A trip to New Bern is absolutely one of the best things to do in North Carolina. This beautiful and historic riverfront city, located in the coastal region of North Carolina, has plenty of fun activities to choose from.
New Bern is the second oldest town in North Carolina and its European influence is obvious in the architecture and walkable downtown. It was settled by a group of German and Swiss immigrants, including some from Bern, Switzerland (hence the name). We spent a short, sweet, and very enjoyable afternoon in New Bern last May. In fact, our time there turned out to be a lot more fun than we expected thanks to our discovery that the city is filled with delightful bear statues! Here are some things that we highly recommend doing on a visit to New Bern, North Carolina.
Things to Do in New Bern, North Carolina.
Have a cold Pepsi at the Birthplace of Pepsi.
That’s right, New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi! Did you know that Pepsi Cola started out as a purchasing error? Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist in New Bern, bought too much sugar in 1893 and decided to salvage his situation by using the sugar to create “Brad’s Drink”. His drug store is now the location of The Pepsi Store, where you can grab a soda, buy a Pepsi souvenir, or learn more about the history of Pepsi.
We got our Pepsi in a glass bottle to go, since we were short on time, but there is seating inside if you want to stick around.
Find as many bears as possible!
I had so much fun discovering almost 20 bears during our short visit! It was very similar to the time I spent looking for the bears of Berlin in Germany.
Keep your eyes open and your camera ready to capture the fun bears in New Bern.
The bears became part of the city in 2010 as part of New Bern’s 300th Anniversary Celebration. The large, hand-painted bears each have a unique theme thanks to their respective sponsors. It’s really a lot of fun to see each bear up close and notice how creative the various sponsors were in portraying their brand. Two of my favorite bears were Dr. Paw, the dentistry bear, and Sleepy Bear, the Bridgepointe Hotel bear who was quite ready for bed.
While it was great fun to discover the bears as we went along, next time I will probably use the map to make sure I see all of them. You can find a map of the bears at the New Bern Visitors Center or use the online map here.
Visit Union Point Park.
This lovely green space is located at the intersection of the Neuse and Trent Rivers. It’s full of scenic waterfront views and it’s a great place for a picnic. We saw all sorts of people relaxing there, from bikers to young families and even two newlyweds taking photos after their wedding! The park has six spacious acres filled with a beautiful gazebo, playground, boardwalk, and restrooms.
We enjoyed the breeze off the water and even got to see the drawbridge go up during our visit.
Check out some of the historic buildings.
This could easily be integrated with finding the bears of New Bern. Here are some of the historic district highlights that we saw.
The New Bern City Hall.
First Baptist Church.
Christ Episcopal Church and Parish House.
A lovely home in the historic district.
Centenary Methodist Church.
You can see the full list of places on the National Register of Historic Places that are worth visiting in New Bern here or you can pick up a brochure from the New Bern visitor centers. Either way, you’ll probably want to plan to see at least a few gorgeous brick buildings and antebellum mansions during your visit Two favorites that are often recommended online include the Attmore-Oliver House, which has civil war exhibits, and the John Wright Stanly House, which is open to the public and quite impressive.
Have ice cream at Cow Café.
After all that walking and exploring you’ll surely be ready for a treat. There’s more than just ice cream available at the cow-themed restaurant, however. We dined on hot dogs and ice cream while enjoying the fun farm décor, moving train, and interesting gift shop.
Check out Tryon Palace.
Palaces and castles are a bit of a rarity in the USA. This one isn’t the fanciest or the largest but it’s certainly worth taking a look at. It was constructed in the 18th century by Governor Tryon, who wanted a home fit for a king. It was the first capital of North Carolina as well as the first Governor’s mansion, but the cost of such grandeur led to a lot of resentment from local colonists.
Unfortunately, you can’t go past the front gate without paying $20 per person. Rumor has it the gardens are particularly nice – likely worth the entrance fee if you’re visiting at the right time of year – and the day pass also includes entrance to the North Carolina History Center.
We had to head back home shortly after seeing the palace, but there are more things to do in New Bern that I found while planning the trip that we would like to do in the future, such as:
- Stroll through Lawson Creek Park – a 140 acre site surrounded by river waters with a boardwalk and trails.
- Visit some of the museums – such as the Firemen’s Museum or the Academy Museum (an 1809 school house that now features plenty of New Bern’s history).
- Visit the Bank of the Arts – another venue from the National Register of Historic Places, plus it houses a variety of art pieces.
- Head to the Civil War Battlefield – a little ways outside of the city, this is the site where the Battle of New Bern occurred and there is a History Walk available to learn about what happened there.
- Visit Cedar Grove Cemetery – listed as one of the most striking cemeteries in North Carolina with a statue of a Confederate soldier guarding other soldiers.
- Wander Foscue Plantation – where there is a beautiful, restored plantation home from the 1800s.
Have you visited New Bern? What is something you’d like to see or do in New Bern, North Carolina?
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