The town of Edenton is the home of North Carolina’s first colonial capital and has been around since 1718. It was named one of America’s prettiest towns by Forbes.com, and it is a well-deserved honor. Edenton is a town full of national historic landmarks, incredible architecture, recreational activities and an array of local shops, art and restaurants. Not only is this a gorgeous and charming town with delightful architecture, the people are the kindest and most welcoming.
Edenton is home to the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse, the James Iredell House, the Penelope Barker House, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Today, I am excited to share a complete Edenton travel guide for the top 12 best things to do in Edenton, plus where to eat and where to stay when visiting.
Edenton Travel Guide: Top 12 Best Things to Do in EdentonWhat to Do in Edenton
Tour the Penelope Barker House
The Penelope Barker House is the Welcome Center for Edenton and Chowan County, and admission to tour the home is free. It was built in 1782 and moved to its current location in 1952.
Penelope Barker started the first political action by women in the colonies by organizing and signing a petition resolving not to buy or use any British goods on which they paid taxes. 51 women signed this petition, which was quite a feat for the time that 51 women could read and write when only 1/3 of colonists were literate.
The Penelope Barker House houses exhibits both downstairs and upstairs, plus a gift shop featuring goods made by local artisans and books that are relevant to the town’s history. It is here that you can also purchase tickets for the trolley tour of Edenton and the Cupola House tour.
Be sure to take some time to enjoy the sound view from the rocking chairs and walk through the gardens on the property.
Explore Broad Street and Downtown
Strolling the historic downtown area is a great way to explore the town and see the various shops, restaurants and entertainment. One of our favorite spots is Surf, Wind, and Fire, which is a surf-inspired outdoor gear store that also serves craft beer, cider, bubbles on tap and craft sodas. P.S. You can get a drink to sip & stroll in their social district!
Be sure to visit Edenton Tea Company, which offers beautiful hand-painted teapots to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Edenton Tea Party. There are great spices and tea offerings to bring home with you as well! Right next door is King Street Marketplace, featuring beautiful originals and reproductions of artwork, gently used books and home decor.
Other shops that are perfect for browsing or stimulating the local economy are A Still Life, which has gorgeous women’s fashion and accessories, home and gift items, and Byrum True Value Hardware which has something for everyone (it is not your typical hardware store) and North No. 4 for takeaway meals from Ladyfingers, gorgeous jewelry, candles, baby gifts and more.
Plus, check out a movie at the historic Taylor Theatre, where they serve beer, wine, a popcorn station and White Castle burgers, plus a traditional candy counter!
Take a break while exploring downtown to grab a pastry and a glass of champagne at the Pâtisserie at Edenton Bay featuring delicious offerings from the Sugared Fig and a champagne bar!
Visit the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse
This is the last remaining screw-pile lighthouse in America and was moved to its current location overlooking Edenton Bay in 2012. The interior was still closed because of Covid precautions, but we enjoyed walking around the outdoor porch and taking in the views. I look forward to a return visit to explore this fully restored property!
The Roanoke River Lighthouse is open to the public for tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The lighthouse has been decorated with period-appropriate pieces thanks to the Edenton Historical Commission.
Walk the Gardens at the Cupola House
The Cupola House was built in 1758 and was almost torn down in 1918. The Edenton community joined together to save the house and the antiques and woodwork within the house. If you take the Trolley tour, they will give you even more details of how the community joined forces to save this beautiful home! Take some time to explore the gardens on the grounds.
There is also a guided tour if you’re interested in exploring the interior of the home. The Cupola House Association works with Historic Williamsburg in their preservation efforts. We learned quite a lot and the space is gorgeous! Every other spring in the even years, the Cupola House hosts Easels in the Garden. There is also a Candlelight Tour of the home each holiday season.
Cheer on the Edenton Steamers
The Edenton Steamers play at Historic Hicks Field, which was built as a WPA project in 1939. The main structure is a wooden grandstand and is the last remaining one in North Carolina. Cheer on the Edenton Steamers during the summer in this historic stadium. Be sure to grab kettle corn and a local brew from the concession stand while you are there cheering on the home team. It is a packed stadium, so get there early to claim a seat.
Take the Trolley Tour to Learn Local Edenton History
When I first visited Edenton several years ago, my friend and I took the trolley tour and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the local history. Fun fact, the trolley we took has now been repurposed into a bar in front of the lighthouse and the Herringbone restaurant! When David and I visited, I knew we had to take the tour again.
It is a great way to see more of the historic landmarks, such as notable sites throughout the historic district and the Edenton Cotton Mill Village while learning more about Black history and women’s history in North Carolina. The tour takes a little under an hour and is such an enjoyable experience. Purchase your trolley tickets at the Penelope Barker House. And they run five days a week (closed on Sundays and Tuesdays).
Experience a Walk-Back-in-Time on the Historic Edenton Museum Trail
One of my favorite parts about Edenton is walking by the historical landmarks. The town is truly a living history museum, which in my opinion, is one of the best ways to experience and learn history. The Museum Trail has markers throughout the town that provide a wealth of information for background knowledge. Plus additional information to explore if you are interested. It is a wonderful way to see the town and learn more about North Carolina’s history.
For more walking history tours, be sure to head over to the Historic Edenton State Historic Site. There are opportunities for more in-depth learning about Harriet Jacobs, who self-published Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. This is widely considered one of the most comprehensive narratives written by an enslaved woman. A Harriet Jacobs guided walking tour can be organized through the Historic Edenton site.
