New Bern is an old southern town lying on the banks of two rivers. It has a vibrant downtown filled with interesting shops, art galleries, restaurants, good hotels and lovely B&Bs. With a population of just under 30,000 people, and in a county of nearly 100,000, New Bern has just the right balance: it provides everything we need and avoids the congestion and crowding of larger towns.

New Bern is currently preparing to celebrate her 300th birthday in 2010. The old swing-bridge is being replaced and the main street is being turned into a wide boulevard. While we may be a bit discomfited by the mess this year, we’ll be very proud of our city’s new look soon. A committee of citizens is planning a terrific year-long birthday party which will begin with a First Night celebration of the arts on New Year’s Eve. Determined to make the 300th festivities represent all New Bernians, the committee’s plans include everyone in our community.

We enjoy fine weather all year, although we do have four distinct seasons. We have easy access to beautiful beaches with the Southern Outer Banks only an hour away and the more famous Outer Banks easily accessible by highway or ferry. Boating is a major factor in many folks’ decision to relocate here. The wide Neuse River meets the Pamlico Sound just a few miles downstream, and gives onto the Intracoastal Waterway, which passes through this county. Golf is another favorite pastime as there are a number of private and public courses in the area. Fishing is very popular and there are several fishing clubs. Hiking, bird-watching, kayaking and canoeing all appeal to many area residents.

Most things cost less here. Real estate prices are among the lowest anywhere on the east coast. Taxes are very low. Craven County’s tax rate is just 61 cents per hundred dollars of valuation. The city of New Bern adds a bit more for city taxes. Having fun is less expensive too: Golf is a fraction of the cost one might pay “up north.” Marina charges for docking a boat are low, and many homes have backyard docks.

New Bern has a new and modern airport served by both U.S. Airways and Delta, with connections through Charlotte and Atlanta, respectively. We have a large, modern hospital which is just dedicating a new Heart Center. The number of physicians and other medical professionals is large and all specialties are well represented. In addition, there is easy access to a major university teaching hospital just 50 miles away, in Greenville NC. Two of the finest hospitals in the world are three hours west of us, at Duke University and the University of North Carolina. New Bern is home of Craven Community College which offers courses to students pursuing the first two years of college-level work, to adults learning new job skills, and to an active Lifetime Learning Center with non-credit courses and activities for adults. We have a good local library, part of a three-county system. The local college is home to Eastern North Carolina’s public radio station, broadcasting two streams, classical music and news, 24 hours a day.