BEFORE YOU GO TO NEW BERN & GENERAL ADVICE
First of all, everyone we met in New Bern was so NICE.
Maybe it’s because they aren’t stressed out with too much traffic and enjoy plenty of time on the water? It’s a beautiful waterfront town along the Neuse River with historic churches and plenty to do.
And it’s so well-manicured and CLEAN. The word ‘Bern’ means ‘bear,’ and there are bear statues all over town, each with its own dress and personality.
WHERE TO STAY IN NEW BERNThere are many bed and breakfasts in New Bern, and if you are looking for a romantic getaway, one of those would be a good choice. I was traveling with my family, so we stayed at the Doubletree with a view of the Neuse river. The location was perfect as we could walk everywhere and still enjoy the water views.
MUSIC & COCKTAILS
WHAT TO DO IN NEW BERN
Beautiful UNION POINT PARK has a nice setup with a beautiful gazebo, picnic tables, grills, fishing piers, and two boat launches. They often have live music too. We walked along the water and enjoyed the view.
New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi, so be sure and stop in the historic PEPSI STORE downtown. I drank one out of a glass bottle, just like when I was a kid.
CYPRESS HALL RESTAURANT. Order the famous strawberry cake. I had hoped to eat dinner here after it came highly recommended, but alas, they were fully booked.
THE CHELSEA RESTAURANT & CATERING. Classic and cozy.
MJ’s RAW BAR. You MUST have the soft-shelled crab bloody mary.
New Bern is an excellent weekend getaway if you like water, music, art, and food. Hmm…all of my favorites…
Want to read about other coastal destinations? See artwork inspired by the water of the North Carolina coast?