This week on ENC Explorer, we’re heading to New Bern for a relaxed waterfront date day, spending time under the historic oaks in Tarboro, and checking out one of Greenville’s best live music weekends of the year. Plus: free concerts at Wildwood Park and Down East Bird Dawgs baseball in Kinston.

This week on ENC Explorer, we head to Beaufort for waterfront views and Blackbeard history at the newly reopened NC Maritime Museum, explore colorful murals in downtown Farmville, and preview Memorial Day weekend events across Eastern North Carolina — including the NC Fossil Festival in Aurora and Greenville’s Memorial Day observance ceremony. Plus, a reader recommendation for one of ENC’s most legendary old-school pork markets in Pikeville.

This week on ENC Explorer, we’re heading out for one of the best late-spring weekends in Eastern North Carolina. From tobacco barns and classic Eastern NC BBQ in Kenly to garden strolls and downtown bear hunts in New Bern, we’re covering affordable day trips, local markets, outdoor fitness events, and hidden gems worth adding to your weekend plans. Plus, where to grab scratch-made breakfast in Greenville before everyone else gets there first..

This week in ENC: strawberry picking at its peak, a simple pizza + beer garden date night, a family-friendly museum trip in Kenly, ECU Baseball on Sunday, and New Bern’s Plein Air Art Festival. Easy, affordable ways to make the most of May in Eastern North Carolina.

Gorgous gardens on the Trent River, a hot dog counter open since 1928, and a waterfront most people drive right past.

Late April in Eastern North Carolina is the window locals wait for—mild mornings, fewer crowds, and just enough going on to fill a weekend without overplanning. This week’s lineup includes a relaxed stop at the NC Estuarium and Washington waterfront, a visit to Historic Bath with its Blackbeard connection, and a stacked Saturday in Greenville featuring the farmers market, PirateFest, and ECU baseball. If you’re looking for simple, affordable ways to enjoy ENC this is your guide.

This week in Eastern North Carolina, we’re leaning into peak spring. From a quiet morning walk through ECU’s tree-lined campus with a great cup of coffee to a classic BBQ run out to Ayden, these are the simple outings that make this time of year so good.

Easy plans for this week: paint something together, explore a hidden gem, and don’t miss these local events.

This week in Eastern North Carolina, we’re mixing classic local flavor with high-energy events and easy weekend plans. From a BBQ road trip to Wilson’s iconic whirligig park, to a family-friendly history loop in Kinston and Ayden, plus ECU baseball, anime fest, and a full-on food festival vibe—there’s something for every kind of weekend. If you’re looking for affordable, local ways to get out of the house and actually enjoy spring, this episode has you covered.

This week in ENC, we’re keeping things simple, local, and budget-friendly. Start with a laid-back date night in Uptown Greenville—coffee at Blackbeard followed by late-night mini golf—then plan a short drive to Washington for one of the most underrated family outings in the region, the NC Estuarium.