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Try This: Spend a weekend exploring New Bern, NC

Presented by a RALtoday Partner

Slideshow of sights around New Bern, NC,

What we saw: New Bern’s idyllic downtown, the Trent and Neuse River (via a boat tour), the gardens at Tryon Palace + more. | Photos by RALtoday team

A boat ride, good eats, and a history tour? Count us in. We recently decided to take a weekend trip to NC’s second oldest city (and our first state capital), just a ~2-hour drive from downtown Raleigh. See how we spent a weekend in charming New Bern — and why we didn’t want to leave.

What we tried:

Where to begin — After checking into our waterfront room at the Courtyard Marriott, we walked downtown and window shopped at a few art galleries + boutiques before heading to Persimmon’s for dinner.

We dined right on the Neuse River, and enjoyed hushpuppies + crispy Brussels sprouts along with fish tacos and salmon with grits.

Our first post-dinner spot was New Bern’s first and newly-opened speakeasy Harry’s Blind Tiger — sister restaurant to Cypress Hall — where we sampled the Aperol Spritz + a Negroni Sbagliato.

The last libations stop of the night was at Baxters 1892. Fun fact: The classic cocktail bar is inspired by the jazz clubs of the Roaring Twenties. We’re still dreaming about the bananas foster, crème brûlée, and espresso martinis (with freshly-brewed espresso, of course.)

Slideshow of restaurants in New Bern, NC — Where we dined: Persimmon’s (on the Neuse River), Harry’s Blind Tiger, Lawson’s On The Creek, Baker’s Kitchen, and Baxter’s 1892.
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Photos by RALtoday team

What not to miss:

One of our favorite activities of the weekend was the 2-hour boat tour of the Trent and Neuse Rivers, courtesy of Anchors Up Marine Solutions. Our captain tailored our tour to show us the sights we wanted to see — prime waterfront real estate and wildlife, naturally.

We dined in the waterfront sunshine at Lawson’s On The Creek and sampled local beers on draft along with fresh deli-style sandwiches.

No trip downtown is complete without a stop in the birthplace of Pepsi — so we popped in for an ice cold sip before ending our day with a tour of Tryon Palace.

The Day Pass with a Palace Tour saw us spending the afternoon walking the beautiful gardens, milling around the military encampment, and learning from the museum exhibits.*

What we're still talking about

This content was created in partnership with Visit New Bern.*

Asked

Have you ever visited New Bern before?

A. Yes, once.
B. Yes, a few times.
C. Never been, but now I want to go!

Let's get packing

Events

Tuesday, May 9

Bands at Brookside Bodega | Tuesday, May 9 | 5-8 p.m. | Brookside Bodega, 1000 Brookside Dr., Raleigh | Free | Bring the family, enjoy some tasty bites and cold drafts, and see Story Charlemagne perform on the patio.
North Hills Networking Rockstar Connect Event | Tuesday, May 9 | 6-8 p.m. | Raleigh Beer Garden, 614 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | Free | Connect with people in Raleigh who make things happen.

Wednesday, May 10

Modeling Success 2023 - Dress for Success Triangle NC | Wednesday, May 10 | 5-7 p.m. | Junction West, 310 S. West St., Ste. 110, Raleigh | $50-$200 | Watch this spring fashion show featuring local and national boutiques, and enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction.

Thursday, May 11

“Kindly Review” Book Launch | Thursday, May 11 | 5-7 p.m. | RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar, 210 E. Chatham St., Ste. 10, Cary | $0-$30 | Celebrate the launch of the new book “Kindly Review: The Secret to Giving and Receiving Feedback to Make Your Ideas Great” by Dawn Crawford.
Bike-in Movie | Thursday, May 11 | 6 p.m. | Oak City Cycling, 707 N. Person St., Raleigh | Free | Join this casual bike ride through Dix Park and meet back at the shop for a cycling-themed movie at 8 p.m.
Fenton Thriving Thursday Fitness Series | Thursday, May 11 | 6-7 p.m. | Fenton - Fenton Square, 201 Fenton Gateway Dr., Cary | Free | Whether your focus is to sweat, find your flow, or be with your friends, Fenton’s Thriving Thursday has a free fitness class for you in Fenton Square.*

Friday, May 12

Pitbull | Friday, May 12-Saturday, May 13 | 8-10:30 p.m. | Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary | $60-$115 | See rapper Mr. Worldwide perform live.