Josephine Napoleon Leary was enslaved in Williamston and, upon receiving independence, she became an acclaimed barber and real estate mogul. This historical fiction novel gives a nice depiction of her life. One of her businesses is a marker on the tour as well.
Hop Aboard the Liber-Tea for the Best Edenton Bay Cruises
I enjoy a good harbor cruise. The “Liber-Tea” is a beautifully appointed, comfortable six-passenger tour boat that is powered by an eco-friendly electric motor. Captain Mark will take you on a boat ride and will regale you with history lessons and interesting stories about Edenton and the Bay. There is a table for us should you wish to bring snacks and a canopy to stay shaded and cool. There are a few different time options, including Captain Mark’s specialty, a sunset tour.
Support Local Artists at the Chowan County Arts Council
The Chowan County Arts Council is a wonderful way to support local artists and explore the talents of the Chowan County community. New artwork is hung almost weekly and offers a variety of local events.
Enjoy Vinyl Night on Saturdays at Edenton Bay Trading Co.
Edenton Bay Trading Co. is such a unique gem on Broad Street that serves up a great selection of craft beer and wine with indoor seating, a secret courtyard patio and sidewalk seating. There is an assortment of gift ideas, a fun selection of records, fresh-cut flowers and beautiful antiques.
If sangria is on the menu, you should definitely try that. And if you are visiting on a Saturday, be sure to stop by for Vinyl Night! On previous trips, I had heard a lot about vinyl night, and yet it exceeded all my expectations. It’s from 7-10:30 p.m. and is one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had! Whatever you do, do not leave early! Things get even more fun after 9 p.m.
Shop Local at the Edenton Farmers’ Market
The Edenton Farmers Market’s mission is to provide accessibility to healthful, regionally grown or produced food for all residents and visitors regardless of income level. It is a space that provides farmers and producers the opportunity to sell directly to consumers. There is an indoor shop that features locally and North Carolina-made goods, fresh catches, a variety of cheeses and so much more.
There are also vendors outdoors selling fresh bouquets, homemade desserts, artwork and other locally made goods. I came home with a set of linen napkins with oyster napkin rings! I grabbed a cup of coffee from Edenton Coffee House before making my way down to the market.
Be sure to stop by the Historic Edenton Visitor Center at 108 North Broad Street, which offers guided tours and information on this charming town!
Sail the Albemarle with Harbor Towns Cruises
Harbor Towns Cruises offers ferries and tours that focus on regional tourism strategies to benefit the Albemarle Sound region of northeastern North Carolina. There are tours of the Chowan River and historic Edenton, ferries that take visitors to other towns along the Albemarle Sound, and specialty cruises such as sunset and dinner cruises. While I have not experienced one myself yet, the boats are beautiful and I appreciate the mission of providing options to explore the Inner Banks.
Where to Eat in Edenton
309 Bistro & Spirits
309 Bistro is a staple for both lunch and dinner while visiting Edenton. There is indoor seating plus sidewalk seating and the restaurant serves up locally sourced seafood, a variety of sandwiches, homemade chips, and delicious handcrafted cocktails, plus a great beer selection.
For lunch, I love their BLT with homemade chips. For dinner, their fresh fish with a salad is a great option! I will also always order an appetizer of truffle fries if they are on the menu!
Downtown Roots
This is such a great, quintessential lunch spot! I ordered one of the lunch specials, which was a delicious chicken wrap. I also ordered a side of pimento cheese with pita chips and the pimento cheese will be living rent-free in my head for a while!
The Herringbone on the Waterfront
The only waterfront restaurant in Edenton is the Herringbone and she’s a stunner! The original trolley from the town tours has been repurposed into a bar with a little patio in front of the restaurant. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and a bar that features cured tobacco leaves. This was originally a herring processing factory that has been renovated for the restaurant, though it features lots of historic nods!
For starters, get the breadboard! The baked oysters have Gruyere and make a nice starter with the breadboard. The market fish is served with shrimp, rice, and curry broth, and the fish is deliciously cooked.
Late Night Option: Governor’s Pub
David and I stopped here for chicken tendies and homemade chips after a Steamers’ game and it was delicious and the perfect late-night meal! Fun fact: Governor’s Pub has a food & drink window at the Steamer’s game as well!
Where to Stay in Edenton Granville Queen Inn by Carolina Experience
The Granville Queen Inn is a historic inn operated by the Carolina Experience and is an incredibly beautiful space! It is located within walking distance of downtown, so when I parked in their private parking lot of guests on Friday, I did not drive my car again until I left on Sunday! While this may not seem like a huge ordeal, it is something I look for when traveling!
The common spaces are simply breathtaking. I mean, look at those ceilings! The porch! The sunroom for breakfast was so cozy and welcoming. I stayed in one of the rooms on the third floor, which had a window seat, a separate seating area and access to a porch.
Inner Banks Inn
Inner Banks Inn is located about five blocks from the waterfront of Edenton Bay and two blocks from Historic Hicks Field. We parked our car and opted to walk for our experiences in Edenton. Inner Banks Inn offers four different lodging experiences with rooms in the Victorian house (where we stayed), a converted tobacco barn, the Tillie Bond Cottage (pet friendly with a fenced-in backyard) and the Satterfield House, which has two rooms plus the spa, corporate meeting space, and private dining rooms.
In the Victorian house, coffee and tea are available all day. Plus lots of seating in the first room and on the front porch. The patio is a lovely spot for a happy hour or a morning cup of coffee. A three-course breakfast reservation is guaranteed with booking at the inn. In addition are country club privileges at Mulberry Hill, including tennis courts, a sound side pool, and a driving range. And every room comes with robes, which you know is a hotel favorite of mine!
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