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  New Bern, North Carolina's second oldest town, was founded in 1710 by a Swiss nobleman who named it after his native city of Berne, Switzerland. Bern means "bear" and the "Bern Bear" symbol is seen on the flag. Commemorative cast-iron bear heads decorate the historic City Hall and Central Fire Station.
The town of New Bern survived an Indian uprising in the early 18th century to become the capital of the British province of North Carolina. Throughout its rich and colorful history, New Bern has been a witness to revolution and a victim of war; in fact, it was occupied by Union troops during much of the Civil War. New Bern's historic importance as a strategic riverside port and its tradition of being a center of culture earned it the nickname "The Athens of North Carolina” in the 19th century. Today, New Bern welcomes visitors with a blend of European cachet and a rich tradition of true Southern hospitality.
The city is scenically situated on a peninsula at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers. The town is itself a historical treasure with more than 150 buildings listed as contributing to the National Register Historic District. A stroll through the town's tree-lined streets reveals a virtual cornucopia of American architectural styles ranging from 18th-century vernacular houses to dignified Federal townhouses to magnificent Victorian mansions.
Many of these homes have been lovingly restored by an ever-increasing influx of new residents who have been attracted by the town's beauty and gentle pace of life.
As a result, New Bern today serves as a reminder of the way life was in America, and of the way it still can be. Residents like to say that although New Bern retains its small town charm, it has big town spirit. The town boasts a number of interesting museums and small art galleries. Virtually every month of the year is marked by a special festival or event, making New Bern an excellent year-round travel destination.
 New Bern is centrally located near the Carolina coast and is easily accessible by automobile. An airport is located just ten minutes from downtown. When planning a visit to New Bern, be sure to allow enough time to truly enjoy all that the town has to offer.
Accommodations in New Bern are varied and plentiful. They fit all budget categories and range from charming bed-and-breakfast inns to full-service hotels. Please call these establishments directly for more information or link to their Web site where noted.
New Bern offers a great deal of dining variety for the traveler, from elegant dinners in restored historic buildings to down-home cooking at spots that are favorites with locals. Groups should call ahead for reservations. Some restaurants available in the downtown area near Tryon Palace.
HOTELS |
BED & BREAKFASTS |
Bridgepointe Hotel & Marina
101 Howell Road
252-636-3637 or 877-283-7713
116 rooms, 2 restaurants, pool, lounge, marina
Web site
Comfort Suites Riverfront Park
220 East Front Street
252-636-0022 or 800-228-5150
100 suites, continental breakfast, waterfront
Web site
Days Inn
925 Broad Street
252-636-0150 or 800-329-7466
110 rooms, pool, deluxe continental breakfast
Hampton Inn
200 Hotel Drive
252-637-2111 or 1-800-HAMPTON
101 rooms, deluxe continental breakfast
Web site
Holiday Inn Express
Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
252-638-8266
60 rooms, pool, exercise room
Web site
The Palace Motel
Highway 17 South
800-228-5151
65 rooms, restaurant, pool
Sheraton New Bern Hotel & Marina
100 Middle Street
252-638-1151 or 800-326-3745
171 rooms, 1 restaurant, 2 bars, pool, marina
Web site
Travelodge
3465 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
252-638-8166
41 rooms
Web site
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The Aerie B&B
509 Pollock Street
252-636-5553 or 800-849-5553
7 room bed and breakfast
Web site
FoxBern Manor
935 Rollover Creek Road
252-635-6697
2 suite (3 rooms total) bed and breakfast
Web site
Hanna House B&B
218 Pollock Street
252-635-3209 or 866-830-4371
3 room bed and breakfast
Web site
Harmony House Inn
215 Pollock Street
252-636-3810 or 800-636-3113
9 room bed and breakfast
Web site
Harvey Mansion Historic Inn
221 South Front St.
252-635-3232
Web site
Howard House Victorian B&B
207 Pollock Street
252-514-6709 or 1-800-705-5261
6 room bed and breakfast
Web site
It Must Be Heaven B&B
214 Pollock Street
1-252-638-2237 or 1-252-638-2296
4 room bed & breakfast
Web site
Meadows Inn
212 Pollock Street
252-634-1776 or 877-551-1776
8 room bed and breakfast
Web site
New Berne House Inn
709 Broad Street
252-636-2250 or 800-842-7688
7 room bed and breakfast
Web site
The Sail Inn
714 Pollock Street
252-259-8505 or 1-866-731-6036
Web site |
| CONDOMINIUMS |
Fairfield Harbour
585 Broad Creek Road
252-638-8011,
Reservations 800-438-6493
Web site
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Vacation Resorts International
1141 Broad Creek Road
252-633-1151 or 800-407-4874
Web site |
| WHERE TO DINE
- in historic district - |
WHERE TO DINE
- outside historic district - |
Bakers Square
227 Middle Street
252-637-0304
Breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday
Captain Ratty's Oyster & Piano Bar
202 Middle Street
252-633-2088
Seafood restaurant serving lunch and dinner. Cocktails.
Chadwick House Cafe
712 Pollock Street
252-637-2018
Serving homemade soups, salads sandwiches and a daily special for lunch Monday through Saturday. Just across the street from the Palace.
The Chelsea
335 Middle Street
252-637-5469
English-style pub serving lunch and dinner
Monday through Saturday.
Banquet room available. Cocktails.
