A Guide to New Bern, North Carolina

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Splitting our year between South West Florida and Cape May, New Jersey, my husband and I most often drive the distance as we like to explore the east coast of the USA along the way.

Discovering New Bern, North Carolina

On the drive down from Cape May this past November, we made a nice discovery: New Bern, North Carolina.

Founded in 1710, New Bern is the second-oldest town in North Carolina. It was named in honor of the founder’s home, Bern, Switzerland, which was named after the first animal Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, encountered while hunting.

Bern is the old Germanic word for bear, and bears are now the symbols of both the old and the new Bern.

Bears Everywhere

And the two cities have innumerable bears around the towns. New Bern, NC, has a large (porcelain) bear on nearly every street downtown, decorating the facades of government buildings and doctors’ offices, shops, fire departments, and many others. At last count, 100 fiberglass bears in all.

However, New Bern is not just bullish on bears; it offers visitors a wide variety of restaurants, great walks and views, a palace with gardens, and over 150 sites included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Where to Stay in New Bern

The town’s most visible hotel, the Courtyard New Bern by Marriott, is centrally located and creates a most enjoyable stay. Retaining the Marriott brand, the hotel provides a singular New Bern twist in its decor and a very pretty view of the Neuse River.

The Neuse River

The Neuse—derived from the Native American Neusiok tribe and translates to “peace”—is considered one of the widest rivers in the U.S. At its widest point, it is six nautical miles across, and it averages more than three miles in width.

Linking North Carolina’s original capital city of New Bern to its current capital of Raleigh, the Neuse River serves as a 250-mile connection between past and future.

Union Point Park

The most popular riverfront park, Union Point Park, is right out the door of Courtyard Marriott. A gathering place for residents and waterfowl, the park has a gazebo where family events and town celebrations are held. It is also the central point for the Mum Festival (Mumfest), held every October.

Dining in New Bern

New Bern is an incredibly walkable town. Many, if not most, of the town’s 58+ restaurants, are within a 10 to 15-minute stroll from Union Point Park. New Bern offers an eclectic variety of food choices and dining experiences—from southern delights to Indian cuisine and everything in between.

The differences in the decor and ambiance are as far-ranging as the menu.

You might be on a rooftop. You could be sitting beside the water. Maybe you’re in a beautifully restored and re-purposed historic building. You could even be in a mansion. New Bern, NC’s restaurants make you want to explore and discover them.

Our favorite for dinner is Morgan’s Tavern and Grill, with exposed wood beams and original brick walls. You can have dessert and coffee on their newly renovated outdoor patio. It’s got a deceptive design, as it is much more spacious inside than it looks from the outside. And the wait staff are excellent.

Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant offers a great view of the Neuse, live music, and a pleasing menu, including a nice selection of vegetarian fare. On a beautiful day, lunch in the outdoor waterfront dining area enhances the experience.

Bakers Kitchen is the best place to go for breakfast. This restaurant is known for traditional breakfast fare, but it also includes local favorites like chicken and waffles and made-to-order omelets. The servings are big, and there are nice gluten-free options.

Other Notable Eateries

Other nearby eateries include the very casual Old Pinnix, a re-purposed pharmacy that now mixes some very creative cocktails instead of prescriptions; La Casseta, a family-owned Italian restaurant with homemade pasta; and Captain Ratty’s, a welcoming tavern offering seafood, steak & a large wine list in a storefront with rooftop dining.

If you want to include some history with your dining experience, Lawson’s On the Creek is located inside the North Carolina History Center, one of several destinations within the multifaceted and amazing Tryon Palace.

Tryon Palace: A New Bern Crown Jewel

Indeed, Tryon Palace is not only the jewel in New Bern’s crown but also a star of the entire state. Filled with family-friendly, interactive experiences, it has something for everyone.

Royal Governor William Tryon and his family brought architect John Hawks from London to design and build the Georgian-style structure. Completed in 1770, Tryon Palace served as the first permanent capitol of North Carolina and was home to Governor Tryon and his family.

Pepsi Family Center

Within Tryon Palace is the Pepsi Family Center’s Pepsi Portal to History, as New Bern was where Pepsi Cola was born. You’ll encounter New Bern as an 1835 river village and coastal port here. The Turpentine Still exhibit shows you the turpentine and naval industries.

The center rotates its exhibits throughout the year, offering returning visitors new experiences with each trip.

Tryon Palace is where you can easily spend a whole day…or even a few days. There are interesting tours like the “lesser stairs” tour on Thursday. “Life on the Lesser Stairs” takes you on a tour of the palace, stables, and kitchen office to shine a light on the individuals who also called the Palace home but whose lives were not as glamorous.

Gardens and Exhibits

There is no end of discovery at Tryon Palace, with 16 acres of gardens—ranging from formal and elegant to wildlife gardens—and 18 indoor galleries and exhibits.

New Bern Academy Museum

Also interesting is the New Bern Academy Museum, located in an 1809 building four blocks from Tryon Palace in the heart of New Bern’s historic residential district. Originally a schoolhouse for both boys and girls, the New Bern Academy served as a hospital in the Civil War.

In 1899, it became part of the New Bern graded school system and was used for classes until 1971. Today, the Academy building’s original classrooms are home to four permanent exhibits focused on the Civil War, New Bern architecture, and the building’s history.

Other Historical Sites

Nearby is the New Bern Fireman’s Museum. If you are traveling with kids, this stop is a must, but it is best to schedule a visit as the museum may be closed for general admission during the winter recess.

New Bern City Hall, a two-minute walk from the museum, is considered to be one of the most impressive and historically interesting city halls in the country.

Christ Episcopal Church, a beautiful structure that also dominates downtown, is just a few blocks away and worth visiting. Christ Episcopal features Gothic Revival details.

Interestingly, this place of worship was rebuilt from 1871 to 1885 after a fire nearly destroyed the original church completed in 1824. The tall Gothic Revival steeple stands today as one of the major features of the New Bern skyline.

In the churchyard is the Lady Blessington cannon, taken by a New Bern privateer during the Revolutionary War.

Tours and Nature

If walking all over the city wears you out a bit, several tour companies offer trolley and boat rides. A nice alternative to random city walks is doing a Scavenger Hunt following a map provided by several organizations. These tours come with various charges.

Or if you would like some nature with your history, drive the 5 miles to Croatan National Forest. There you will find estuaries and diverse wildlife, including a wide variety of birds, reptiles, and amphibians—as well as bobcats, minks, and bears, oh my!

Events and Entertainment

There are yearly musical events in New Bern ranging from gospel to jazz, as well as art shows and creative demonstrations. Several of these occur at the Riverfront Convention Center but are scattered throughout downtown.

New Bern is happy to detail the choices you have, and their website is easy to use and complete with information:

Although New Bern is a center of historic importance, it has a lighter, fun side. Beary the Hatchet is a game room located downtown that features not only game tables like pool and hockey but also an Axe-Throwing Board. It sounds scary, but it is safe.

You and your group will receive coaching from one of their experienced “AXEperts.” A fence divides each lane to prevent axes from going anywhere but the target.

Then, many shops line the streets, with windows full of clothes, art, and specialty items. Best of all, should you crave some dessert while shop hopping, make sure you check out Bear City Fudge and Ice Cream.

The smell alone will melt your heart. Everything is delicious and beautifully crafted, including the fudge in the shape of the feet of the town’s namesake. Pralines and truffles and bear claws, oh my!

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Author Bio: Sylvia Guarino is a retired Marketing Executive and a lifelong traveler.