We love, love, love vacations. However, it’s not always, or even often, possible to escape on a full-blown one to some exotic locale. Instead, throughout our year we try to get away for day trips to areas we’ve never visited. Although this is challenging with over 20 years of Virginia Beach living, it’s surprisingly not impossible. We discovered this on a recent day trip to the quaint Edenton, NC.
Day Trip to Edenton: Discovering a Gem
How had we never heard of Edenton, NC, in all our years in Virginia Beach? While I’m not sure of the answer, I’m very glad we jumped on the chance to go when we did finally hear of its existence. Edenton is an architecturally rich town where beauty and history intersect.
Signers of both the Declaration of Independence (Joseph Hewes) and the Constitution (Hugh Williamson) hail from these humble streets, as well as an original Supreme Court Associate Justice (James Iredell, Sr.). Another Edenton native, Harriet Jacobs, a former African-American slave who bravely escaped to freedom, penned her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.
The town itself served as a strategically important supply center during the Revolutionary War. Put together, these are not shabby credentials for a town only having a modern-day population of just over 5,000.
Take the Trolley Tour
Our first stop was Edenton’s old-fashioned trolley ride. While not air-conditioned, we found it at least cooler on the trolley than at the mercy of the full summer sun. But more importantly, the trolley’s guided tour took us through their Historic Museum Trail. The tour provided us an overview of the special sights available in the town.
Our short day trip to Edenton definitely didn’t do it justice. However, it was better than not visiting it at all, which is what we somehow managed to do for the last 20 years. What gems have you discovered in small-town America? Please comment below and share/pin this post!
The teapot is awesome! I love that story! What a great historical experience.
I love spending time in places that have so much history and beauty! I would live to visit Edenton! Thank you for sharing your adventures!
What a neat town, so rich with history! I haven’t been to small gems like that, but I will always remember our family trip to Gettysburg. You could feel the history soaked in the ground there!
I’ll bet! I haven’t visited Gettysburg yet but would love to one day soon.
North Carolina is full of history and cute little towns like this. I love trolley tours!
What a beautiful little town! Love the garden 🙂
Wow it looks so pretty and green! I’d love to visit one day.
You have to love the scenes of the south, the architecture and everything. But I think that my favorite is the teapot! Thanks for sharing.
I love the old colonial homes. Being from the west coast, it’s always fun to visit the east coast and see all the history we don’t have here.
I’ve never heard of Edenton NC! Thanks for sharing!
What an absolutely charming place!
I love seeing the architecture and reading all the fun historical facts 🙂
I would love that trolley tour!! I’m sure it was fun for the kids too to feel like they were on a ride rather than a boring lecture.
What a great trip! Thank you for sharing.
Nice to have the reminder than travel doesn’t have to mean long-distance. I love seeing that older buildings are still being maintained and used.
I always enjoy visiting historic places. There is just something fascinating to me when I think of walking where our ancestors did.
I just love North Carolina, although I haven’t been to Edenton. It’s so lush and green and full of interesting architecture and history. I enjoyed your photos very much!
Great place to visit. Love your pics and the history!
What a beautiful, historical town! I could easily live in the old schoolhouse, just sayin’ 🙂
I love amazing historical story finds! Add adventure and exploration to that and you have a winning combination!
This looks like a great town to visit. I love looking at old houses and learning the history.
Like many others the tea pot historical story is interesting! It’s a beautiful find for you to have the chance to visit this little town.
I love small towns and their history and charm! This one is soooo pretty! Your photos are beautiful!
I love all your pics! That lighthouse is amazing, and it looks like such a quaint town. I’m adding this spot to my list!
What a charming little town and so full of history.Love your pictures.
I love these small historical towns. I even lived in a couple. Glad you found this place.
I love so many of the photos you took. That teapot was so cute!
Such a charming historic town! I’d love to visit.