Travel Guide: Charming & Historic Edenton, NC (Updated Guide!)

      My favorite little southeastern town is Edenton, North Carolina. My aunt and uncle moved there a few years ago, and I first visited their new town in 2021. From my first visit on, I've thought of Downtown Edenton as a heaven on earth. It's idyllic and charming, and you really do feel like you're walking through a real life version of a TV town! If you've ever wanted to visit Blue Bell, Alabama from Hart of Dixie, Serenity, South Carolina from Sweet Magnolias, or Stars Hollow, Connecticut from Gilmore Girls... Edenton really captures all of those vibes. 

      I love Edenton so much that it was actually the location of my bachelorette party (and one of my bridal showers!). I first published this blog post in 2022, but Edenton has had some great new small businesses open in the last couple of years, so I thought it was due time for an update to my Travel Guide!

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About Edenton + Town History:

      Edenton is located within the Inner Banks region of North Carolina, in the northeast part of the state. The Inner Banks region is located around the Albemarle Sound, just west of the popular beach region known as the Outer Banks.  While not located directly on the ocean, much of the Inner Banks is still considered coastal, as its home to the Albemarle Sound, which is one of the largest estuaries in the US. Albemarle Sound is so big that it has the feel of being a very large lake. The town of Edenton is located directly on the Albemarle Sound, and the downtown is just steps away from the water. 

     Edenton has a population of just over 5,000, and the population has stayed steady throughout most of the past century. There is a lot of rich history in Edenton, dating back a few hundred years. Residents of Edenton have so much pride in their small town's unique history, which is special to see. Edenton is also the friendliest small town that I've ever visited. I've never experienced anything quite like the warmth and friendliness of Edenton residents to visitors. Edenton is a real-life version of beloved TV show small towns. It reminds me of the perfect combo of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, Bluebell from Hart of Dixie and Serenity from Sweet Magnolias. While a lot of Edenton and Chowan County residents have family histories that go back generations, the area is also becoming a popular retirement spot for the 55+ age bracket from out-of-state. 

     The teapot is the town symbol of Edenton, and you see teapots everywhere in the town. The official town teapot sculpture, made of bronze in 1905, is pictured below! Did you know that Edenton had its own Revolutionary Era Tea Party? While not as big or well-known a historic event as the famed Boston one, what sets the Edenton Tea Party apart is that it was female-lead! Edenton resident Penelope Barker lead 50+ women to sign a petition against England. Edenton's visitor center (pictured below, the white building on the water) is named for Penelope Barker. You can ready more about this unique part of Edenton's history here on the Edenton Historical Commission website!

The 1905 commemorative bronze Edenton Teapot!

Dress // Bag c/o // Sneakers //

Travel:

      Driving is your best option to get to Edenton. It's not located off any interstates, but US-17 is the largest route that passes through the area. From where I live in Virginia Beach, it's just under 90 minutes of driving to get to Edenton. It's not a bad drive from a lot of parts of Virginia and the Carolinas! Once you're in Edenton, if you're able to stay near downtown most things are very walkable. There won't be much driving once you've arrived. If you're not from the southeast and plan to fly to the area, the Norfolk VA airport is 90 minutes away, and the Raleigh NC one is two hours. 

     Edenton is about a 90 minute drive west from the start of the Outer Banks. If you have an Outer Banks vacation planned, I think planning a day in Edenton either before or after the beach trip would be a phenomenal idea!! 

Stay:

      I am very lucky to have an aunt and uncle who moved to Edenton a few years ago. Their house is directly on the Albemarle Sound, and the view from their backyard looking out to the water has truly become one of my favorite spots on earth! I love waking up to the beautiful views in their guest room. But if you don't have a local family member or friend in the Edenton area, there are some great lodging options in town.

