Havelock / New Bern, North Carolina

"New Bern's finest restaurant in a beautiful 1912 drugstore."

The Chelsea occupies the original Pepsi-Cola building in New Bern (birthplace of Pepsi) and is the city's most accomplished dinner — well-sourced local ingredients, a strong wine list, and elegant surroundings.

"Waterfront seafood and cold beer on the Trent River."

Captain Ratty's is New Bern's beloved waterfront spot — local oysters, shrimp, and fish served on a dock overlooking the Trent River confluence. Low-key, authentic, and exactly what Eastern NC seafood should be.

"Fresh-off-the-boat Crystal Coast seafood."

Atlantic Beach has multiple good seafood restaurants — Blackbeard's keeps it local with North Carolina caught fish and shrimp. Casual, cash-friendly, and exactly what a beach seafood shack should be.

"The Royal Governor's Palace. Colonial capital of North Carolina."

Tryon Palace is the reconstructed 1770 colonial governor's mansion — the finest reconstruction of an 18th-century British colonial complex in the South. The gardens are extraordinary in spring. Living history programs run throughout the year.

"Undeveloped barrier island. Wild ponies and an 1859 lighthouse."

Cape Lookout is accessible only by ferry from Beaufort or Harkers Island — an undeveloped barrier island with the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Shackleford Banks wild ponies, and some of the finest shell collecting on the East Coast.

"Coastal plain longleaf pine forest. Venus flytraps grow wild here."

The Croatan National Forest surrounds the Cherry Point peninsula — Venus flytraps and pitcher plants grow naturally in the pocosins, and the Neuse and Trent rivers offer flatwater paddling through a coastal forest that's found nowhere else.

"The Crystal Coast. Less crowded than the Outer Banks."

The Crystal Coast beaches — Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Emerald Isle — have clearer water and fewer crowds than the Outer Banks. Fort Macon State Park on Atlantic Beach is excellent for beach access and Civil War history.

"Flatwater kayaking through cypress swamp."

The Neuse River estuary near Cherry Point is one of the widest rivers in North America and excellent for kayaking and fishing. The upper reaches have beautiful cypress and tupelo swamp paddling.

"Regional history and the Pepsi-Cola birthplace story."

New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola (invented by pharmacist Caleb Bradham in 1898) and has a museum complex telling both the town's colonial history and the Pepsi origin story. The gift shop sells Pepsi items you can't find elsewhere.

"Excellent NC aquarium with a 300,000-gallon tank. Military discount."

One of NC's three state aquariums, the Pine Knoll Shores facility is legitimately excellent — a 300,000-gallon tank with sharks and rays, a river otter exhibit, and excellent rotating displays on North Carolina's remarkable marine biodiversity.