i posted this request on ask all sailors and only got a few replies so i'll try you hunter people. the wife and i are headed up to New Bern the first week of Sept and will be staying at a time share up there. need the inside scoop about things to do and see (bars and resturants) and maybe get out for a sail one day... any help gang? we are also making a recon for possible retirement in the area and will be looking to take our 37 hunter cutter with us in a couple of years. any feedback is welcome thanks chet p Harriet's Chariot H37C #36
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New Bern is OK... But go to Oriental NC
Chet I like New Bern (Pepsi Cola invented there) but we didn't stay but 1 day and ventured off to Oriental NC. (towndock.net) or I'd rather go to Wilmington. We have dock space for Labor Day weekend. Maybe someone else can give more info on New Bern. Good Luck! Mike C. 33.5 Hunter Destiny II North Myrtle Beach, SC
Chet I like New Bern (Pepsi Cola invented there) but we didn't stay but 1 day and ventured off to Oriental NC. (towndock.net) or I'd rather go to Wilmington. We have dock space for Labor Day weekend. Maybe someone else can give more info on New Bern. Good Luck! Mike C. 33.5 Hunter Destiny II North Myrtle Beach, SC
Well, it's not really that hard to figure out...
it's NC after all..
(I'm a native so I can say that.) I'm not there now or I'd take you out sailing. Sounds like you'll be at Fairfield Harbor, which is nice. Was there last week and marina was about full, lots of Hunters for sure. Restaurant there just changed hands (it does every year it seems, which speaks for itself) so I can't comment. As you'll see, the facilities at FH are kinda empty now. Used to be a great store, pool access, etc. No longer there - too bad. Butch the dockmaster is always good for a chat. There's a charter boat that works out of the marina there, you'll see their sign at the head of the pier. It's a Catalina 38 or so and they seem to do a regular business. Good option if none of your Hunter buddies join in. Also walk the docks at both Bridgepointe (Steve a regular here at HOW might be back aboard "Carolina" H38 by now) and the Sheraton (nice guy has a new to him 37c over on one of the docks there.) You will find lots of folks to talk to. At Bridgepoint stop by dock office and talk to Kim, the dockmaster. Tell her Don sent you. For a while you could rent power boats over at the Shearton. If so, a run up the Trent is great. Beautiful homes, nice water, etc. Restaurants are probably the same as when you were there before (you were right?) Moore's for best bar-b-que ever. Chelsea Restaurant and Cow Cafe on Main Street are good (best in my opinion) and fun respectively. If your wife (or you) reads Nicholas Sparks books the Chelsea is always in them. He is a native of NB and lives there now. You can identify the town throughout his books that I've read. Capt. Ratty's is downtown, and reportedly a popular local hangout. Too pricey for what you get for my tastes, but apparently folks do it. Outback and Ham's are the popular chains now. Sheraton has an outdoor Friday happy hour in the summer, if it's still going that's about the only game it town, except for bars at Ham's and Outback. Oriental is a good day trip too and def do that. Start out downtown at the new marina. GREAT!!! breakfast on the deck at the Oriental Marina(?) right at the foot of town. I suspect other food is good too. Check out marinas - Deaton's, Triton,etc. As for other restaurants, I think there's a new one at the old downtown marina/hotel, Parrot or something in the name. Heard it's good. M^M's is probably still there - good food. Take the ferry accross from Minnesott Beach to the next pennisula and work your way back around 101 (or 110 or something like that) by Beaufort and Morehead for a long day with dinner over there. I generally spend my time down in Morehead and Beaufort. B'fort is probably the most beautiful place on earth to me. Great food there everywhere - best dinners at Beafort Kitchen, Front Street, etc. If it's warm eat outside at the dockhouse on the Beaufort Docks, smack in the middle of town. If not, go in the "victorian" style one behind it on main street - Clancy's or something like that. Great burgers at both. Sanitary in Morehead shouldn't be missed for seafood and worth a trip just for that. Excellent old style seafood in incredible setting - best ever. Wish I had some right now! As for your boat - buy a slip while you're there. Everything is scheduled to go condo in the next few years. Who knows if there will be space in the next years. And they're planning new homes and condo's on every square foot of land. If they're aren't built, they'll go bankrupt and sit - neither is a pretty ending to me. Heck, most of the boats down there now are on yachtworld for sale - no kidding, do a search on New Bern and you'll see. It's quickly becoming like Florida, either you have a big house, big dock and big boat, or you don't have anything. FYI - There is a big push now to develop land along Adams Creek (the ICW cut) into a mega boating center for service, facilites, etc. Jarrett Bay and the others there see it as competing with Ft Laud for boat business. Makes sense, there's land available and practically every boat has to pass by their docks heading north or south. Whew, that's all I got. Email me if you want, I'm in the directory. Enjoy. (Sorry for the spelling, I'm on the boat and refuse to proofread from here.)
it's NC after all..
