good way to spend a few hours to beat the heat. gardens are gorgeous right by the river. Sahar was…read morea fantastic guide

I really enjoyed my visit to Tryon Palace! I learned a lot about the history of New Bern, which was…read morevery cool. This house is a very nice reconstruction, as the original one burned down. The guide was very knowledgeable, and they even had fake food set out in the dining room! The gardens were lovely, and you could wander in them for a while (we didn't, just because it was so hot). Definitely a reasonable price to pay for a 45-minute history lesson.

City of New Bern!! It has been an honor and a privilege to visit your city and assist with the…read moredisaster relief efforts from Hurricane Florence! Our disaster relief team from Los Angeles, CA (specifically Torrance) arrived on a late Saturday and some of the team was wearing our team shirts from the organization we had worked with. New Bern residents that saw us in a restaurant or other places went out of her way to say thank you to us for being there to help. Love the people, places, and the charming Bear statues everywhere. New Bern was founded in 1710 by a Swiss entrepreneur from Bern, Switzerland. Bern in Swiss means bear which is why there are many bear statues. We thank you so much for the kind hospitality. In the short time we were there, we did did our best and worked hard. We know there is still much work to be done as New Bern is one of the hardest hit cities in NC affected by the hurricane. We believe New Bern is on its way to a make an amazing comeback. We love you, New Bern! #CarolinaStrong

It had been quite awhile since we'd spent any time in this beautiful, historic town snuggled up…read moreagainst the Neuse and Trent Rivers - but I can say without a doubt that we will be back for a visit between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when they go all out to make it a magical wonderland for kids of all age. So much of the architectural integrity of the the central downtown area has been preserved, even highlighted, as the city has grown and spread out in a much more modern fashion. There are over 160 houses and buildings within in walking distance of the waterfront that are on the National Register, and that area contains almost 2000 crape myrtles, the city's official flower. It is a great deal of fun to walk around the downtown area, especially at night when the buildings are all lit up, especially the beautiful City Hall building. New Bern was founded in 1710 by Swiss and Palatine German immigrants, and it is the second oldest city in North Carolina to be settled by Europeans. The town was named for Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and the hometown of many of the initial settlers. The coat of arms of Bern contains the symbol of a bear, and there are brightly painted statues of bears all over the historical area of New Bern, and even an attractive little section named Bear Park.

The Foscue Plantation is a private residence in Pollocksville, NC, that is to be open for tours on…read moreThursdays at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Tours outside of those hours are available by appointment. So this was a trickier attraction to visit. I had been looking forward to touring this Jones County attraction, so when my schedule opened up a free Thursday, I rearranged my schedule so that I could tour this property. I had called the listed phone number many times to set up an appointment, but never received a callback. I even called before I left that morning, and the recording said tours were available at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm, and cost $20 cash. I arrived at 1:36pm, only to find the gates shut. I called both numbers listed on the sign again and left more messages, but never heard back. I did notice a car and a truck parked outside the home. Thinking I was just too early, I drove past the property a few times, closer to 2 and at 2, but the gates were still shut. It is a beautiful property, but be warned: even if you follow their posted hours and instructions to the letter, there is no guarantee someone will actually be there to let you in. It may no longer be open for tours.

This was an unexpected stop while traveling to New Bern. It's a lovely 17th century plantation. The…read moregarden was brimming with grasshoppers of every color which was amazing to look at. They conduct tours for $10 per adult. The guide was very well informed and offered not only the history of the home and the occupants, but some fun stories as well. You get an up close look at all the furnishings and a real feel for the era. We had toddlers and I wouldn't recommend this tour for small children. The tour is lengthy and you have to hold them while inside.

We live about an hour from New Bern. My wife and I like to get away for nearby weekend coastal…read moredestinations every couple of months to loosen up the grind of work. New Bern has become a regular favorite out of our visits to Beaufort, Edenton, Oriental and Wilmington (used to live there). All of those places are worth a visit. Don't get me wrong. We have stayed at neighboring B&Bs near The Jarvis. So far, there is no comparison. We have also stayed at the chain hotels there. If you go to New Bern, The Jarvis is a place you should consider first. You'll get extremely personalized service from Ian, the innkeeper. He slightly reprimanded me for fetching my own coffee on our last morning there. The Jarvis is a destination venue for wedding parties. We expected the sleeping hours might get a little loud and we were prepared for it. However, it was remarkably quiet in the wee hours and the bed may be the most comfortable I have ever slept on. We both came home well rested. I won't go into the cool amenities, but you need to check out 'The Cellar Door' in the basement. We spent a couple of fun hours there during the rain storm that hit while we were there. Highly recommended! We will definitely return.

