So you’ve just spent a glorious couple of hours wandering the formal gardens and candlelit halls of Tryon Palace — and now you’re standing on Pollock Street, slightly sun-kissed, mildly obsessed with 18th-century hedgerows, and wondering what comes next.
Good news: New Bern absolutely has an answer for that.
One of North Carolina’s oldest and most charming cities, New Bern sits at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, and its compact, walkable historic district is purpose-built for leisurely exploration. Whether you’ve still got a full afternoon ahead or you’re just looking for the right place to sit down with a cold drink, here are the eight best things to do in New Bern after your visit to Tryon Palace.
(Haven’t planned your Palace visit yet? Start with our complete guide: Living Like a Governor: A Visitor’s Guide to the Tryon Palace Gardens)
1. Stroll the New Bern Waterfront
Best for: Easy walks, river views, and a perfect post-garden decompression
The New Bern waterfront is just a short walk from Tryon Palace, and it delivers exactly what you want after a few hours of absorbing history — open sky, fresh air, and a river view that hasn’t changed all that much in 300 years.
Union Point Park, where the Neuse and Trent Rivers meet, is a local favorite for watching boats drift by, catching a breeze off the water, and simply existing for a moment without an interpretive sign nearby. It’s quiet, it’s lovely, and it costs absolutely nothing.
2. Explore Downtown New Bern’s Historic District
Best for: Architecture lovers, slow walkers, and anyone who left their phone in their pocket all morning
New Bern’s historic district is one of the best-preserved in North Carolina, with over 150 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A self-guided walking tour from the visitor center will take you past Federal-style homes, antebellum storefronts, and churches that predate the American Revolution.
The city’s famous bear statues — New Bern’s mascot, a nod to its Swiss founders — are scattered throughout downtown, and spotting them all has become something of an unofficial sport among visitors.
If Tryon Palace gave you a feel for how the governor lived, this walking tour shows you how the rest of colonial New Bern looked around it.
3. Visit the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola
Best for: Trivia enthusiasts, nostalgia seekers, and anyone who needs a reason to drink a soda
Yes, really. Pepsi-Cola was invented in New Bern in 1893 by pharmacist Caleb Bradham, and the original drugstore on Middle Street has been restored as a small museum and gift shop. It’s free to visit, genuinely interesting, and absolutely worth a 20-minute stop.
The gift shop sells vintage-style Pepsi memorabilia that makes for an unexpectedly great souvenir — and bragging rights that your colonial day trip included the birthplace of a global beverage empire.
4. Grab Lunch or Dinner on Pollock Street
Best for: Anyone whose stomach started growling somewhere between the Kitchen Garden and the Wilderness Garden
New Bern’s restaurant scene punches well above its size. The stretch of Pollock and Middle Streets near the Palace offers everything from Southern comfort food to craft cocktails and fresh-caught seafood.
A few local favorites worth knowing:
- Baker’s Kitchen — breakfast and brunch done properly, beloved by locals
- Morgan’s Tavern & Grill — waterfront dining with a menu that leans into local seafood
- The Chelsea — a New Bern institution inside a beautifully restored 1912 drugstore building
Reservations are wise on weekends and during peak tourist season (spring and fall).
5. Browse the Independent Galleries and Boutiques
Best for: Shoppers who prefer things that weren’t made in bulk
New Bern has a quietly impressive arts scene, with several independent galleries and artisan boutiques tucked along its historic streets. The Craven Arts Council Gallery on Middle Street features rotating exhibitions from regional artists, while shops like Nautical Wheelers and New Bern Farmers Market (seasonal) offer locally made goods worth taking home.
If you picked up a plant or seed packet from the Tryon Palace gift shop — the selection there is genuinely good — the galleries make a natural next stop.
6. Take a Guided River Cruise
Best for: Anyone who’d rather sit and be told interesting things than read plaques
Several outfitters offer narrated river cruises from the New Bern waterfront, ranging from short sightseeing tours to sunset cruises with drinks included. The Neuse River has played a significant role in North Carolina’s history — from Native American trade routes to Civil War engagements — and a good guide will bring that context to life in ways that complement everything you absorbed at the Palace.
Check the waterfront for current operators and departure times, as schedules vary seasonally.
7. Visit the New Bern Firemen’s Museum
Best for: History buffs who’ve graduated past the expected stops, families with kids who are done with formal gardens
This one tends to surprise people. The New Bern Firemen’s Museum is one of the oldest firefighting museums in the United States, housed in a charming downtown building and packed with 19th-century fire equipment, photographs, and stories from the city’s long firefighting history — including the Great Fire of 1922, which destroyed much of the downtown district.
It’s small, it’s genuinely interesting, and it takes about 45 minutes — making it the perfect addition to an already full day without tipping the balance into too much.
8. End the Day at a Rooftop Bar or River Sunset Spot
Best for: Everyone, full stop
New Bern evenings are made for sitting outside. As the day cools and the river turns gold, find a porch, a waterfront bench, or a bar with a view and let the afternoon settle properly.
The city’s compact size means you’re never more than a short walk from somewhere pleasant to end up. After a day that started in a colonial governor’s garden and wound through 300 years of American history, you’ve more than earned it.
Plan Your Full New Bern Day Trip
New Bern rewards visitors who give it a full day — ideally starting at Tryon Palace when it opens (read our full Tryon Palace Gardens Visitor Guide to plan your time on the grounds), then working your way through the historic district at whatever pace suits you.
The city is about 90 minutes from Raleigh, two hours from Wilmington, and 2.5 hours from Charlotte — an easy and deeply satisfying day trip from most of eastern and central North Carolina.
For current events, maps, and visitor resources, the New Bern Convention & Visitors Bureau at visitnewbern.com is your best starting point.
New Bern is one of North Carolina’s most rewarding small cities — and it all starts with the right plan. Begin with our guide: Living Like a Governor: A Visitor’s Guide to the Tryon Palace Gardens
