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The IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW) ties much of Eastern NC together. It was completed in phases and had its origins in connecting the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia to the Albemarle Sound in NC via the Great Dismal Swamp. Here is some of its history...
The waterway allows for boats to pass each other along the channel...and has a huge economic impact on eastern NC. Not that there is that much through traffic, but really for local recreational uses. Property along the ICW are some of the most highly sought after in all of North Carolina. The geography of the Waterway is also some of the most scenic in North Carolina.
Numerous towns see commerce because of their location on the ICW...probably the largest being Belhaven, Beaufort, Oriental, Swansboro and Southport. There are a lot of beach communities that also utilize the waterway for recreational purposes.
Here is a very good description of the route along the ICW in North Carolina...
I have never heard anyone say anything negative about Sylvan Heights Bird Park. Most are amazed at the place. Kids love it...Seniors love it....and anyone in between. The Landing Zone allows you to feed the birds from your hand...from Parakeets to Flamingo's. Its affordable at $9 for an adult to $5 for children...and it's all brought to you by The Birdman...
To go along with the bird theme of the previous post, Eastern NC is also home to the Charles Kuralt Trail, which is located in multiple places...here is a write-up from the Town of Williamston...
One of the more interesting things to do on the Roanoke River section of the Kuralt is the "Platform Camping" which is listed on the Roanoke River Partners website...
YES!! You can't go to Eastern NC without trying the BBQ! On your list, I've been to B's, Parker's and Skylight Inn. ALL superb! Great list!
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Originally Posted by HP91
Got to have a food item in this thread...well Eastern NC is known for its "eastern" style BBQ...to the point that its a part of its heritage and culture.
"Eastern" NC style is a whole hog BBQ with a vinegar and pepper based sauce. It is served mainly with cole slaw, hushpuppies or cornbread, Brunswick Stew and Sweet (Iced) Tea. "Pig Pickin's" are common in Eastern NC for parties, celebrations, or community gatherings.
Smithfield's is a chain of restaurants that serves Eastern NC barbecue and while their "cue" is good, most in ENC prefer their local spot...and there are a ton of them. For example...
There are surely others, but some of the best are on this list. Many of these are hole in the wall places or just operate out of basic facilities...it's the food and "local place to be" that are its true selling point. You need to have cash on hand because many do not take credit cards.
And note that the best places are not on the coast...so you may want to stop at one of these on your way to the coast. Also it should be noted that many of these also serve chicken...but I recommend trying the barbecue because these are one of a kind recipe's and style.
Considering its history, there are a number of significant Theater's in Eastern NC downtown's.
Goldsboro has the Acme Theater for community theater and the recently renovated Paramount Theater with more national acts.
Washington has a renovated Turnage Theater that is really two theaters.
The Athens Theater in New Bern has been around since 1911. The Park Theater in Greenville is currently owned by the City and is set to be renovated. The Macguire Theater in Elizabeth City provides that region with community type events.
The Amuzu Theater in Southport has been featured in the movies, but needs some renovations.
But the mecca of Theater is in Wilmington. It features its own Community Theater in a renovated USO building on 2nd St. It also has the City Stage Theater, which is on the 5th floor of a Historic Building downtown. Newer Theaters include Theater Now, the Red Barn Studio, and the Browncoat Pub & Theater. Even the Brooklyn Arts Center (a renovated church on 4th St) has hosted some shows.
But the crown jewel of Theater in Eastern (and all of) NC is Thalian Hall.
Thalian Hall was built in 1858. It has undergone numerous renovations, with its most recent one leaving it as a living legend...
It is part of the City Hall complex of Wilmington on 3rd St and is supported by the "official" Community Theater of NC in the Thalian Association, which was founded in 1788.
Thalian Hall has some very unique features...one of which is the "Thunder Roll", which utilizes cannon balls rolling on wooden troughs to create "Thunder". It also features its original curtain on display...as well as many other historical artifacts in the lobby. You can tour Thalian or just go for an event. Within Thalian Hall is also a ballroom, that doubles as City Council Chambers and a Studio Theater that has flexible space for up to 100. Seating at the Main Stage at Thalian can number up to 650, which would include the Opera Boxes. If you are spending the week or a weekend in Wilmington, you should definitely check out what is going at Thalian Hall...
This next entry is going to seem like a promotion of sorts....and unfortunately, it's not two promotions.
See the Class A minor league Kinston Indians were Eastern NC's baseball team until just a few seasons ago, when the franchise was sold and moved to Zebulon, a suburb of Raleigh, and became the Carolina Mudcats. Grainger Stadium in Kinston has been left to just host special events.
In 1997 the Coastal Plain league was established, which is a summer collegiate league that has had success in Eastern NC. Teams are currently located in Wilmington, Morehead City, and Wilson, who's Historic Fleming Stadium is also home to the NC baseball Hall of Fame.
