The Town of Newport TourTop 10 Things to Do and Places to Go

Take a Walk DowntownOne of my favorite things to do in

Newport is to go downtown and just take

a walk. Sunday strolls through Newport is

a childhood tradition that has lasted

through my adult years. Following the side

walk, walking along the railroad tracks,

waving to all the people enjoying the

afternoon on their porches, and just

enjoying the beautiful coastal weather is

the highlight of any day. Take a walk, go

for a run, or ride your bike along the

streets in downtown Newport; you won’t

be disappointed!

AntiquesNewport, as I have mentioned is a town

full of rich history. Well, if you are a lover

of history and antiques (like me!) you will

need to stop by Shepherdsville Antiques.

Full of unique bits of history, this antique

store is wonderful. The building itself is

antique itself as it was once a hardware

store that began in 1899. It has since been

remodeled to house all of its amazing

antiques, but you can still go back in time

every time you step through the doors.

Antique stores are full of treasures, and

this one is no exception!

Civil War Memorial ParkThe Civil War Memorial Park in downtown

Newport commemorates the Battle of

Newport Barracks in 1864. This little

tribute is a work in progress as they

continually add new additions, interactive

exhibits, and information along the trail.

Spend an afternoon experiencing history

for yourself and check out this great park!

You can also go right next door to the

Newport Museum housed in what used to

be an old teacherage. There is so much to

learn and so much fun to be had!

Fort Benjamin ParkTrying to run the kids out of energy? Head

over to Fort Benjamin Park for an

afternoon of Frisbee golf, tennis, soccer,

basketball, playing on the playground, or

simply walking along the trail. This park

has it all, along with a recreation center

where you can borrow equipment, join an

exercise class, or simply cool off after

running around outside! There is also an

interactive storybook trail that you can

take your little ones on! There’s no

shortage of fun things to do at this park!

Newport River AdventuresIf you are looking to put your canoeing or

kayaking skills to use, then you’ll want to

head over to Newport River Adventures. I

have great memories as a child drifting

along this peaceful river, fishing with my

dad, and just enjoying the view from the

bank. At the dock in Newport, you can

rent yourself a kayak or canoe for the

afternoon, store the boat you already

have, visit the general store for bait and

tackle, fish on the dock (make sure you

have your fishing license!), and simply

enjoy the beautiful Newport River.

Crystal Coast Helicopter ToursLocated near the Flea Mall grounds, is the

Crystal Coast Helicopter pad where you

can experience the Crystal Coast from

greater heights! Take a helicopter tour

above Shackleford Banks, Atlantic Beach,

Morehead City, the Lighthouses, or design

your own custom tour! These great pilots

will try their best to accommodate any

special requests for a high flying

adventure above our lovely coast. This is

truly an amazing experience that will give

you a whole new appreciation for the

Crystal Coast!

Photo Credit: Scenic Tours at cchelitours.com

Newport Public LibraryI have a partiality for libraries as an avid

book lover. Libraries are simply vaults of

knowledge, wonder and imagination. It’s

like Walt Disney said, “There is more

treasure in books than all the loot on

Treasure Island.” Enjoy a quiet afternoon

at the library and read a book with your

kids, play a few games of chess, jump

online to check out our blog for updates

on new adventures to be had on the

Crystal Coast, or simply revel in the quiet

serenity of being surrounded by hundreds

of great books. You really can’t go wrong!

Newport Flea MallYou’re sure to find something to take

home as a souvenir if you visit the

Newport Flea Mall: the largest flea mall

east of Raleigh! Open rain or shine, year

round on Saturdays and Sundays, the flea

mall is your one-stop-shop. Whether

you’re looking to find clothes, hats,

jewelry, knick-knacks, movies, video

games, hand crafted items, or…well,

anything really, you should check out the

Newport Flea Mall before going anywhere

else! It is truly a treasure trove of goods

for buying, selling, and trading.

Photo Credit: Newport Flea Mall at newportfleamall.com

Grab a Bite to EatWhile gallivanting around Newport the

next time you are on vacation, you’ll most

likely work up an appetite! Well, the best

place to grab some grub in Newport is Fat

Fellas. This is an awesome diner with

award winning southern bbq, delicious

hamburgers and cheeseburgers, and all

served with the perfect dose of southern

hospitality. Try out one of their signature

entrees with a side of fries, hushpuppies,

or veggies. Open for breakfast, lunch, and

dinner, this is a must-stop location on your

Newport tour.

Don’t Forget the SweetsAfter finishing a delicious meal at Fat

Fellas, you’re definitely going to want to

top it all off with some dessert! Well,

Newport has the perfect spot for that as

well. Located just a few minutes away by

car is the heavenly Hales Bakery. This

recent addition to Newport businesses

has boomed since opening its new

storefront just this year. With delicious

breads, cupcakes, cookies, pastries, and

just about every other baked sweet you

can think of, you have to stop by and

satisfy your sweet tooth at Hales Bakery. Photo Credit: Hales Bakery Facebook

Hope you enjoyed the tour!