(I'm a native so I can say that.) I'm not there now or I'd take you out sailing. Sounds like you'll be at Fairfield Harbor, which is nice. Was there last week and marina was about full, lots of Hunters for sure. Restaurant there just changed hands (it does every year it seems, which speaks for itself) so I can't comment. As you'll see, the facilities at FH are kinda empty now. Used to be a great store, pool access, etc. No longer there - too bad. Butch the dockmaster is always good for a chat. There's a charter boat that works out of the marina there, you'll see their sign at the head of the pier. It's a Catalina 38 or so and they seem to do a regular business. Good option if none of your Hunter buddies join in. Also walk the docks at both Bridgepointe (Steve a regular here at HOW might be back aboard "Carolina" H38 by now) and the Sheraton (nice guy has a new to him 37c over on one of the docks there.) You will find lots of folks to talk to. At Bridgepoint stop by dock office and talk to Kim, the dockmaster. Tell her Don sent you. For a while you could rent power boats over at the Shearton. If so, a run up the Trent is great. Beautiful homes, nice water, etc. Restaurants are probably the same as when you were there before (you were right?) Moore's for best bar-b-que ever. Chelsea Restaurant and Cow Cafe on Main Street are good (best in my opinion) and fun respectively. If your wife (or you) reads Nicholas Sparks books the Chelsea is always in them. He is a native of NB and lives there now. You can identify the town throughout his books that I've read. Capt. Ratty's is downtown, and reportedly a popular local hangout. Too pricey for what you get for my tastes, but apparently folks do it. Outback and Ham's are the popular chains now. Sheraton has an outdoor Friday happy hour in the summer, if it's still going that's about the only game it town, except for bars at Ham's and Outback. Oriental is a good day trip too and def do that. Start out downtown at the new marina. GREAT!!! breakfast on the deck at the Oriental Marina(?) right at the foot of town. I suspect other food is good too. Check out marinas - Deaton's, Triton,etc. As for other restaurants, I think there's a new one at the old downtown marina/hotel, Parrot or something in the name. Heard it's good. M^M's is probably still there - good food. Take the ferry accross from Minnesott Beach to the next pennisula and work your way back around 101 (or 110 or something like that) by Beaufort and Morehead for a long day with dinner over there. I generally spend my time down in Morehead and Beaufort. B'fort is probably the most beautiful place on earth to me. Great food there everywhere - best dinners at Beafort Kitchen, Front Street, etc. If it's warm eat outside at the dockhouse on the Beaufort Docks, smack in the middle of town. If not, go in the "victorian" style one behind it on main street - Clancy's or something like that. Great burgers at both. Sanitary in Morehead shouldn't be missed for seafood and worth a trip just for that. Excellent old style seafood in incredible setting - best ever. Wish I had some right now! As for your boat - buy a slip while you're there. Everything is scheduled to go condo in the next few years. Who knows if there will be space in the next years. And they're planning new homes and condo's on every square foot of land. If they're aren't built, they'll go bankrupt and sit - neither is a pretty ending to me. Heck, most of the boats down there now are on yachtworld for sale - no kidding, do a search on New Bern and you'll see. It's quickly becoming like Florida, either you have a big house, big dock and big boat, or you don't have anything. FYI - There is a big push now to develop land along Adams Creek (the ICW cut) into a mega boating center for service, facilites, etc. Jarrett Bay and the others there see it as competing with Ft Laud for boat business. Makes sense, there's land available and practically every boat has to pass by their docks heading north or south. Whew, that's all I got. Email me if you want, I'm in the directory. Enjoy. (Sorry for the spelling, I'm on the boat and refuse to proofread from here.)thanks don
wish i could say i have been there before but i just swapped my time share in florida for, as you said, fairfield harbor. thanks for the detailed rundown, will try to get it all in in my RELAXING 1 week getaway. I see you are in Annopolis and the last time i was there (25 years ago) it was great place to be a sailboater but i hear it has changed alot(but what hasn't) thanks again for the input chet
wish i could say i have been there before but i just swapped my time share in florida for, as you said, fairfield harbor. thanks for the detailed rundown, will try to get it all in in my RELAXING 1 week getaway. I see you are in Annopolis and the last time i was there (25 years ago) it was great place to be a sailboater but i hear it has changed alot(but what hasn't) thanks again for the input chet
Fairfield Harbor
I was in nc about four years ago checking out fairfield harbor,new bern,wilmington and all very nice,new bern is great for sailing but takes a while to get out of the river to go sailing. My wife liked wilmington better, friends live there but I wanted new bern,we have a house in port charlotte and will be moving there in 2007 full time,everone likes different nice places to live,some love it some hate it,we were not in love,we both like florida west coast to retire.
