Washington - North Carolina - United States. Guide & Hotel Reservations from Cheap Hotels

Located along the scenic Palmico River, Washington, North Carolina, was the first town in the country to be named after George Washington. It's strategic location at the junction of inland and coastal rivers made it very important as a shipping center. You can still see evidence of this shipping heritage in the buildings located along the waterfront. The town is about 125 miles east of Raleigh at the intersection of US Highways 17 and 264, making it very easy to reach when you are driving. Although ice and snow are possible in the winter, it is a rare occurrence and the summers are usually quite hot.

When you take a walking tour of the downtown area of Washington, it is like stepping back in time. There are 18 antebellum buildings in this area and in the one hour tour you will see about 36 historic sites. Most of the sites are private homes and offices, so you will not be able to go inside.Visit the Atlantic Coastline Railroad Depot, which is one of the largest and best preserved stations in the eastern portion of the state. The architectural features of this building are really noteworthy, such as the hip roof and the arched openings.

Historic Bath was once home to the infamous pirate, Blackbeard and contains the oldest existing church in the state. This waterfront community is also home to the oldest library in the state with 1000 books here since 1701. The Bath A. ME. Zion Church is an archaeological site and when you take the Historic Albemarle Tour, you have a wealth of local history and culture to explore.

Explore the extensive collection of buttons, dresses and flea market items at the Belhaven Memorial Museum and learn about prehistoric man at the Aurora Fossil Museum. Nature lovers will certainly want to visit the North Carolina Estuarium with more than 200 displays of the plant and wildlife of the area. Take a tour of the Bennett Vineyards, the largest muscadine and scuppernong vineyard in the Carolinas.

For your recreation needs, the marshes and swamps of the Goose Creek State Park provide a wonderful opportunity to canoe along the shores or fish in the creek. The walking trails and educational programs of the Goose Creek Gameland offer a fantastic look at the many birds and animals that live in this natural habitat. Combined with the spectacular accommodations and dining facilities here, Washington, North Carolina has everything you need for a refreshing vacation.