Pamlico Area Photo Tours and Travel Information

Hotels

For postcard-perfect long weekends, or full week stays that have exceptional access to indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, and amenities, there's nothing quite like the convenience of a stay at a local hotel or motel. A number of area hotels have been welcoming guests for decades, and as a result, vacationers have come back year after year for the fantastic service and the million-dollar views.

Vacation Rentals

Visitors are often surprised at the number and variety of weekly vacation rentals throughout the area.. Vacation rentals are, in fact, an increasingly popular accommodation available to vacationers, and visitors will find that the sheer number of rentals available allows them to find an ideal retreat to fit their crew, from quiet condo complexes to brightly colored oceanfront sand castles.

Havelock, NC

While the small town of Havelock is often overshadowed by its Crystal Coast neighbors, the city is nonetheless a prime waterfront retreat for eastern North Carolina visitors who want to experience the real everyday life of the Inner Banks. Home to the renowned Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, the expansive and wild Pine Cliff Recreational Area, and a small handful of shops and restaurants that shine a light on the local culture, Havelock is a fun day trip for nature lovers, military buffs, and anyone who wants an inside glimpse into the real, hardworking Coastal Carolina.

Cahooque Creek Recreation Area

The waterfront Cahooque Creek Recreation Site, located at the very corner where the Hancock and Cahoogue rivers meet up with the expansive Neuse River, is a water and boat lover's dream destination. With easy access to all three of these rivers, in addition to the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean just miles away, vessels of all varieties, from kayaks to skiffs, will find ample watery terrain to explore.

Havelock
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Down East Canvas and Gallery

The Down East Canvas and Gallery, located at the foot of the bridge in Oriental, is one of the Pamlico region's most interesting art spaces, with quite an unusual history to boot. With an avid collection that spans from the practical, (namely canvas boat supplies), to the naturally inspiring, the destination is part utilitarian marine store, and part eclectic gallery showroom, and the end result is a remarkable one-of-a-kind gallery that somehow feels quintessentially Oriental.

Oriental
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Whittaker Creek Yacht Harbor Marina

The Whittaker Creek Yacht Harbor Marina, located at the very edge of Whittaker Creek and the borders of the Neuse River, may be just one of many marinas found in the small but intrinsically coastal town of Oriental, but it's also one of the most accommodating and conveniently located in the region.

Oriental
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New Bern Battlefield Park

Located on the outskirts of the historic downtown area, the New Bern Battlefield Park is a unique destination that served as the site of one of the largest battles in the Craven County area during the Civil War.

New Bern
252-638-8558
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Kidsville at Seth West Parrot Park

New Bern’s youngest visitors will have an amazing time discovering all the ways to have fun at Kidsville – one of the most enticing attractions within the expansive Seth West Parrot Park.

New Bern
252-639-2901
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Baxter's Gallery

The original New Bern Artworks, recently renamed and now known as the "Fine Art at Baxters Gallery," is a favorite downtown shopping spot for frequent visitors and first-time vacationers alike. Located in the former Baxters Jewelry Store in the heart of downtown on Pollock Street, the gallery features an eclectic collection which includes original paintings, glass works, ceramics, pottery, sculpture, photography, and jewelry.

New Bern
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Outer Banks Speedway

Visitors with a need for speed can hit the tracks in Creswell, just a couple miles west of Columbia, at the Outer Banks Speedway. The all-concrete 1/8 mile track has a two lane, 50' ft. wide racing surface where local and visiting speed demons can put the pedal to the metal.

Creswell
252-797-7223
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7 Best Beach & Fishing Coolers 2018

Nothing beats an ice-cold beverage while relaxing on the beach. Nothing is worse than reaching for an icy drink and finding your cans swimming. Coolers are essential for family days on the sand. A good modern cooler will keep food and drinks fresh for days. In addition to beverages, fishermen rely coolers to keep bait fresh, and hopefully the catch of the day. Walk onto any beach or pier in North or South Carolina and you’ll see a plethora of cooler models and sizes. Cooler technology has advanced rapidly in modern years. Top-end hard-sided coolers can keep ice frozen for a week. Soft coolers are easier for one person to carry onto a beach, but can still keep food cool for days. Cooler materials and price points vary wildly, so we put together this guide with our recommendations for your coastal vacation.

Creekside Park

Creekside Park is the largest park in the town of New Bern, and it’s situated close to the local airport, just off of US Highway 70. The park extends for 11 acres and since opening in 1997, is one of the most popular destinations for a myriad of both youth and adult sporting events.

New Bern
252-636-6606
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New Bern Civic Theater

Visitors who want to take in a fantastically performed local show while admiring one of New Bern's many historical gems should make a date to attend a production staged by the New Bern Civic Theatre. With a role of a lifetime as one of Craven County's most distinctive artistic resources, the nearly 50-year-old theater group is overwhelmingly enjoyed by local performers, artists, and patrons alike.

New Bern
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Bath, NC History

European settlement near the Pamlico River in the 1690's led to the creation of Bath, North Carolina's first town, in 1705. The town's location seemed ideal with easy access to the river and the Atlantic Ocean 50 miles away--at Ocracoke Inlet.

Lawson Creek Park

Lawson Creek Park is an active destination that's suitable for nature lovers and outdoors fans of all genres. Encompassing a massive 140 acre site surrounded by the waters of Lawson Creek and Trent River, this park is a perfectly scenic locale that feels worlds away from the rest of Eastern North Carolina, but still has ample amenities to keep its more active visitors hard at play.

New Bern
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North Carolina Estuarium

The North Carolina Estuarium is one of the highlights of Little Washington's downtown scene, and for good reason. The 12,500 square foot structure, which has served as an educational center since it was first managed by the Partnership for the Sounds in 1998, operates as a variety of purposes for Eastern North Carolina locals and visitors. Part aquarium, part museum, and part classroom for students of all ages, the modern building perched along Washington's waterfront on the very edge of its active downtown, is a scenic must-see attraction for any visitor passing through.

Washington
252-948-0000
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Belhaven, NC

The little town of Belhaven may be a blink-and-you'll-miss-it town, but Eastern North Carolina visitors who decide to take the long way home along US Highway 264 will be rewarded with a visit to a picturesque waterfront town that is filled with historical and coastal charm. This small community of less than 2,000 residents has a prime location on the north shore of the Pungo River, just eight miles away from the massive Pamlico Sound which separates North Carolina's Inner Banks from its Outer Banks. As a result, visitors here will find exceptional fishing, incredible open water views, and a hardy, salty culture that is typical of North Carolina's life on the water.

Washington, NC History

Explored in the late 1500s it was finally settled in 1690. James Bonner started the town on his own farm in the 1770s. After serving in the Continental Army, Bonner returned home and in 1776 renamed his town, originally called ''Forks of the Tar,'' for his commanding general, Washington. The town boasts that it is the ''original Washington.'' It was a major shipping port playing an important role in supplying the colonists when the British held Savannah, Charles Town and Wilmington under siege. Prized for its good waters it became a major commercial and cultural center for nearly a century.