Bridgeton North CarolinaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Bridgeton, North Carolina.
1. J L Kirkman's Antique Mall
VINTAGE TREASURE HUNTING
J L Kirkman's Antique Mall is a popular destination for antique enthusiasts in Bridgeton. Visitors can browse through a vast collection of vintage items, collectibles, and unique memorabilia from various eras. The mall offers a nostalgic journey through time with its carefully curated selection of antiques that appeal to collectors and casual shoppers alike.
2. Ineffable Wine and Beer Garden
RELAXING BEVERAGE EXPERIENCE
Ineffable is a charming wine and beer garden that serves as a social hub in Bridgeton. The venue offers a carefully selected variety of wines and craft beers in a relaxed outdoor setting. Visitors can enjoy their beverages while socializing with locals and tourists alike in this welcoming atmosphere.
3. Temple B'nai Sholem
HISTORIC RELIGIOUS SITE
Temple B'nai Sholem stands as an important religious and historical landmark in Bridgeton. The temple features distinctive architecture and serves as a center for Jewish heritage in the region. Visitors appreciate both its spiritual significance and historical importance to the local community.
4. Union Point Park
SCENIC RIVERSIDE RECREATION
Union Point Park offers beautiful views where the Neuse and Trent Rivers meet, just a short distance from Bridgeton. The park features scenic walking areas, picnic facilities, and a playground that make it perfect for family outings. Visitors can enjoy waterfront views, boat watching, and outdoor recreation in this well-maintained public space.
5. Tryon Palace
COLONIAL GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE
Tryon Palace served as North Carolina's first permanent capitol and the residence of Royal Governor William Tryon in the late 18th century. The meticulously restored Georgian-style mansion features period furnishings, ornate décor, and costumed interpreters who bring colonial history to life. Surrounding the palace are beautifully landscaped gardens designed according to 18th-century formal garden principles.
6. North Carolina History Center
INTERACTIVE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE
The North Carolina History Center is a modern museum complex adjacent to Tryon Palace that brings state history to life through interactive exhibits. The center houses the Pepsi Family Center, where visitors can engage with hands-on activities that simulate life in the 1800s. Its state-of-the-art facilities include the Duffy and Guion galleries, which feature rotating exhibits on regional history and culture.
7. New Bern Academy Museum
HISTORIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
The New Bern Academy Museum occupies one of North Carolina's oldest public school buildings, dating back to 1809. During the Civil War, the building served as a Union hospital, and today it houses exhibits covering education, architecture, and New Bern's Civil War history. Visitors can explore four permanent exhibits that provide insights into the region's rich historical legacy.
8. Pepsi Family Center
INTERACTIVE HISTORICAL LEARNING
The Pepsi Family Center offers an immersive time-travel experience where visitors can explore life in 1835 New Bern. Families can participate in hands-on activities like sailing a ship, piecing together quilts, and helping in a general store. The center, named to honor Pepsi's birthplace in New Bern, combines education with entertainment through its interactive historical simulations.
9. Palace Gardens
HISTORIC BOTANICAL DISPLAY
The Palace Gardens at Tryon Palace showcase meticulously maintained colonial-era landscaping spanning 16 acres of diverse garden areas. Visitors can stroll through formal parterres, kitchen gardens, wilderness gardens, and the Latham Garden with its seasonal blooms throughout the year. The gardens represent accurate historical reconstructions based on period documentation and archaeological evidence.
10. Birthplace of Pepsi
SODA FOUNTAIN HISTORY
The Birthplace of Pepsi marks the site where pharmacist Caleb Bradham first created the popular soft drink in 1898 at his pharmacy. Today, the recreated pharmacy features a functioning soda fountain where visitors can enjoy a Pepsi while browsing memorabilia and historical exhibits. Pepsi enthusiasts can also purchase unique souvenirs and collectibles from this iconic location in soft drink history.
11. New Bern Riverfront Convention Center
WATERFRONT EVENT VENUE
The New Bern Riverfront Convention Center offers a premier event space with stunning views of the Trent River just minutes from Bridgeton. The facility hosts conferences, weddings, exhibitions, and cultural events throughout the year in its spacious, modern interior. Visitors appreciate the center's convenient downtown location near restaurants, shops, and historical attractions.
12. Lawson Creek Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION AREA
Lawson Creek Park provides extensive outdoor recreational opportunities across 140 acres of waterfront property near Bridgeton. The park features boat ramps, fishing piers, picnic shelters, and playgrounds ideal for family outings. Nature enthusiasts can explore walking trails that wind through natural areas offering wildlife viewing opportunities.
13. Baker's Kitchen
FAMOUS BREAKFAST SPOT
Baker's Kitchen is a beloved local restaurant known for its signature Dutch potato pancakes and homemade butter syrup. The restaurant occupies a historic downtown building and serves breakfast and lunch dishes made from scratch daily. Visitors from Bridgeton and beyond often wait in line for the chance to enjoy their famous comfort food in a charming, nostalgic atmosphere.
14. Mitchell Hardware
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SHOP
Mitchell Hardware is more than just a hardware store; it's a New Bern institution dating back to 1898 and located just a short drive from Bridgeton. The family-owned business offers an eclectic mix of traditional hardware, unique gifts, local souvenirs, and hard-to-find items. Visitors enjoy browsing the historic store's packed aisles where helpful staff continue a century-old tradition of personalized customer service.
15. Croatan National Forest
NATURAL WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE
Croatan National Forest encompasses over 160,000 acres of diverse ecosystems including pocosin wetlands, longleaf pine forests, and estuaries near Bridgeton. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy activities like hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing throughout the forest. The forest's extensive trail system includes the Neusiok Trail, which offers hikers a challenging 21-mile route through various coastal habitats.