• The Captain's Quarters and Granville Queen Inns (202 West Queen St.) - The Captain's Quarters and Granville Queen Inns are next-door to each other, and both managed by The Carolina Experience hospitality group. Both The Captain's Quarters and Granville Queen Inns were fully renovated in 2022. Each inn building is incredibly charming. The decor is perfection, the ambiance is filled with small-town southern charm, and both of the inns are located in such a convenient spot in Edenton! I first had the chance to stay here in 2022 for a weekend travel blogging trip, and I loved it then so much that I returned in 2024 for a very special reason: the inns hosted my bridal shower and my bachelorette party! 
• Hampton Inn (115 Hampton Drive) - There is a Hampton Inn located just a couple miles away from Downtown Edenton. This could also be a good spot to stay for a last-minute Edenton trip if the local inns were already booked up, or if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option. 
• Inner Banks Inn (103 East Albemarle Street) - This is another historic inn that's in such a great location! It is just a short walk away from Downtown Edenton. They also offer breakfast to their guests. 

Eat / Drink:

     While you will find a handful of fast-food restaurants on the outskirts of town, Edenton overall is a place where unique local restaurants thrive. The residents of Edenton take so much pride in their local eateries. There have been a few notable new restaurant openings in the last couple of years, too! 

     One thing to keep in mind with dining in Edenton is that the town very much shuts down on Sundays. Most of the local eateries (and just about all of the shops and historic attractions) are closed on Sundays. For that reason, I do believe Fridays and Saturdays are the best weekend days to visit Edenton.

Edenton Restaurants To Try:

• 309 Bistro & Spirits (309 S. Broad St.) - A casual and convenient downtown restaurant that's open for lunch on some weekdays, and lunch and dinner on the weekends. Their food menu is mainly sandwiches and salads. They also have a good drink and dessert menu.
• Carriage Culinary (206 S. Broad St.) - This is one of Edenton's newest restaurants, and it's a gem. Carriage Culinary is open Mon-Sat for lunch, and Friday and Saturday evenings for a more upscale dinner experience. They change their dinner menu seasonally, and they also frequently host unique pop-up dinners on weeknights. The decor and vibe of the restaurant is both colorful and eclectic, yet cozy and intimate. 
• The Herringbone (119 W. Water St.) - If you only visit one restaurant in Edenton, let it be The Herringbone! This is where I had dinner on my bachelorette party, since I am such a huge fan. The Herringbone is located right by the waterfront, and has both indoor and outdoor seating. They have a diverse food menu with some casual favorites like pizza and salads, and nicer entrees like steak and seafood. There is a great cocktail menu, and the homemade desserts are incredible. I can't say enough great things about The Herringbone. My current favorite item on the menu? The Spicy Sausage Pizza! 
• Mamasita's Mexican Restaurant (300 Virginia Road Ste. B) - I've eaten here several times with my aunt and uncle. It's one of the most affordable spots in Edenton, and you can never go wrong with Mexican food! It's also one of very few places to eat that's open on Sundays in Edenton.
• Old Colony Smokehouse (809 N. Broad Street) - I have to preface this one by saying that I'm personally not a big fan of BBQ. But I know a lot of people are, so I wanted to include this! Old Colony Smokehouse has won numerous awards for their high-quality BBQ favorites. It's so popular that they often sell out of certain menu items before the end of the day! I've eaten here multiple times with my aunt and uncle before, and even though I'm not the biggest BBQ fan I still really liked it, which is saying something!If you do like BBQ, I feel like you'd love it.
• The Patisserie at Edenton Bay (407 S. Broad St.) - This is a darling little French pastry and bubbly bakery lounge, which is such a hidden gem in a small town like Edenton. They offer both sweet and savory baked goods, and lots of wines and sparkling beverages available as well. The space can also be rented for private events! I had a private Happy Hour event here for my bachelorette party, and it was the absolute perfect spot for us to enjoy bubbly and treats.  

