Waterwood Townhouses

Waterwood Townhouses is in New Bern, NC, and that is where I am headed today. This area reminds me of my nearby summer camp from my youth, so this will be a fun trip.

This a great video from a traveling couple to the area.

Day One Arrival

Travel to New Bern NC, for most will be by car. For me the trip is about a 3-hour drive. So as far as vacations or get-a-way trips go, it is very close. If you are coming from many parts of North Carolina, you would drive in on route 70. Me, I came down route 17 from my home in Virginia. It is a peaceful drive.

Nearly 40 years ago when I attended Camp Sea Gull in nearby Arapahoe NC, Route 17 was the same road you would use to travel to this area even back then. It is an older Interstate US route 17 also known as the Coastal Highway, which runs from Virginia to Florida and covers most of the Atlantic Coast of the United States. It covers over 1180 miles of the East Coast, much of US 17 was built in 1926. Anytime you drive on US 17 plan on stops in little sleepy towns, and that slow down for various speeds we all seem to find on the side road trips.

When you first arrive at Waterwood Townhouses, one thing that will grab you is that these townhouses are built on pedestals. It makes a heck of a lot of sense when you know the area well. North Carolina is one of many coastal areas that often get hammered by hurricanes. So the pedestal construction of these Townhouses makes sense as a defense mechanism against the rising water from those massive storms, as well as the occasional North Eastern which can bring in several feet of water above normal sea level.

Here checking in is easy, and the site has many amenities.

Villa Amenities

Then the resort itself offers all of these options.

Resort Amenities

The townhouses themselves are older but appear well-maintained. What most are coming to this area for is likely the area itself. This will be your base camp for your vacation for fun on the water, golfing, and enjoying New Bern and the surrounding area.

New Bern NC, is a great small town. A former State Capital of North Carolina, and the proud birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. It is a small town that has a deep history as well as roots in Americana that few communities have maintained as well. I personally look forward to exploring things from my personal history as well as the history of the area while I am in town.

If you are not a history buff, there is still plenty to do with great water sports, activities, golf, and more in the area.

Often when I am taking a trip, you will hear me talk about checking in and getting settled before going out for a bite to eat. On this trip, I had heard about a local spot and went to eat before checking in. For lunch, I went to Bakers Kitchen, and I had their country-fried steak. Which was great, and the killer thing here was the sides. I enjoyed collards and mashed potatoes with gravy that tastes handmade. I mean potatoes, gravy, and all. When someone makes fresh mashed potatoes, it is like an entirely separate food group from the fake on-box stuff.

One thing you can be sure of on a vacation or trip to North Carolina is the food. Few places on Earth have more great restaurants and cooks per square mile. So, when you come, bring your appetite. The collards here had that slightly spicy vinegar taste that I love in those. That hit of pepper vinegar makes them pop.

Since I was already in town for lunch before checking in to the Waterwood Townhouses, I also went to the community arts gallery. Here you will find some amazing local artists from many disciplines, from great painters to local jewelry professionals. At the gallery, you will find over 30 local artists’ work and if you love watercolor you will find some amazing work by local artists here.

I personally found the work of Christine Provard to be top-notch and something I would enjoy having in my home as a reminder of my vacation or just the local waterways in general.

In town there is also the Craven Arts Gallery which shares the work of even more local talent. Two- and three-dimensional work is available here for sale and review, as well as books from local artists.

This amazing little town offers more galleries and I hope to see more of them on my trip.

Day Two at Waterwood Townhouses

I started my day headed back to Bakers Kitchen because the food was great and the breakfast menu pulled me in yesterday at lunch. Today I wanted to try their Meat lovers Omelet. It is hard to go wrong when you cook sausage, bacon, and cheese together well. If you have not had cheese grits before, try them. I had that with a sweat tea and in short order (pun intended) I was fueled and ready for the day. Not to forget to mention also happy as a clam.

My day would start with a trip to my old summer camp, where I spent 3 months during my childhood. Some of my fondest memories were on the water here locally and with my friends from Camp Sea Gull. Camp Sea Gull was a YMCA-run camp that did an amazing job of offering camp experiences from as short as two weeks to a full month. Like New Bern, part of the draw here was a combination of water sports and golf.

I have never been a golf fan, but I do love everything to do with the water. I grew up on the water both at home and at camp. Sailing, and even motoring around on a Boston Whaler were just my kind of fun.