Thursday, May 18

Sleeping Beauty | Thursday, May 18-Sunday, May 21 | Times vary | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts (fka Duke Energy), 2 E. South St, Raleigh | $27-$85 | Based on the work of the Brothers Grimm, the world premiere was choreographed in 1890 by Marius Petipa, who wrote detailed instructions as to the musical requirements.*

100+ more events

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Development

Raleigh-based Loden Properties + Chicago-based Northpond Partners are revamping a stretch of Glenwood South. The companies plan to redevelop six buildings along the 100 block of Glenwood Avenue to add elevated restaurant, office, and retail spaces. (Triangle Business Journal)

Festival

The annual Longleaf Film Festival — a showcase highlighting independent films with connections to the Tar Heel state — is this Friday, May 12 + Saturday, May 13. Head to the North Carolina Museum of History for free movie screenings and more.

Outdoors

Pop-up disc golf will return to Dix Park this weekend. The nine-hole course is designed for players of all experience levels and will be open from Friday, May 12 to Sunday, July 9. Learn more + explore other local courses.

Asked

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week and we’re looking to highlight local educators. Fill out our survey to shout out your favorite Raleigh teacher, and it might be featured in our newsletter.

Sports

After a win and a loss last weekend, the Carolina Hurricanes are up 2-1 in Round 2 of the NHL Playoffs. They’ll face the Devils again tonight, May 9 at 7 p.m. in Newark, NJ.

Ranked

The City of Oaks was named one of the best large cities for starting a career after college on CoworkingCafe’s recent list. Raleigh snagged the No. 10 spot based on metrics like job opportunities, income levels, and costs of living.

Award

Sam DiFranco, CCIM, SIOR, CEA, Partner, Brokerage Services in Trinity Partners’ Raleigh office was recently awarded TCAR’s 2022 Community Foundation Award. See why he won.*

Eat

Hosting a graduation party? Pro tip: Order a freshly-prepared party tray from Lowes Foods, and check catering off your list. Here’s how.*
Offline — a local restaurant club — started right here in the Triangle. What does a membership include? Besides invites to pre-opening parties and private events, you’ll get up to $50 to spend at two local restaurants monthly like the delicious MOFU Shoppe. Sign up with code “RALTODAY.”

Cause

In emergency situations, hospitals need blood quickly. When you donate blood with The Blood Connection, you help ensure blood is available for our neighbors in need. Donate blood in May and receive $45 in rewards (mobile exclusions apply). Find a location to donate.*

Coming Soon

3 major players collaborating with Swing

3 major players collaborating with Swing Racquet + Paddle

Chef Fabio Viviani standing with his arms crossed in a restaurant.

Chef Fabio Viviani has more than 50 restaurants nationwide. | Photo by Megija Vevere, courtesy of Swing Racquet + Paddle

Swing Racquet + Paddle — an under construction “sportstainment” complex serving up tennis, pickleball, padel, ping pong, and beach tennis — recently announced collaborations with three major industry leaders.

Wilson Sporting Goods, a sports equipment manufacturer based in Chicago, will open a brick-and-mortar retail shop for multi-racket sports, complete with a Wilson Stringing Bar for tennis rackets. The Swing campus will also be a testing ground for Wilson’s new technology-driven experiences including AR, VR, and gamification.

Stockholm-based Good to Great Tennis Academy is bringing its tennis training to Raleigh, establishing its North American presence. The program has coached players like Maria Sakkari, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, and three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka.

Foodies, get ready. Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani is joining Swing to lead its food and beverage program. The “Top Chef” star will create a menu featuring shareable, “better-for-you” dishes with high-quality ingredients.

Learn more about Swing

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Anne

From the editor

If you’re a fan of “Top Chef” and can’t wait for Swing’s new restaurant to open next year, I recommend trying A’Verde in Cary. Chef Katsuji Tanabe draws from his Mexican heritage to create dishes with local seasonal ingredients. Heads up: Your margarita may be on fire when it reaches your table.

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