 Serving New Bern NC  |
Kathie Jones |
New Bern, NC
28562|
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Everything You Always Wanted To Know About New Bern, North Carolina. Once prospective transplants from up North hear about New Bern, it's a done deal: our year-round temperate climate, our beautiful countryside, our friendly people, our rich history, our top-of-the-line schools, and our nearby shopping clinch the deal. That's why people stay here and businesses thrive here. Kathie Jones is an expert on both moving (she's done it 38 times; New Bern is her last stop) and on New Bern itself, where she's lived for years. Here's everything you might want to know about New Bern: Virtual Tour of New Bern The city's official website delivers copious info and photos. We're a modern yet historic community with rich traditions and year-round resort amenities. The site tells you almost everything you'd want to know about today's New Bern, North Carolina. New Bern, North Carolina, History Thee second oldest city in North Carolina, New Bern was settled in 1710 by German Palatine and Swiss colonists led by Baron Christophe von Graffenreid. He purchased the land from the Tuscarora Indians who had a small settlement here known as Chattawka, which meant "where the fish are taken out." As a point of interest, the oldest water elm tree in the US still stands in the historic section of downtown, and it's under that very tree that the treaty with the Indians was signed. Named for Bern, Switzerland, the town is located on the triangle of land where the Trent and Neuse Rivers meet. The original settlers suffered from the climate (despite the fact that it's quite temperate), a lack of provisions, diseases, and Indians who weren't exactly thrilled with having them as neighbors.
A "Carolina Charter" was issued by King Charles II after he was restored to the throne in 1660, granting his loyal supporters and drinking buddies ("The Lords Proprietor") wide areas of land in the New World. The Carolina Charter spread from Virginia to the Spanish border of Florida. The name Carolina came from "Carolus", the Latin word for Charles. William, Earl of Craven, was one of the original Lords Proprietor -- and Craven County here bears his name. The Royal Governor William Tryon saw the need for a permanent capital in the growing colony and selected New Bern as the site. Tryon Palace, the first colonial and state capital building in North Carolina, was designed by the English architect John Hawks and was completed in 1770. It was a political center during the Revolution. The then-governor fled the capitol for safety in 1775, and the port sheltered many privateers before and during the Revolutionary War. New Bern was known to and visited by pirates who terrorized the Carolina shoreline. Nearby Beaufort has one of Blackbeard's houses, "Hammock House" where purportedly his men and/or a wife stayed on shore leave. Blackbeard's famous ship "Queen Anne's Revenge" was discovered in the shallow waters off the Beaufort coast. After the Revolution, New Bern became wealthy and developed a rich cultural life. In fact, at one time New Bern was called "the Athens of the South." The Tryon Palace was the capital of the independent State of North Carolina. New Bern was and is a town of many firsts:
Renowned in the South were the Masonic Temple and the Athens Theater, both still very active in the town. Union forces, called "federals" at the time, captured New Bern early in the Civil War (March 14, 1862). The officers occupied the larger homes in town, and the town was filled with Union troops for the rest of the War. For this reason, there was less damage to New Bern than to many other small Southern towns. After the difficulty of Reconstruction, New Bern came to life again and by 1916, there were 16 lumber mills here. A thriving pitch and turpentine trade was established. New Bern was also a renowned source of seafood that was shipped far and wide. New Bern Location & City Statistics New Bern today is the county seat of Craven County in eastern North Carolina, and it is located at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers. It also connects to the InterCoastal Waterway. This region is called the Central or Crystal Coast due to the crystal-clear waters all along the abundant beaches only 30-45 minutes away. Following are New Bern's official statistics according to the United States Census Bureau Gazetteer:
Only two hours drive from Raleigh-Durham, 5 1/2 hours from Washington, D.C., and 10 hours drive from New York City, New Bern has become a popular destination for families and retirees looking for a small-town lifestyle, yet who don't want to sacrifice the amenities enjoyed in larger population centers. New Bern fills the bill, enabling tourists to enjoy a less commercialized beach-and-history vacation. Getting to New Bern