The Herringbone

Carriage House Culinary

The Patisserie at Edenton Bay

Play: 

     For a very small town, Edenton has a good amount going on! It's the perfect town to spend a weekend in. With that said, I do think Fridays and Saturdays are the best days to visit Edenton. Almost everything in Edenton (restaurants, stores, historic spots) is closed on Sundays. So just keep that in mind when planning a visit!

     Shop on S. Broad St. - S. Broad St. is Edenton's version of a Main Street. It is so incredibly charming, and just filled with the most unique local stores! I feel like a lot of small towns these days have very struggling Main Street areas and have a hard time retaining local shops. Edenton couldn't be more different! S. Broad St. also has free parking which is just an extra reason to spend time downtown! There are so many fun ones that you can pop into, but my personal favorites are:

Clothing + Accessories:  Downtown Diva Boutique and Simply Stated Boutique 

Home Decor + Gifts: The Polka Dot Palm and Byrum True Value (Yes, the local hardware store has a great home + gift boutique within it!)

Faith Related Gifts: Christian Bookseller 

Tea: Edenton Tea Company within the King Street Shops

      Visit the Penelope Barker House Welcome Center - This is probably the most charming welcome center ever! It is home to the Edenton Historical Commission, and where you can purchase tickets for the Edenton Trolley Tour.  They also have a wonderful gift shop, and lots of books and historical materials to check out with town history. The Penelope Barker House is located right on the Albemarle Sound, and the back porch faces the water. The rocking chairs and porch are open to the public (pictured below!) and it's the most lovely spot to sit and enjoy the views! 

       Tour the Cupola House and Gardens - The Cupola House has been in Downtown Edenton since the 1750s! You can purchase tickets to tour the inside of the house, or enjoy the beautiful gardens outside of it for free. I've loved snapping some photos in the garden on past Edenton visits! Someday I'll have to tour the inside of the house. 

      Visit the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse - This beautifully restored and very historic lighthouse now resides on the Albemarle Sound, right in Downtown Edenton! It is one of the last surviving screwpile lighthouses of its kind in the US. It's very cool to check out and snap some pictures with. You can see a picture of it in a section above in this blog post! 

      Play a round of golf - The Links at Mulberry Hill is open to the public and located right by the Albemarle Sound. As someone who is still pretty much a beginner at golf, I played here and really enjoyed it!

Take the Edenton Trolley Tour - There is a guided hour-long trolley tour that you can get tickets for, and I highly recommend it! You will learn so much about the rich history of the town, and the stories behind some of the most beautiful Edenton buildings. You will also learn a lot about many citizen-lead initiatives in recent years to restore and save historic spots, which I found very inspiring. I enjoyed this tour so much that I would do it again in a future year.

     Get out on the water in the Albemarle Sound - There are a couple options for boat tours in Edenton! First up is Edenton Bay Cruise, run by Captain Mark. Mark is an Edenton local and captain of the small yet charming Liber-Tea boat and offers guided tours of the town in the Albemarle Sound. Captain Mark tells some different history stories about the town than you hear on the Edenton Trolley Tour, so I think it's totally worthwhile to do both! My aunt and uncle took me on an Edenton Bay Cruise during my very first visit, and it was a great intro for me to how lovely Edenton is. The other option for boat tours is a newer one: Harbor Towns Cruises. They offer sunset dinner cruise events on their large Albemarle Queen boat. I haven't gotten to attend one of these yet, but it's on my Edenton bucket list for sure.

     I'll conclude this Travel Guide with two pictures from memorable trips to Edenton. The first one below is from my first-ever trip to Edenton in May 2021! I had so much fun visiting my aunt and uncle there for the first time after they moved to Edenton. Now I get to visit them multiple times a year!

     The second picture is from my bachelorette party in Edenton in September 2024. It was such a joy to share this special town with some of my closest girlfriends. 

     Below is a custom Google Map of all of the local spots referenced in this Travel Guide! 

      God Bless,

      xoxo Annaliese