New Bern Travel and Things to Do Guide

Welcome to Cvent's Meeting and Event Planning Guide to New Bern, a city guide for meeting professionals. Perfectly melding historic charm, natural beauty and state-of-the-art facilities and group services, New Bern is a coastal North Carolina destination positioned for business travel and meetings business. Known as the state's first Colonial capital, New Bern is a picturesque riverfront town situated along the scenic Trent and Neuse Rivers and centrally located along the North Carolina coast. With its convenient location and New Bern Riverfront Convention Center sitting within walking distance of lodging, dining and major attractions, New Bern is a first-class convention destination for groups of history buffs, outdoor recreation lovers and fun-seekers. New Bern's central coastal location puts delegates within easy reach of a number of major North Carolina destinations, as its sits 50 miles from Greenville, 100 miles from Wilmington, 120 miles from Raleigh and 175 miles from Greensboro. Delegates can reach New Bern via Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, which is located within the city and just one block off of U.S. 70. The airport serves North Carolina's Crystal Coast region and flies passengers to East Coast hubs that connect to more than 300 destinations worldwide. Situated less than three miles from Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, New Bern Riverfront Convention Center is located in downtown New Bern and features spectacular views of the Neuse and Trent Rivers. The 45,000-square-foot center is connected via river walkway to 271 guest rooms and in close proximity to another 600 rooms. Meeting and event spaces include the 12,000-square-foot Colonial Capital Ballroom, which accommodates up to 1,350 delegates; 8,000-square-foot Heritage Hall for up to 800 delegates; and 3,740-square-foot Riverfront Veranda for up to 400 delegates, among other spaces. What's more, the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center is set within walking distance of a number of shops, restaurants, historic homes, gardens and such major attractions as Tyron Palace, the Historic Trolley Tour, Birthplace of Pepsi and New Bern Firemen's Museum. In addition to the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, the city is home to a variety of unique venues and group-friendly attractions that not only serve as event spaces, but also immerse delegates in New Bern culture and natural beauty. Regarded as the state's premier historical site, New Bern's Tryon Palace and North Carolina History Center brings the past to life with its immersive encounters, learning adventures, guided tours and interactive exhibits. The site of North Carolina's first Colonial and state capital, the historic site offers a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces ranging from gardens designed in the 18th-century, British style to modern theaters. Groups of up to 300 delegates can reserve the New Bern Civic Theatre for events, as well as gather amid mature shade trees, Carolinian ornate wrought-iron gates and a 1910 brick patio at the downtown Isaac Taylor Garden. Other fantastic New Bern unique venues include the 157,000-acre Croatan National Forest, which is nationally recognized for its extensive trails system and recreational activities. Groups can reserve day-use and picnic areas, as well as boat, fish, bike, camp or simply enjoy Croatan National Forest's pine forests, saltwater estuaries, bogs and raised swamps. Groups can take in all of New Bern's historical sites and stunning architecture aboard a private, custom or charter tour, courtesy of New Bern Tours. Aside from its group tours, New Bern Tours offers a signature 90-minute historic downtown tour, as well as such specialty tours as the Christmas Trolley Tour and Civil War Trolley Tour.