Some places are built for a full day without much planning, and Colonial Park is one of them.
Set right along the edge of Edenton Bay, it’s where the town opens up to the water with wide views of the Albemarle Sound, a walkable waterfront, and just enough to do without ever feeling overly busy. Start your morning with a quiet .5 mile stroll from our North Carolina bed and breakfast, spend the afternoon out on the water, and end the day watching the sun drop behind the horizon, all within a few easy blocks.
Here’s how to spend a full day at Colonial Park:
Pick Up Picnic Supplies for Later
After breakfast at the inn, head down Broad Street toward the park. If it’s a Saturday, stop at the Edenton Farmers Market (200 Broad Street) on your way. It’s the perfect place to pick up everything you need for a picnic later in the day. Local vendors bring fresh produce, baked goods, handcrafted items, and seasonal finds, and The Table, our award-winning restaurant, keeps a stocked fridge at the market with premade salads and meals made fresh from the same kitchen that earns us visits from guests who plan their whole trip around dinner. Grab what looks good, tuck it away, and keep heading down to the water. You will be glad you stopped once you have worked up an appetite later in the day.
If you’re not visiting on a Saturday or would rather head straight to the park in the morning, let us handle the details. Add our Picnic Basket package to your reservation, and we will put together a full lunch for you before you head out. We are happy to accommodate vegetarian options too. Just let us know when you book.
Walk the Waterfront
Colonial Park is small, and that is part of what makes it so easy to love. The waterfront path is lined with benches where you can sit and look out over Edenton Bay toward the open water of the Albemarle Sound. Take your time here. There is no rush.
As you make your way along the water, the Roanoke River Lighthouse comes into view. Originally built in 1886, this screw-pile lighthouse is the last of its kind in North Carolina and was relocated to Edenton Bay after years of deterioration. It sits right at the edge of the water and is one of those sights that stops people mid-step. The Penelope Barker House is just steps away as well, overlooking the bay and serving as both the town’s official Welcome Center and the headquarters of the Edenton Historical Commission. It is free to visit and worth a few minutes of your morning.
If you are traveling with younger guests, the playground at the park gives kids a chance to run around while you take in the water and the surrounding scenery. And if you have any interest in local art, the Chowan County Arts Council is just steps from the main parking area. It is an easy detour and a good one, with rotating exhibitions and handcrafted work from local and regional artists.
Find a Spot for Your Picnic
Once you have walked the waterfront and worked up an appetite, spread a blanket out on the open green space or claim a bench overlooking the water and settle in. With the lighthouse in view and the Sound stretching out ahead of you, it is a pretty good place for a meal.
Get Out on the Water
Kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals are available at the park daily through the Dockmaster’s office, making getting on the water about as simple as it gets. No trailer, no gear to haul, no planning required. Just show up and go.
Launching from Colonial Park gives you a view of the waterfront that you simply cannot get from the shore. The Roanoke River Lighthouse looks different from the water, the historic homes along the bay take on a different scale, and the Sound opens up in a way that makes it hard to believe you are in a town this small. Whether you are on the water for an hour or most of the afternoon, it is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Edenton.
Learn more about exploring the Albemarle Sound here.
Stay for the Sunset, Then Head to Dinner
If there is one thing we always tell guests, it is to be at Colonial Park for sunset. Edenton Bay catches the last light of the day in a way that is hard to describe.
When the light fades and the evening cools, the walk back up Broad Street to Inner Banks Inn is the perfect way to ease into the evening. Relax in your suite with a glass of wine, take a bath, then get changed and head to dinner downtown.
Good to Know Before You Go
Colonial Park is open every day from dawn to dusk and is free to visit. Restrooms are available on site, and there is ample parking along Water Street for those arriving by car.
If you are arriving in Edenton by boat, Colonial Park has transient slips open to passing vessels for a complimentary two-night stay. Reserve a slip, dock your boat for the weekend, and retreat to comfort in one of our spacious suites.
Throughout the year, Colonial Park is home to a handful of seasonal events worth planning around. The Sounds of Summer Concert Series brings live music, food trucks, and fun for the entire family on select nights throughout the season. Holiday regattas and other waterfront celebrations pop up at different points in the year as well. Check our Edenton events calendar before your visit to see what might be happening during your stay.
Plan Your Visit to Colonial Park
Some of the best days in Edenton are the ones that don’t feel over planned.
At Colonial Park, everything unfolds naturally. A slow morning walk turns into time on the water, a simple picnic stretches into the afternoon, and before you know it, you’re watching the sky change colors over the Sound.
When you stay at Inner Banks Inn, it’s all just a short walk away. You can spend the entire day along the waterfront and still be back in your suite in minutes, no driving, no rushing, just an easy day in the “South’s Prettiest Town”.