Kinston will likely get a CPL team at some point if it is unsuccessful in getting another Class A team. The final team in the CPL is the Edenton Steamers...
There are a number of reasons why the Steamers are significant. They are actually owned by the Town of Edenton. As well, they play in Historic Hicks Field, a 1,200 seat facility (in a town of about 5,000) that was built as a WPA project in 1939. Its main grandstand seats 500, is made from wood and is the oldest of its kind in North Carolina. Baseball America has rated Hicks Field as the 2nd best place to watch summer collegiate baseball in the country. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As with most of the country, the Railroad played a significant part of development. Eastern NC is certainly no exception, and the RR may have more significance than most places.
Up until 1956 Wilmington was the Headquarters for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (not too be confused with Seaboard, which it merged with and its headquarters moved to Jacksonville, Florida).
The most significant feature of the Railroad in Eastern NC was the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad connection, which was finished in 1840 and spanned 161 miles, making it the longest continuous RR in the world at the time. The Town of Goldsboro originated from this line as the midway point between Wilmington and Weldon, while also being along the line from Beaufort to Raleigh. Numerous towns became stopping points along the lines, which has left almost every town with a Train Depot station. The oldest such station in North Carolina is in Burgaw, built around 1850 and recently renovated in 2009 and now is used as an event center...
The Town of Weldon has the distinction of having an "L" train because of its extended bridge across the Roanoke River that goes through the town. Trains have a distinct sound as they travel on the "L", which folks in places like Chicago that have "L" trains would know.
The Wilmington & Weldon RR was significant during the Civil War for transportation...and was a main reason that when Wilmington went down in the Civil War, the North could declare it over (as Wilmington was also a major port). Much of the history of the Atlantic Coast Line and Wilmington and Weldon RR can be found at the Wilmington Railroad Museum...
This is located adjacent to the Coast Line Convention Center and Coast Line Inn along the waterfront in Wilmington. Many of the old depot buildings in Eastern NC have been turned into Convention type facilities since no passenger rail service is available now, with only stations currently in Rocky Mount and Wilson along the I-95 corridor.
Those are the type of responses you get from folks that visit one of the Craft Breweries of Eastern NC. Like they should only be located in certain locales. What many folks fail to realize is that "places influence identity". That is what makes these places special. There are craft brews located in Farmville (Duck Rabbit), Kinston (Mother Earth), and Grandy (Weeping Radish) and they are all very much original, what folks love about craft brews. For some reason, many people think you have to be in some major metropolitan area to brew things....I guess forgetting that much of the best moonshine or homemade wine is made in someone's back yard..."in the middle of nowhere".
Speaking of middle of nowhere...that is where you can find the perfect climate for muscadine grapes. The types of grapes used at Duplin Winery in Rose Hill...
Duplin Winery is the best selling wine in North Carolina and is the largest winery in the South. It is located right off of I-40 and is a family owned business that is all Eastern NC.
I recommend going to any of those listed above...as well as the local micropubs in Wilmington and the Outer Banks...Long Leaf Brewery is coming soon to downtown Greenville and there are many other start-ups and soon to follow breweries in Eastern NC.
The next entry requires "setting the backdrop". That backdrop is the Town of Bear Grass, which is located on the two lane road between Greenville and Williamston. Population is 73.
Bear Grass is a small farming community, but was long known for its K-12 community school with the Bear out front. Not too long ago, Martin County shut it down to consolidate because of expenses. So the Bear Grass community went out and organized it into a Charter School...
It is affiliated with ECU...and has been a success. But the Bear Grass community is not only known for this school anymore. Because just a few miles outside of town is Deadwood. Here is a write-up about Deadwood that gives a good depiction of the place...
It's not fancy...but it is detailed. Very detailed. It is truly a one-of-a-kind place. And as is typical, it's run by some one of a kind people. The eccentric type...not that there is anything wrong with that. But as much as the owners are known for their western themed amusement park and its fried apples, they are also known for their "bunker". See the owner is also a "Doomsday Prepper" and has the supplies to stay afloat for 12 months should a doomsday scenario occur.
Personally, I highly recommend a trip to Deadwood, especially as a stopping point to the Outer Banks...or if you are in the area and have kids.
It's becoming obvious that Eastern NC somehow, someway promotes Entrepreneurs to come out of the woodwork. Most times using the landscape for their enterprises. That landscape, in many cases, is just an opportunity waiting to happen, you just have to be a little crazy to see it through. There is no better example of this than the Frying Pan Bed & Breakfast...
It's not your normal Bed & Breakfast...and its certainly not in the best condition, but "condition" sometimes is just part of the story of a place...here is a recent article giving a glimpse of where it stands right now...
Over 130 shipwrecks are known near the Lighthouse on the shoals...and likely more and more will be discovered. The fishing is amazing and the site is one-of-a-kind.
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