If your team has spent the last few years booking the same Greensboro hotels or heading west to Asheville for your annual retreat, it may be time to try something a little different and find a new meeting space in North Carolina.
Set along the Albemarle Sound, Edenton offers a refreshing change of pace. Our historic waterfront town is just two hours from Raleigh and about 90 minutes from Norfolk, yet it feels worlds away from busy conference centers and crowded downtowns. Here, your team can step out of a morning meeting and onto the water, stroll tree-lined streets between sessions, or gather over dinner without ever needing to leave town.
Whether you’re still deciding where to host your next corporate retreat or already planning the agenda, these team-building activities help transform a few days away from the office into an experience your team will genuinely enjoy.
1. Take a Sunset Cruise on the Albemarle Sound
One of our favorite ways to experience Edenton is by taking a boat tour on Albemarle Sound.
For smaller groups, Edenton Bay Cruises’ Liber-Tea offers narrated eco-tours aboard a quiet, six-passenger electric boat. As you cruise along the shoreline, you’ll hear stories of the town’s maritime history while taking in views of historic homes, the Roanoke River Lighthouse, and the peaceful waters of Edenton Bay.
If you’re planning a larger gathering, the Albemarle Queen offers private charters aboard its paddlewheel vessel, making it an unforgettable setting for a welcome reception, evening social, or celebration after a productive day of meetings.
2. Put Your Team to the Test at the IBX Escape Room
Looking for an activity that encourages communication and creative problem-solving? Head to the IBX Escape Room in downtown Edenton.
With themes inspired by Edenton’s rich history and local legends, each escape room offers a fun challenge while giving your team a chance to experience a little of the town’s character. Designed for small groups, it’s an excellent icebreaker on arrival day or an energizing break between meeting sessions.
As your team works together to solve puzzles and uncover clues before time runs out, you’ll quickly see different strengths come to light. It’s a fun way to build teamwork while sharing an experience everyone will be talking about long after the timer stops.
3. Book a Guided Fishing Charter
For smaller leadership teams or groups looking for something a little different, consider spending a morning on the water with Albemarle Fishing Charters.
Experienced local captains guide guests through the Albemarle Sound and surrounding waterways, where seasonal catches include striped bass, rockfish, catfish, and more.
4. Explore Edenton’s Historic District
One of the best things about hosting a retreat in Edenton is that there’s plenty to discover just beyond the meeting room.
Downtown is one of North Carolina’s most charming historic districts, with beautifully preserved homes, waterfront parks, locally owned shops, and landmarks that tell the story of more than 300 years of history. Join the Edenton Trolley Tour for an introduction to the town, then spend some time exploring on foot. From the Penelope Barker House Welcome Center to the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse, there’s no shortage of places to spark conversation along the way.
After the trolley tour, encourage your team to wander down Broad Street, stopping into local shops, museums, or one of Edenton’s welcoming cafés along the way.
5. Plan a Downtown Scavenger Hunt
Edenton’s walkable downtown is also the perfect setting for a friendly scavenger hunt.
Break into small teams and create challenges around historic landmarks, local businesses, waterfront views, or hidden architectural details. It’s a simple activity that encourages collaboration while giving everyone the chance to explore the town in a fun, interactive way.
6. Gather Around the Kitchen for a Private Cooking Class
Good food has a way of bringing people together, and a hands-on cooking class is a fun way to spend an evening after a day of meetings.
Ask us about arranging a private cooking class at Inner Banks Inn with local chef Cheryl Orr of Edenton Epicurean. A longtime culinary educator and one of Edenton’s most beloved chefs, Cheryl has spent years sharing her passion for Southern cooking through hands-on classes, private dinners, and special culinary events.
Working side by side, your team will learn new techniques, prepare seasonal dishes, and then gather around the table to enjoy the meal together.
7. Take a Kayak or Paddleboard Excursion
Sometimes the best way to reset after a morning of meetings is to spend an hour or two outdoors.
Kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals are available at Colonial Park, just a short walk from Inner Banks Inn. The calm waters of Edenton Bay make it easy for beginners to get comfortable, while more experienced paddlers can venture farther along the shoreline or into nearby Queen Anne Creek.
Whether your group heads out before the day’s agenda begins or takes an afternoon break between sessions, kayaking and paddleboarding on the Albemarle Sound offer a relaxing way to enjoy the waterfront, take in the scenery, and experience another side of Edenton.
8. Enjoy a Private Dinner at The Table
After a full day of meetings and activities, gather around the table for an evening of exceptional food and conversation.
Our on-site restaurant, The Table, offers private group dining featuring seasonal menus inspired by the flavors of coastal North Carolina.
© Visit Edenton
9. Play a Round of Golf
If your group enjoys a little friendly competition, set aside an afternoon for golf at The Links at Mulberry Hill.
Located just minutes from Inner Banks Inn, this scenic waterfront course offers beautiful views of the Albemarle Sound and a welcoming layout for players of varying skill levels.
10. Take Your Meeting Outdoors
Not every productive conversation has to happen around a conference table.
Inner Banks Inn’s gardens and courtyards provide inviting spaces for coffee breaks, brainstorming sessions, breakout discussions, or simply catching up between meetings. If the weather is nice, consider moving part of your agenda outside or taking a short walk to Colonial Park, where the waterfront offers a peaceful backdrop for fresh ideas.
Sometimes, a change of scenery is all it takes to help everyone return to the table with a new perspective.
When It’s Time to Work
When it’s time to get down to business, Inner Banks Inn provides fully equipped, professional meeting spaces tailored to your group’s size. Host high-level board meetings or interactive workshops for up to 40 guests at The Table, or scale up to 150 attendees in the sound-side ballroom at Mulberry Hill. Audio-visual equipment, projectors, and screens are all available on request, and our full liquor license means we can seamlessly transition your meeting space into an evening cocktail reception.
Best of all, you can completely skip the uninspiring hallways of a standard commercial hotel chain. At the end of the day, every member of your team can retreat to their own private suite spread across our five historic buildings.
Ready to Elevate Your Next Corporate Retreat?
If you’re planning a leadership retreat, company-wide getaway, or annual strategy session, we’d love to help you create an experience that’s both productive and exciting. From flexible meeting spaces and private suites to waterfront adventures and exceptional dining, everything you need is right here in Edenton.
Contact us today, and we’ll be happy to help you start planning your stay.