Lovely quiet place very accessible to all the shopping and dining nearby…read more The downside was that there was no one on duty to ask question about the area! No breakfast either!

This marker is located across the street from the Craven County Courthouse and points out that an…read moreimportant court case was decided here. The marker reads, "Bayard v. Singleton. American precedent for judicial review of legislation set nearby, 1787, by Samuel Ashe, Samuel Spencer, John Williams." Online, there is more information. In 1787, Elizabeth Cornell Bayard filed suit to reclaim lands and property of her father, Samuel Cornell, which had been confiscated at the close of the American Revolution because of Cornell's loyalist sympathies. "Bayard's attorneys argued that the 1785 confiscation acts passed by the state violated a provision set forth in the state's 1776 constitution that guaranteed anyone a trial by jury in a case involving the potential of loss of landholdings or property. The court was faced with a troubling situation. Although it appeared clear that the confiscation acts did indeed violate the state constitution, there was no real precedent in the 1780s for a court to refuse to enforce a legislative act." It was the first American decision to recognize the principle of judicial review. The precedent led to the famous Marbury v. Madison case where the Supreme Court asserted its authority to strike down a law as unconstitutional. [Review 18898 overall - 3382 in North Carolina - 2421 of 2022.]

Synopsis - Gorgeous venue with great staff and good vibes…read more Was in town for a powerlifting competition at the Riverfront Convention Center and was blown away by the venue. From the parking lots to the halls, concessions, and bathrooms, this place was beautiful and well taken care of. You can tell the staff take pride in their space. Not only was there enough room for the competition, there was plenty of seating for the crowd, good quality bathrooms for all, and easy to access staff areas to help break everything down at night. Really can't beat the views and location! Great experience all around. 5 Riverfront Stars out of 5!

We walked in just to check out brochures on Labor Day (this is also the tourist office) to see if…read morethere was something we could do around town, since most attractions were closed. We didn't find anything new (we had gotten marketing material in other places the day before) but the attendant was very friendly and it was nice to be able to use their facilities and to just look around this waterfront building. They have a statue of Caleb Bradham, creator of Pepsi Cola, right by the water front entrance and a very beautiful painting of Tryon's Palace in its hay days. A nice convention venue for this little costal town.

Craven County is named for William Craven, who was the 1st Earl of Craven and was a Lord Proprietor…read moreof colonial North Carolina. This building is the main courthouse and houses the County Superior Court and the County District Court of the 3rd Judicial District. The rectangular-shaped red-brick building is two stories and faces east. There is a tall square tower with an entrance on the ground floor with a steep roof that rises above the roof line on the east front. At the north and south extremities are one story arched porticos, while the second story windows are arched. The structure's roof is mansard-shaped. The first story's interior has a cross hall layout with a central hallway. The second-story courtroom takes up the entire width of the structure. Street parking and a dedicated lot are nearby. [Review 18899 overall - 3383 in North Carolina - 2422 of 2022.]

On a residential street that is about a block from the side of the Trent River, this marker points…read moreout that yes, the first POTUS really did sleep here. The marker reads, "President Washington visited in the Stanly home two nights, April 20-21, 1791." George Washington toured the United States to observe political climate and to thank his supporters. His tour and stops along the way became important landmarks in the areas he touched. Washington saw more of his country while in office than any other American president before the twentieth century. He also kept a detailed diary. Online, there is more information. "In early 1791, after establishing a site for the new "Federal District" along the Potomac River, Washington embarked on a tour of the Southern states--a product of his desire to visit every state during his term of office. Proceeding from Mount Vernon via Fredericksburg and Richmond (Virginia) into North Carolina, Washington crossed the Roanoke River into Halifax in mid-April 1791. From there, the President's carriage tour took him through Tarboro, Greenville, New Bern, Trenton, and Wilmington before entering South Carolina. Washington re-entered North Carolina near Charlotte and traveled northward, visiting Salisbury, Salem, and Guilford Court House. Washington arrived on the outskirts of New Bern on the morning of April 20 and was greeted by a group of leading citizens who escorted the President into town. He recorded in his diary that the town had about 2,000 residents and that the 'buildings are sparce and altogether of wood." He noted that some of those buildings were "large and look well."" It is marker number C-19. [Review 20320 overall - 3495 in North Carolina - 1298 of 2023.]