I was in nc about four years ago checking out fairfield harbor,new bern,wilmington and all very nice,new bern is great for sailing but takes a while to get out of the river to go sailing. My wife liked wilmington better, friends live there but I wanted new bern,we have a house in port charlotte and will be moving there in 2007 full time,everone likes different nice places to live,some love it some hate it,we were not in love,we both like florida west coast to retire.
Enjoy it Chet...
I thought your earlier posting said you had been to New Bern before - my mistake. If you are going to be there for a week, definitely plan some day trips. As Nick said, go down to Wilmington/Wrightsville beach. It's a rather long haul, but doable for a day trip. And it's a beautiful town and beach - probably the prettiest north of Charleston. Take the downtown historical tour and see the USS North Carolina if you like battleships. And head out to Wrightsville Beach (skip Carolina Beach IMHO). Dinner at the Bridgetender right in the ICW is excellent. Another day go down to Swansboro via Hwy 17 turn at Maysville. Another town on the ICW, which is at the south end of Emerald Isle, the closest beach to New Bern. Enroute, ride out to Hammocks Beach park and take the passenger ferry over to explore a beautiful and historic island. Swansboro is a very charming small town, and then come back up Hwy 24 to Morehead and hit the Sanitary I metioned before. Another good trip, short one, is to drive up 17 north to Washington (generally called "Little Washington" by the locals.) 30 minute drive. They're really done a lot with their waterfront and downtown. There's a famous hot dog place downtown accross from the old train station. Folks line up for miles to get em. You can expand the trip east to Belhaven and Bath. Both are small cute towns which are booming at the present with waterfront developments. Like LA, think of eastern North Carolina as more a state of mind than anything else! I think it's a lot like Port Charlotte in location, facilities, etc. BTW, to get down to Fairfield, you're gonna think you are drivng to the end of the earth. It's 6 miles down a road that seems like forever. But it gets shorter every time you drive it. Link below is to the newest deveopment going in at New Bern, at what is now the Bridgepoint Hotel and Marina (where I usually dock.) Practically every other marina in the area has a plan in the works to become a deveopment (Minnesot Beach, Skysail at the Sheraton). There are some incredible developments going up out the more rural areas along the Neuse and Pamilco sounds. Can't think of the name, but there's a HUGE marina and development going in up north of Oriental. Carolina Colours is going in just east of New Bern with something like 2,000 units/lots. A good magazine is call North Carolina Boating Lifestyle www.ncboatinglifestyle.com . I wouldn't pay for it as it's bascially an advertising vehicle for power boaters and real estate developers, but the website has a long list of advertisiers which are basically real estate developments. Guess I should write a travel guide to the area huh?
I thought your earlier posting said you had been to New Bern before - my mistake. If you are going to be there for a week, definitely plan some day trips. As Nick said, go down to Wilmington/Wrightsville beach. It's a rather long haul, but doable for a day trip. And it's a beautiful town and beach - probably the prettiest north of Charleston. Take the downtown historical tour and see the USS North Carolina if you like battleships. And head out to Wrightsville Beach (skip Carolina Beach IMHO). Dinner at the Bridgetender right in the ICW is excellent. Another day go down to Swansboro via Hwy 17 turn at Maysville. Another town on the ICW, which is at the south end of Emerald Isle, the closest beach to New Bern. Enroute, ride out to Hammocks Beach park and take the passenger ferry over to explore a beautiful and historic island. Swansboro is a very charming small town, and then come back up Hwy 24 to Morehead and hit the Sanitary I metioned before. Another good trip, short one, is to drive up 17 north to Washington (generally called "Little Washington" by the locals.) 30 minute drive. They're really done a lot with their waterfront and downtown. There's a famous hot dog place downtown accross from the old train station. Folks line up for miles to get em. You can expand the trip east to Belhaven and Bath. Both are small cute towns which are booming at the present with waterfront developments. Like LA, think of eastern North Carolina as more a state of mind than anything else! I think it's a lot like Port Charlotte in location, facilities, etc. BTW, to get down to Fairfield, you're gonna think you are drivng to the end of the earth. It's 6 miles down a road that seems like forever. But it gets shorter every time you drive it. Link below is to the newest deveopment going in at New Bern, at what is now the Bridgepoint Hotel and Marina (where I usually dock.) Practically every other marina in the area has a plan in the works to become a deveopment (Minnesot Beach, Skysail at the Sheraton). There are some incredible developments going up out the more rural areas along the Neuse and Pamilco sounds. Can't think of the name, but there's a HUGE marina and development going in up north of Oriental. Carolina Colours is going in just east of New Bern with something like 2,000 units/lots. A good magazine is call North Carolina Boating Lifestyle www.ncboatinglifestyle.com . I wouldn't pay for it as it's bascially an advertising vehicle for power boaters and real estate developers, but the website has a long list of advertisiers which are basically real estate developments. Guess I should write a travel guide to the area huh?
