By Tucked between the Neuse and Trent rivers on North Carolina’s coastal plain, New Bern is one of the oldest and most charming towns in the state, a place where colonial history, a soft-drink legacy, and a riverfront full of sailboats all share the same walkable downtown. Founded by Swiss and German settlers in 1710 and once the colonial capital of North Carolina, this “Bear Town” rewards travelers with grand gardens, hands-on museums, and an easygoing waterfront pace. Here are the top attractions worth building a trip around.
Tryon Palace and the Colonial Capital
No visit to New Bern is complete without Tryon Palace, the reconstructed Georgian mansion that served as the residence of the royal governor and, later, as the first capitol of the independent state of North Carolina. The palace you tour today is a meticulous reconstruction completed in the 1950s, set on more than 21 acres of formal colonial-revival gardens that bloom spectacularly in spring. Costumed interpreters bring the eighteenth century to life, leading you through the elegant first and second floors, the cellar, and the working kitchen office, while live demonstrations show off period crafts and domestic skills.
The grounds are a destination in their own right. The Kellenberger, Latham, Kitchen, and Wilderness gardens shift with the seasons, and the tulips in early spring draw photographers from across the region. Allow at least half a day to do the palace and gardens justice.
Plan Your Visit: Tryon Palace
- Address: 529 South Front Street, New Bern, NC 28562
- Phone: 1-800-767-1560
- Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Admission: One Day Pass (palace tour, gardens, and History Center galleries) is $20 for adults and $10 for youth ages 6 to 14; a Galleries and Gardens Pass is $15 adults / $8 youth; a Gardens Pass is $10 adults / $5 youth. Children 5 and under are free.
- Website: tryonpalace.org/plan-your-visit
The North Carolina History Center
Adjacent to Tryon Palace on the Trent River, the North Carolina History Center is a 60,000-square-foot complex that makes regional history genuinely fun, especially for families. Inside you will find the Pepsi Family Center, where kids can virtually sail a ship, piece together an interactive quilt, and step back in time, along with the Regional History Museum and the Duffy Exhibit Gallery, which hosts rotating exhibitions. Admission to the History Center galleries is included with the Tryon Palace One Day Pass and Galleries and Gardens Pass, so it pairs naturally with a palace visit. The riverfront setting, with its waterside porch and views of the Trent, makes it an easy place to slow down between exhibits.
The Birthplace of Pepsi
In 1898, a New Bern pharmacist named Caleb Bradham mixed up a refreshing fountain drink at his downtown drugstore and called it “Brad’s Drink.” He soon renamed it Pepsi-Cola, and a global brand was born right here on the corner of Middle and Pollock streets. Today the Birthplace of Pepsi is a beloved soda fountain and gift shop where you can sip a fountain Pepsi, browse vintage memorabilia, and snap a photo at one of the most photographed corners in town. Admission is free, and it is a quick, fun stop that anchors a stroll down Middle Street.
- Address: 256 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560
- Phone: 252-636-5898
- Website: visitnewbern.com/birthplace-of-pepsi
New Bern Firemen’s Museum
New Bern is home to one of the oldest fire departments in the state, and the New Bern Firemen’s Museum preserves that proud history with antique steam pumpers, hand-drawn equipment, photographs, and relics from the devastating Great Fire of 1922. Guided tours bring out the stories behind the gear, including the tale of Fred, the department’s storied fire horse. It is a compact, character-filled museum that history buffs and curious kids both enjoy.
- Address: 420 Broad Street, New Bern, NC 28560
- Phone: 252-636-4087
- Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (March through December; closed on holidays). Hours can vary seasonally, so call ahead.
- Admission: Roughly $9 for adults and $5 for students; children 5 and under are free. Admission includes a guided tour.
- Website: newbernfiremuseum.com
The Waterfront and Union Point Park
New Bern grew up around the meeting of two rivers, and the waterfront is still the heart of town. Union Point Park sits where the Neuse and Trent rivers converge, offering a boardwalk, shaded benches, and wide-open views of the masts in the marina. It is the kind of place where you can settle in with a book as the water laps the dock, watch boats come and go, or let the kids run on the green. On select summer evenings the city stages free, live waterfront concerts complete with food trucks, a relaxed way to spend a warm Carolina night.
From the park, the historic district unfolds in every direction with antique shops, galleries, and cafes. Pause at the Bank of the Arts, headquarters of the Craven Arts Council and Gallery housed in a handsome 1913 former bank building, where rotating exhibitions of painting, sculpture, pottery, and fiber art are free to browse.
Hunt for the Bear Town Bears
The name “Bern” comes from the Swiss capital, and in Old German it translates to “bear,” which is why a bear has long been the city’s symbol. To celebrate New Bern’s 300th anniversary in 2010, a public art initiative scattered dozens of life-sized, artist-painted fiberglass bear statues across downtown. Tracking them down has become a favorite free, family-friendly scavenger hunt, leading you past historic homes, churches, and storefronts you might otherwise miss. Grab a map from the visitor center and let the bears guide your walk.
Ride the Historic Trolley
For an easy overview of three centuries of history, hop aboard a guided trolley with New Bern Tours. The roughly 90-minute narrated ride rolls through the historic district with stops and stories covering landmarks such as Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Grove Cemetery, and the New Bern Academy. Tours run on a seasonal schedule, generally several days a week from spring through the holidays, with extra-festive routes during the Christmas season. Tickets are sold in person rather than reserved by phone or email, so plan to buy at the departure point.
- Phone: 1-800-849-7316
- Website: newberntours.com
Where History Meets the River
What makes New Bern such a satisfying destination is how compact it all is. Tryon Palace, the History Center, the Birthplace of Pepsi, the waterfront, and the bear-statue hunt are all within an easy walk of one another, so you can park once and explore on foot. For more ideas, trip planning, and a downtown map, the official Visit New Bern tourism site and the statewide Visit North Carolina board are excellent starting points.
Planning tip: Spring is the sweet spot for a visit, when the Tryon Palace gardens are in full bloom and the weather is ideal for walking the waterfront. Start your morning at the palace before midday crowds and afternoon heat build, break for lunch and a fountain Pepsi downtown, then spend the cooler late afternoon hunting bears and watching the boats at Union Point Park. Always call ahead or check websites to confirm current hours and seasonal schedules before you go.