New Bern, NC

New Bern is a historic riverfront city in Craven County, North Carolina, sitting at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse rivers in the state's coastal plain. With a population of roughly 30,000, it carries the easygoing pace of a small Southern town wrapped around a remarkably layered past. It is best known as the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, which pharmacist Caleb Bradham first mixed behind his New Bern drugstore counter in 1893, and as the onetime colonial capital of North Carolina, a status that left the city with a deep well of preserved architecture. New Bern also functions as a convenient inland base for travelers heading toward the Crystal Coast beaches and the southern Outer Banks. The nearest major city is Raleigh, the state capital, which sits about 100 miles to the west along US-70.

Tryon Palace anchors the historic district in the heart of downtown. Once the residence of British Royal Governor William Tryon and the colonial seat of government, the reconstructed palace and its surrounding gardens now operate as a living-history site, with costumed interpreters, period rooms, and the adjoining North Carolina History Center. It is within walking distance of most of the city's inns and bed-and-breakfasts, making it the natural starting point for a visit.

Just a few blocks from the palace, the Pepsi-Cola birthplace on Middle Street draws visitors with a small museum, vintage advertising memorabilia, and a soda fountain serving drinks made from the original 1893 formula. The site leans into its story with a sweetness that tends to appeal to both casual tourists and brand-history buffs passing through the area.

For travelers looking to get on the water, New Bern's twin rivers make it a popular launching point for boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding, and the town has long marketed itself as a sailing destination. To the south, the Croatan National Forest spreads across more than 160,000 acres of pine flatwoods, pocosin wetlands, and blackwater creeks, offering hiking, fishing, and camping within about a 30-minute drive of downtown. Many visitors also pair a stay in New Bern with a day trip to the Crystal Coast, where Atlantic Beach and Fort Macon State Park lie roughly 45 minutes to the south.

New Bern's blend of walkable historic streets, riverfront setting, and proximity to both the Croatan National Forest and the Atlantic beaches gives short-term rental owners a broad audience to draw from. History-minded travelers, families visiting the marine base at Cherry Point, retirees, and beachgoers looking to stay somewhere quieter than the coast itself all converge on this small Craven County city, making it a quietly versatile base for the eastern North Carolina tourism market.