A weekend itinerary inspired by A Touch of Teal
All Photos Courtesy of Katie Urban
D.C. lifestyle blogger Katie Urban made a girl’s weekend out of a fall visit to Edenton with her sister. See for yourself why the travel guru thinks “everyone should add this historic town on the Inner Banks of North Carolina to their bucket list!”
Where to Stay
Katie and her sister took the four drive from D.C., which welcomed them with scenic routes among the cotton fields and farmer market stands. Upon their arrival, the girls checked into their bed & breakfast, The Granville Queen Inn by The Carolina Experience. The newly renovated property was originally the private residence of the town doctor. Its timeless charm is now met with modern hospitality in the heart of historic downtown. The sisters took full advantage of the walkable and safe neighborhood.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget to actually relax on vacation. Katie and her sister enjoyed their downtime on the grand porches and outdoor seating areas at the inn, including cozying up by the fire pits for a happy hour drink.
“Some of the most genuinely warm and welcoming people I’ve ever met”
Where to Eat & Drink
Old Colony Smokehouse — Katie says this local hotspot “might be the best BBQ [she’s] ever had!” Southern culinary traditions are alive with the old-school meat market dynamic and family-style cooking. Award-winning pitmaster and owner Adam Hughes was featured on Chopped for his barbeque skills. Lunch is available from 11 a.m. until sell out. Katie and her sister enjoyed a complimentary appetizer, jalapeño sausage with pimento cheese, while in line. Two pulled chicken sandwiches and several sides later, Katie praises the mac + cheese as the all-star of this menu.
Surf, Wind & Fire — Think REI meets local bar. Katie enjoyed the rotating selection of affordable craft beers, house wines, and homemade sodas. Friday night and had the best time talking with local residents; there’s also several tables outside on their patio where you can enjoy a drink on a nice day.
Blount’s Mutual Drugstore — This old school pharmacy located right on Broad Street is known for its ice cream, floats, sundaes, and milkshakes — the perfect stop for an afternoon treat.
Edenton Bay Oyster Bar — Our guest enjoyed waterfront dining on the marina for dinner at sunset. Katie’s recommendations include the seafood chowder, warm crab dip, a pimento cheese board, and a demi baguette, and the shrimp salad. For cocktails, the sisters toasted with the Limoncello Orange Spritz, which was orange vodka, limoncello, and orange juice, topped with Prosecco.
The Trolley on the Waterfront — Round out the evening on the water for a quintessential nightcap Edenton-style. Served out of a vintage trolley cab is your choice of ice cream and coffee on one side, a menu of alcoholic beverages on the other. The property is home to a former ice house that was renovated into a recently-opened waterfront restaurant and bar, The Herringbone.
“Truly one of the most beautiful small towns in America”
What to Do
Visit The Penelope Barker House — known as “Edenton’s Living Room”, The Penelope Barker House is the perfect first stop in town. The grand front porches of our official Welcome Center overlook the stunning views of Edenton Bay. Inside, you’ll find a museum dedicated to Edenton’s history, trolley tour tickets, as well as the best souvenir shop in town.
Shop at Edenton Farmers Market — A Saturday morning in Edenton is best spent at the Farmers Market, where local vendors set up shop. From locally made ice cream to the best looking romaine lettuce to hand-poured soy candles. Pick up fresh ingredients for a farm-to-table picnic or dinner.
Edenton Bay Cruise Tour — One of the highlights of Katie’s trip was a scenic cruise of Edenton Bay on the “Liber-Tea.” The wise Captain Mark gave our first-time guests a full look of Edenton’s history from the water while learning about the town’s plans for the future.
Katie encourages all visitors to take this “must-see” tour.
Visit the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse — built in 1886, the Edenton Roanoke River Lighthouse is one of the last of its kind. It originally served as a guide for ships navigating the waters of the Albemarle Sound into the Roanoke River. It was decommissioned in 1941 and moved to private land, where it was neglected as a private residence. Eventually, it was restored and moved to its current location.
Shop on Broad Street — Three blocks of historic, 19th century buildings house nearly 40 downtown shops within walking distance to the waterfront. Some of Katie’s favorites were The Polka Dot Palm, Downtown Diva, Feathers Boutique, The Gregarious Goose, King Street Marketplace, and North No. 4.
Visit The Cupola House — The circa. 1758 Cupola House is one of Edenton’s oldest homes and today is an architectural treasure. Outside, there are beautifully manicured formal gardens, and inside, the house is furnished with period pieces.
While we were in town, there was a Colonial Market & Fair happening at the Cupola House and it was open for tours. Katie was pleased by great programming the town has to offer, stumbling onto the Colonial Market & Fair being hosted at the historic property.
Enjoy Saturday Night at Vinyl Night — To experience “one of the most fun Saturday nights [you’ve] ever had,” check out the weekly Vinyl Night in the courtyard of Edenton Bay Trading Company. DJ Eddie and Melissa rock the night with real vinyl records playing in surround sound from 7-11 p.m. while you can sip on Debbie’s “secret recipe” southern sangria or an adult beverage of your choosing. Katie was invited to join a crowd sing-along of “It’s Raining Men” with her fellow Vinyl Night attendees, and was glad to stick around for the local tradition, a rendition of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” at 9 p.m.
Take the Trolley Tour — Travel back in time aboard our restored antique trolley. The
Trolley Tour will guide you through 300 years of history to close out your stay with a proper goodbye to our hidden gem of a town.
Katie happens to be a history buff, so this was right up her alley! From North Carolina’s first Colonial capital to Edenton’s part in the industrial revolution, there’s so much to know and love about Edenton.
For more inspiration from Katie, follow along with her trip to Edenton and more life & style content on Instagram @katieurban_ and her blog, A Touch of Teal.
