoked Meats At Harry’s BBQ

The South is known for its legendary barbecue, and North Carolina’s specific variety brings a little something special even to that. If you want real deal smoked meats, Harry’s is the place to go. Fill your platter with meats like pulled pork, sausage, ribs, and pastrami beef rib surrounded by classic Southern sides like corn pudding, potato salad, braised greens, hush puppies, and pit beans.

harrysblindtiger.com; 243 Craven St, New Bern, NC 28560; 252-631-2672

Book A Charming Stay

Most folks fall head over heels in love with New Bern from the moment they arrive, but a stay in a bed and breakfast is always enough to seal the deal. The Aerie, located in downtown New Bern, is an impressive Italianate Victorian that dates to 1882. Each of its nine guest rooms and suites are uniquely decorated, but all offer modern amenities and plenty of Southern hospitality. Other worthy options include Hanna House Bed & Breakfast and modern boutique hotel The Harvey.

Go Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Take advantage of New Bern’s coastal locale by renting a standup paddle board from Banx Watersports, which is perched on the water’s edge. The company’s private launch on Lawson Creek gives access to both the Trent and Neuse Rivers, so your paddling adventure is limitless.

banxwatersports.com; 1305 Country Club Road, New Bern NC 28562; 252-638-3000

Get A Treat At Bear City Fudge Company

New Bern was named after the Swiss capital city of Bern, which is an old Germanic word for bear. As such, New Bern’s unofficial nickname is Bear Town, and you can find painted statues of the animal all over town. Celebrate the mascot and satisfy your sweet tooth at Bear City Fudge Company, where you’ll find a wonderland of confections and sweet treats that include homemade fudge, pralines, truffles, and ice cream.

bearcityfudge.com; 236C Middle St., New Bern, NC, 28560; 252-636-1360

Cruise The Neuse On A Pontoon Boat

See the beauty of New Bern by boat on one of four daily excursions that depart from the New Bern Grand Marina. During the 90-minute cruise along the Neuse River, a captain relays stories and facts about New Bern. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. Daytime tours leave at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.; a sunset tour departs at 6:30 p.m.

cruisetheneuse.com; 101 Craven Street, New Bern, NC, 28560; 252-772-1876

See New Bern Through Nicholas Sparks’s Eyes

It’s always cool to read about a place and then see it in person. If you’ve read A Bend In the Road, The Wedding, or The Notebook, you can have plenty of those page-to-real-life experiences in New Bern. The city’s Walk to Remember tour points out 15 landmarks around town that are all mentioned in Sparks’s novels. Places like Tryon Palace (mentioned in both A Bend in the Road and The Wedding), the Masonic Theater (The Notebook), and the famous Alfred Cunningham Bridge (The Notebook) are all on the list.

visitnewbern.com/a-walk-to-remember-tour-details

Take A Historic Trolley Tour

The best way to get an overview of the city is on a 90-minute historic trolley tour. Operating from March through December, the tours take passengers around downtown New Bern and to historic landmarks including New Bern Academy Museum, Cedar Grove Cemetery, and Christ Episcopal Church. While you ride, a historian will relay interesting details, historical narratives, and true stories about what you’re seeing.

newberntours.com; 1311 N Craven St., New Bern, NC 28560; 252-637-7316

Enjoy A Waterfront Meal at Persimmons

Views of the water abound in New Bern, and one of the best places to get a particularly great one is at Persimmons, which sits on the end of a short dock suspended over the Neuse River. The restaurant has been an integral part of New Bern’s dining scene since opening in 2010. You can opt for a table on the back deck for panoramic views of the water, but even from inside, you’ll experience similar stunning sights thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. For dinner, seafood is certainly on the menu with options ranging from linguini and clams to shrimp and grits to jumbo lump crab cakes. Pair your meal with a craft cocktail like the effervescent Grapes of Wrath (Moscato, Campari, blood orange, soda), and you’ve got a night to remember.

persimmonsrestaurant.net; 100 Pollock St., New Bern, NC 28560; 252-514-0033