The next stop on our whirlwind trip was Plymouth, NC. We had no idea what interesting things we would see in Plymouth if it weren't for these great books Chris found called "Backroads of North Carolina" by Kevin Adams and "Daytrips from Raleigh-Durham" by James L. Hoffman. Plymouth, a little town along the Roanoke River and site of the second largest Civil War battle in North Carolina, is a great place to stay overnight when touring this interesting area or on your way to the Outer banks and offers some really interesting attractions ... plus great picnic venues.
Here in this little town we found a replica of the CSS Albemarle anchored at the waterfront district in a beautiful little park. Perfect for a picnic! Lush green grass, massive shade trees, a boardwalk leading to the ironclad CSS Albemarle and the sound of the Roanoke River flowing calmly in the background. It is a true gem. And there are really interesting people, both local and tourists. Further down the street along the waterfront is the Roanoke River Lighthouse .... and it is a magnificent sight. The structure sits along the waterfront in another lovely park with boardwalks along the river for birdwatching ... another lovely spot for a picnic. Its a wonderful surprise and a must see if you are visiting the area. Pack a blanket and a basket full of goodies and pick a spot near the water to enjoy a quiet afternoon.
Guess what, we decided to drive south a bit to catch a free ferry from the town of Bayview to Aurora. Aurora is the home of the Aurora Fossil Museum, a really interesting little museum full of fossilized bones, teeth, shells and coral. Kids will love it! And you can do your own digging for fossils and shark teeth across the street in a little park. Have a quick picnic and then pull out the shovels, sifters, gloves and storage bags to find your own treasures to take home.
Cross back over the ferry and head to the town of Historic Bath. Bath is the first town in North Carolina and one of the places that the legendary Edward Teach, otherwise known as Blackbeard, called home for a while. This little town had a very interestering history having survived violent rebellions, a yellow fever outbreak, droughts, piracy and Indian Wars. Yet today there are several lovely homes and the St. Thomas Episcopal Church that have survived. To stroll along this sedate little towns streets is mesmerizing and makes you yearn for slower quieter times. I fell in love with this secluded little town and the beautiful scenery. There is a beautiful grassy point along the waterfront near the Palmer-Marsh House that will steal your heart away. Jelly fish float up and down in the water as you walk along the tree lined edge .... amazing ... and it is a very romantic and magical spot for a picnic or just to lie on a blanket under the big shade trees and gaze out over the amazing natural beauty or up through the trees at the amazingly blue sky. It is love at first sight!
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| Note the handwritten label fading away. |
Let's head northeast again to Belhaven, NC. Belhaven is the home of a very interesting and intriguing museum, the Belhaven Memorial Museum. When I say intriguing, I mean absolutely the most unusual and quirky museum I have ever been to and its chock full of great treasures. Let's just say that Ripley's can't hold a candle to this place! There is every oddity in the world here plus some really interesting objects that you might say you have never seen before or might never imagine seeing. There is just tons and tons of things to look at literally! Everything from seashells and buttons, clothes, rocks, dolls and guns to jars full of creatures too unusual to describe. There is even a human skeleton. Its absolutely bizzare and very interesting! You could spend hours just looking at everything and trying to decypher the handwritten descriptions which are fading with age. This museum is only open from 1:00 to 5:00 on specific days so be sure to check before going.
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| How funny is this "pig with one big eye"? |
This was a really fun couple of days! I would tell everyone that it is well worth a weekend trip to see all of these "hidden treasures" that this area of eastern North Carolina has to offer. Take the time to tour and learn ... its so worth it .... savor all that there is to see and don't waste a minute.
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