Insider guides by journalists who live there
New Bern: Historic city for modern tastes
New Bern is North Carolina's second oldest city, last colonial capital, first state capital, and should be first on your Travel-To list
New Bern is located at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, with several notable smaller creeks nearby, including Lawson (shown here), Brices, and Upper Broad creeks.
Located at the intersection of U.S. highways 17 and 70 (future Interstate 42), New Bern is "on the way" to the Crystal Coast and Outer Banks, but it is a destination in its own right.
Nestled at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse rivers, New Bern was founded in 1710, was the last colonial capital and first state capital of North Carolina. It was the setting of a Civil War battle and was a haven for freed and escaped slaves at that time. A pharmacist named Caleb Bradham formulated a cola drink called "Brad's Drink" in 1893 but later called it Pepsi Cola. It was home to North Carolina's first newspaper, first magazine, first public school, first library, and first organized fire department. It is steeped in history, culture, and today, a thriving Historic Downtown featuring fine dining, shopping, lodging, and strolling.
It is also a boater's paradise, from yachts to kayaks, with two navigable rivers as well as numerous streams that offer fishing and sightseeing for smaller boats, kayaks, and paddle boards.
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- History
Once an American Indian village at the confluence of two rivers, New Bern was founded in 1710 and played an important role in North Carolina's history from its establishment as a colony through the Civil War.
- Downtown New Bern
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Historic Downtown New Bern is both a charming riverside destination for dining, shopping, museums, and strolling, and a working downtown with city and county government offices. There's no shortage of attractions.
- Events
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New Bern offers events throughout the year. Mumfest In October is the largest, but many other events are scattered throughout the year, including Ghostwalk. One neighborhood even puts on its own Mardi Gras celebration.
- Dining
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New Bern restaurants range from World Class fine dining to home-style Southern Cooking, with just about everything else you can imagine. You can spend weeks experiencing the city's restaurants.
- Activities
The North Carolina Symphony regularly performs on the Tryon Palace South lawn. You can listen from your kayak on the Trent River nearby. You want to visit a town with lots to do? New Bern is it.
- Lodging
Lodging amenities in New Bern range from a first-class, full-service hotel and more affordable hotel options, to comfy bed and breakfast inns in Historic Downtown New Bern and Airbnb.
- Things to do
Whether it's high-end shopping, thrifting or antiqueing, strolling sidewalks of a historic riverside town or paths through a Civil War battlefield, yachting or kayaking, golfing or painting, New Bern will keep you occupied.
- Antiques and used stuff
New Bern is a city more than 300 years old, so it should be no surprise that it has an active antique mall and store scene. Downtown New Bern alone has several antique malls, each with its own quirks and qualities.
This section is managed by New Bern Post, New Bern, NC
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