Interesting responses
Chet, you have received excellent info from Don on Tellico. He has taken you by car day trips based from NB all around the area and hit the highlights re your question restaraunts. For the scoop on bars/partying look for Jake on "Offline", a Hunter 410, also at Bridgepoint. It's interesting that Chet is looking to move from Port Charlotte while Nick is looking to go to PC. Don is content to remain on the Inner Banks in the winter and summer on the Chesapeake, while I am outfitting the boat for the Carribbean. Don, Lil Pep has been moved from the slip your Dad kept over to C dock where Neal kept his 25.5. He hauled her mid May and then splashed her mid June. He has gone out a couple of times with an older gentleman introduced to me as "Doc". Steve
Chet, you have received excellent info from Don on Tellico. He has taken you by car day trips based from NB all around the area and hit the highlights re your question restaraunts. For the scoop on bars/partying look for Jake on "Offline", a Hunter 410, also at Bridgepoint. It's interesting that Chet is looking to move from Port Charlotte while Nick is looking to go to PC. Don is content to remain on the Inner Banks in the winter and summer on the Chesapeake, while I am outfitting the boat for the Carribbean. Don, Lil Pep has been moved from the slip your Dad kept over to C dock where Neal kept his 25.5. He hauled her mid May and then splashed her mid June. He has gone out a couple of times with an older gentleman introduced to me as "Doc". Steve
Thanks for the info Steve...
I was down last week and looked for you. Sad to see Lil Pep on the other pier, but guess it was time for a change. When are you leaving for the Carrib?
I was down last week and looked for you. Sad to see Lil Pep on the other pier, but guess it was time for a change. When are you leaving for the Carrib?
Sailing
Chet P, Janet and I plan to sail to Oriental the first week in Sept from our home port near Washington, NC and plan to be tied up there in Oriental for a couple of days, tentatively Sunday Sept 3 and Monday Sept 4. We would be delighted to take you out for a sail. or you might join us for the return trip to our home port and we would drive you back to get your car. We could also fill you in on the retirement living / sailing locations we like in North Carolina. Contact me via e-mail through HOW. Wayne Estabrooks s/v Wind Drift h340 #134
Chet P, Janet and I plan to sail to Oriental the first week in Sept from our home port near Washington, NC and plan to be tied up there in Oriental for a couple of days, tentatively Sunday Sept 3 and Monday Sept 4. We would be delighted to take you out for a sail. or you might join us for the return trip to our home port and we would drive you back to get your car. We could also fill you in on the retirement living / sailing locations we like in North Carolina. Contact me via e-mail through HOW. Wayne Estabrooks s/v Wind Drift h340 #134
thanks
thanks for the input gang...i'm looking forward to the vacation...see you when i'm there chet
thanks for the input gang...i'm looking forward to the vacation...see you when i'm there chet
Beaufort
Front street in Beaufort, NC is nice. You could have your own private dock right by your house. But this will cost you big $$$. I get "visitation priviledges" there since my in-laws retired there on front street. Its definately worth driving around in the area and checking things out though. As you are doing, get to know some pople who have already retired in the area to know the real scoop.
Front street in Beaufort, NC is nice. You could have your own private dock right by your house. But this will cost you big $$$. I get "visitation priviledges" there since my in-laws retired there on front street. Its definately worth driving around in the area and checking things out though. As you are doing, get to know some pople who have already retired in the area to know the real scoop.
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