Follow Interstate 95 to US 70-East which takes you directly into New Bern. Alternatively, exit route 95 at Rocky Mount and take US 43 into New Bern. That route lets you enjoy the countryside. Plus, you'll travel through Greenville -- a great nearby town to shop or grab a meal. New Bern's airport code is EWN (like Dulles airport in Washington is IAD and New York Kennedy is JFK). We're served by US Airways and Midway Airlines, which connects from Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. Both the terminal and runways are relatively new. Although we have a Greyhound Bus station, railroad passengers must transport themselves from any east-central North Carolina railroad stations. Wilson, North Carolina, is closest. Boaters can cruise here on the Neuse; it's an easy sail from the InterCoastal Waterway. Getting Around In New Bern Visitors will have no problem driving around New Bern and the surrounding areas, and rental cars and bikes are readily available. Shorebird Rentals is a good local company which also rents boats for river sightseeing. During summer, and part-time during fall and winter, a trolley traverses New Bern's historical district, and a guide explains what you're seeing. Bikers appreciate the beautiful streets downtown, but walking reigns supreme as the favorite mode of transportation around the charming downtown area. Walking is best because otherwise, there are so many little details you might miss in the abundance of fine old churches and southern-style colonial and Georgian architecture. Most downtown buildings are beautifully preserved and enhanced by both long-time residents and recent arrivals to New Bern. Many people believe the historic districts are the most interesting places to live in New Bern. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available, and a large trolley-size carriage is available for groups. Custom-built for Special Olympics contestants, the oversize carriage was such a hit that the Queen Anne Carriage folks have kept it active.
For families and retirees looking for a constant temperate climate (hard freezes are almost unheard of) but who still want to enjoy the change of seasons, New Bern is ideal. With its long springs and autumns and short summers and winters, New Bern offers the ideal environment for sports addicts, gardeners, golfers, and all outdoor enthusiasts with its near year-round outdoor activities and close access to beaches. One of New Bern's older residents, who was a transplant over 10 years ago said, "I moved to New Bern because the camellias bloom all winter here, and I figured if they can thrive in the weather, so can I." You can check out today's weather in New Bern, but here's the bottom line:
New Bern Shopping New Bern has two things going for it shopping-wise. (Three, if you count casual-dressing.) First is the downtown/ waterfront/ historic district, raved about by tourists. Charming doesn't begin to describe it. Accessible, yes. Inviting, of course. But the last-century ambiance of New Bern's picturesque downtown is preserved and enhanced today by a partnership between the historical preservation society and business development groups, the most visible of which is Swiss Bear. This small three or four block area is alive with specialty boutiques, designer clothing stores, service industry stores, restaurants, and coffee and dessert emporiums, not to mention outstanding arts and crafts shops. Our Civic Theater has been restored, and many other venerable old buildings are undergoing restoration. The Riverside Convention Center is the new roof on the waterfront skyline; it's open for business and is gorgeous to boot. Then we do have the malls. Wal-Mart, Target, J. C. Penney, Goody's and Belk's are the department store category choices. Head out US 17-S for most of the heavy-duty shopping action. You'll find Berne Square there, one of the older shopping centers. Berne was recently updated and drew great shopping choices including newly re-located Dixon Shoes, the best choice for shoe shopping in town. Radio Shack and Big Lots are also there. Twin Rivers Mall has several dozen shopping choices. Farther on, there's Lowe's hardware, Books a Million, a Wal-Mart superstore, and Harris Teeter, the state-of-the-art grocery which is worth a visit if only for sampling. Also check Glenburnie's strip mall action, where you'll find a bit of everything, from a pristine Baskin Robbins to Mailboxes Plus and Cooks and Connoisseurs, Golf Etc., and others. Samantha's, an Atlanta style gorgeous gift and collectibles extravaganza, and Garden Delights nursery are farther out on 17, as is Ann Lynn's where New Bern business women buy their clothes. There are, in effect, only three large commercial corridors in New Bern:
Over the bridge on US70 East is the predicted explosion of new restaurants -- Bojangles, KFC, the Full Belly Deli, and businesses catering to Taberna and all the Brice's Creek subdivisions. There's also fast food, dry cleaners, and a car sales alley, all along the way to the beach. New Bern is 35 minutes from several heavy duty malls in Jacksonville NC; 40 minutes from Greenville with unlimited shopping; and, for luxury shopping, we are two hours from the Crabtree Valley Mall and other upscale malls in Raleigh and the famous Research Triangle Park area. Here's the latest on New Bern commercial development:
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