If you love the water then New Bern may become your favorite vacation destination. If you did not bring your own boat to the area in town there are rental options and several local providers that can help you enjoy the local waterways. One local provider that you may want to check out is Cruise the Neuse the captain offers local tours of the waterway on his pontoon boat which makes for a fun comfortable ride. Cruising with a local you also get access to their knowledge of the local waterways.

The area also boasts some amazing fishing and local guides are available. One with over 19 years of experience that includes an average of 225 days a year on the water is Captain Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever a local legend who has appeared on 20 TV shows, and in many local books and magazines on fishing.

If you love fishing or just want to really give it a try with a professional for a great experience for the kids or adults, consider a day with Captain Gary.

Here they will work with you if you want to do a half-day trip based on availability or a full-day trip. The full day is a value choice as it offers all the hands-on help, guidance, and attention for 8 hours.

Another local fishing option is Tar-Pam.

I spent the entire day on the water and enjoyed every minute of my fishing trip. Even the first few hours that did not bring in fish were fun to learn the local waterway again and get fishing tips from a professional.

After a full day of getting fishy, it was time for some dinner.

On Vacations I do not go to chains much at all. I often hope to find local joints that are not available anywhere else. However, I love diners and we do not have Hwy 55 locations in Virginia. I wanted to check out their burgers for myself. My go-to burger from a diner is the Chili Burger, and I had to try theirs. I was glad I did the burger was great, and it filled that food void that I had built up with a full day on the water.

Day Three Local History Day

Again, New Bern NC is an amazing location for local history. Not only for its connection as the former State Capital of North Carolina but also for Tryon Palace and the local civil war battle history. My plan today was to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the local history and enjoy some great food while doing so.

If you are not a history fan, you might want to spend your day playing golf and I do not blame you. The area boasts some great golf locations. There are many in the area and Harbour Point is just one of the golf courses you may want to get a tee time at. Here you find a resort-style 18-hole par 72, 6,577-yard championship golf course.

For a local course that has a great reputation as well, check out Emerald Green.

For me, my day started with breakfast. I went to the Country Biscuit Restaurant to see about their namesake and a full breakfast. The flakey namesake here did steal the show, but the breakfast was great all around. I grabbed at Country Biscuit Special, which included. Two Eggs cooked to your desire with your choice of Bacon or Sausage Patties*, and pick your side of grits, hashbrowns, homefries, or potato rounds and top it off with biscuit or toast. If that wasn’t enough for you, — round the entire meal off with one of three options – Pancakes, French Toast, or Waffles!

That was a huge breakfast for, I think, $10 or so if memory serves me.

Tyron Palace was my next stop. Built-in 1770, it is one of the most historic homes in the United States. The story of Tyron Palace is one not only of its rich history with America but also of the dedication of the people who rebuilt this location. The site was destroyed in a fire in 1798. Later a major highway, bridge, and other construction would have to be removed from the site and moved in order to allow its proper reconstruction. That project took over 30 years of planning, love, and effort to complete.

The site now also includes the North Carolina History Center. Here the history center and its exhibits remind me of the Yorktown Victory center because of the quality design, and the layout.

History and the walking related to it can be something that brings with it a healthy appetite. So next I felt it was time for lunch. I headed for the Carolina Grill for lunch. Yesterday’s fishing had me thinking about seafood and particularly shrimp for some reason. I opted for fresh shrimp and flounder as an ultimate 1-2 combo to satiate my hunger.

I do not know why but I love to get French fries, and applesauce with friend shrimp so I had those four sides and added fried okra for good measure.

My time on this trip as many has been in part centered around food. Here in New Bern N.C., there is much more than just great local eateries. There is history, golf, watersport, and art. In just a few short days I have fished a full day, had some great art tours, and taken a deep look at local history.

These days you are hard-pressed to find anyone talking about the civil war. There are so many political stresses these days. While still with the Revolutionary War, it is responsible for part of the foundations of our modern society. This makes it important to learn about and understand. If you choose to look into the Civil War battle here, you will find that brother fought against brother to secure the freedom of men and women that they felt deserved to be free. I do not think you will find another place that had such a fight for the rights of others, especially as it related to slavery on the face of the Earth.

Regardless of your focus on your New Bern Vacation, the Waterwood Townhouses is a great place to start every day, and get away from it all for a great vacation.

You too can have this great escape if you book online with TZort.