Web site
Fred and Claire's
247 Craven Street
252-638-5426
Lunch and dinner sandwiches, soups
and specialties.
The Gallery Cafe
210 Craven Street
252-633-6407
10:30 am to 4 pm Monday - Wednesday
to 9 pm Thursday - Saturday
11 am to 3 pm Sunday
Specialty sandwiches, soups,
salads, entrees, desserts
The Harvey Mansion
221 South Front St.
252-635-3232
open from 5 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday
1797 Bar open from 4 pm, 7 days a week
Fine Dining
Web site
The Henderson House
216 Pollock Street
252-637-4784
In restored brick townhouse built in 1779.
Lunch by appointment only;
Dinner Tuesday - Saturday
Pollock Street Delicatessen
208 Pollock Street
252-637-2480
Breakfast and lunch Monday through Sunday.
Beer and wine.
Port City Java
323 Middle Street
252-633-7900
Coffee shop open seven days a week
Trent River Coffee Co.
208 Craven Street
252-514-2030
Coffee shop
Monday through Friday 7 am to 5 pm
Saturday 8 am to 5 pm, Sunday 10 am to 2 pm
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Annabelle's Restaurant
252-633-6401
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar
252-637-8050
Arturo's Mexican Restaurant
252-634-1894
Café Piccolo Mondo
252-635-4855
Carolina Bagel Company
252-636-0133
Clementine's
252-637-2244
Crabby Jack's Restaurant
252-633-4993
Golden Corral
252-638-4010
The Flame
252-633-0262
Web Site
Flounders Seafood
252-636-1200
Friday's 1890 Seafood
252-637-2276
Ham's Restaurant
252-634-3456
McAllister's
252-638-9010
Latitude 35
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Marina
252-638-3585
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Private party rooms. Cocktails.
Web site
Marina Sweets
208 Middle Street
252-637-9307
Breakfast, Lunch, ice cream, coffee
Monday through Thursday 8 am to 9 pm
Friday and Saturday 8 am to 10 pm
Sunday 9 am to 6 pm
Musashi
252-637-0063
Nikola's
in the Bridge Pointe Hotel
101 Howell Road
252-638-6061
Serving Northern Italian cuisine for dinner
Monday through Sunday. Cocktails.
Outback Steakhouse
252-672-9394
Paula's Pizza & Italian Restaurant
252-636-2324
Texas Steak House
252-637-1500
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| AREA ATTRACTIONS, MUSEUMS, & SERVICES |
Attmore-Oliver House
513 Broad Street, New Bern, NC 28560
Built in 1790 by prominent New Bernian Samuel Chapman, this historic house serves as the headquarters of the New Bern Historical Society. It has several exhibits including Civil War memorabilia and a unique doll collection.
Bank of the Arts
317 Middle Street, New Bern NC 28560
252-638-2577
Home of the Craven Arts Council and Gallery, this 1912 neoclassic bank building hosts temporary exhibits of fine arts, handcrafts, and traveling exhibitions.
Bellair Plantation and Restoration
1100 Washington Post Road (Hwy 43 N),
New Bern NC 28560-9386
252-637-3913
This 18th-century brick country house is the last surviving structure of its kind in North Carolina. Guided tours offered by appointment only.
New Bern/Havelock Convention and Visitors Center
P. O. Box 1713, New Bern, NC 28563
252-637-9400, 1-800-437-5767,
FAX: 252-637-0250
Located in the Riverfront Convention Center
at the corner of South Front and East Front Streets.
The Convention and Vistitors Center offers detailed information about touring opportunities in the Craven County area, as well as information on lodging, restauarants, and shopping. Tickets to area attractions may be purchased there.
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Croatan National Forest
Ranger's Office, 141 E. Fisher Avenue,
New Bern, NC 28562
252-638-5628
A 157,000 acre national forest that offers hiking, camping, birding, boating and fishing. Home of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and several varieties of carnivorous plants such as the Venus Flytrap.
Foscue Plantation House
Highway 17, Pollocksville, NC 28573
252-637-7232 or 910-743-553
Built in 1804 by Simon Foscue, a prominent and well-to-do planter in the New Bern area. It was a working plantation house that also served as a stop for travelers making the journey between New Bern and Wilmington. This 200-year-old structure is essentially intact and contains some of the original furnishings. Open for tours on Thursdays only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New Bern Tours
333 Middle Street, New Bern NC 28560
800-849-7316, 252-637-7316
New Bern Tours offers custom packaged tours that include lodging, meals and tickets to area attractions, including Tryon Palace and the New Bern Trolley.
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| OTHER WEB SITES OF INTEREST |
| Visit the New Bern's "Area Attractions" page on the the Insider's Guide to the Central Coast Web site for more listings. |
City of New Bern
Beaufort Historic Site
Craven County Digital History Exhibit
Celebration of North Carolina
Cherry Point MCAS
City of Havelock
Craven County
Craven Regional Airport
Crystal Coast Visitors Centers
Fort Macon State Park
Havelock Chamber of Commerce
Inn's of New Bern
Kellenberger Room
New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce |
New Bern Craven County Public Library
New Bern KOA Campground
New Bern Preservation Foundation
New Bern River Rats - Baseball Team
NC Department of Cultural Resources
NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Develpment
North Carolina Aquarium
North Carolina Maritime Museum
Parkgreen.com
Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp.
Town of River Bend
Web Garden Guide |
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