Have you ever explored Elizabeth City from the eyes of a visitor? Often times, even those who were born and raised in the area haven't seen or experienced everything Elizabeth City has to offer. There's no better time than now to get out and explore our beautiful hometown, and maybe even win a gift card at the same time!
Download and print or screenshot the sign. Each of your photos must include this sign to count whether it's a printed version or a photo screenshot.
Take a road trip through Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County. Visit at least 5 locations or attractions from the list below.
Take a selfie in each location with your "Be a Tourist in Your Hometown" sign.
Post your 5 selfies on Facebook or Instagram tagging us @VisitECity and using #VisitECity. You can post your photos on your own timeline or our Facebook page.
1. Participants will be entered to win weekly prizes of $25 gift cards to local shops and restaurants. There will be 4 winners per week, but if you don’t win, don't worry! Your entry will roll over into the following week's drawings. Submit more than one set of photos for more entries to win!
2. Contest runs weekly, July 1 - August 29, 2020.
3. We reserve the right to delete inappropriate submitted content.
4. Limit 1 gift card per person.
There are so many delicious dishes to try in Elizabeth City from a variety of locally-owned restaurants. Kill two birds with one stone by visiting your favorite restaurant and taking a photo out front or of your meal!
Mid-Atlantic Christian University, or MACU, is Elizabeth City’s own Christian University. The campus is situated near the bridge on the Pasquotank River. You can’t miss the big teal chair with their logo across the back. Take your “Tourist in Your Hometown” selfie and enjoy the river views while you’re at it.
If you’ve never been to Charles Creek Park, you’re missing out on a beautiful place to catch an Elizabeth City sunset. Just off Riverside Ave., the park is easily accessible with a great boardwalk over the water.
On the side of the historic McMullan Building, known locally as the ‘Old City Cut Rate Building,’ (117 N. Water St.), is a Coca-Cola mural welcoming visitors to Elizabeth City. City Cut Rate, a corner drugstore and convenience store, sold Coke products at its famous fountain from 1955-1986 and had a Coke mural advertising their business. Vern Anderson, who was once owner of the business with his father, notes the current sign, featuring a bottle, was painted in the 1990s.
Albemarle Floral now boasts an astoundingly beautiful mural of a lighthouse, painted in 2020 by local artist Jessa Trotman of Dear Alchemy. This gorgeous image is worth a trip by itself! And look out, Jessa is planning on more creative works in downtown Elizabeth City.
Each Saturday during the summer this “vine-ripened, just-picked, fresh-made weekly celebration” draws vendors that sell locally-sourced produce, honey, plants, crafts, and more. Bring your sign, take a selfie, and shop to your heart’s content. Read our blog for more information.
Arts of the Albemarle is a regional non-profit arts council located in the renovated historical Lowry-Chesson building. This world class arts facility displays over 250 artists’ works, a state-of-the-art performance space, and the School of the Arts. Visit for a free walk in the galleries or buy tickets to a fantastic, unique event!
The Museum of the Albemarle is a state regional history museum and covers the 13 counties of the unique Albemarle region. Thousands of artifacts are housed and displayed at the museum to tell the story of the Albemarle’s history, culture, and people. The many events and fun programs are a great way to experience the museum!
Mariners’ Wharf Park offers free 48-hour dockage for boaters and is a staple of downtown Elizabeth City for locals. The wharf is typically the site of some Elizabeth City’s most widely known summer events including Mariners’ Wharf Film Festival, Music on the Green, and the North Carolina Potato Festival.
In 1881, William Pailin purchased the land that is now Pailin’s Alley and transformed it into an industrial area complete with a rice mill, shipyard, lumber warehouse, and oyster packing plant. Over a century of changes in the area led to the alley becoming derelict and uninviting. The revitalization of this area began in 2017 and since then, Pailin’s Alley has become a beautiful destination for entertainment and outdoor dining. Read more about the history of the alley on our blog.
Greeting visitors and students to ECSU’s new STEM Complex is a one-tenth scale model of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet. The STEM Complex houses the Dept. of Aviation and Emergency Management, which offers North Carolina’s only 4-year aviation science degree, and features aviation labs, including drone and air traffic control labs and a flight simulator lab.
Did you know Elizabeth City is the 20th designated Coast Guard City in the United States? We love the Coast Guard members of our community and appreciate their service. Your selfie could be with a neighbor, member of your church, or even your spouse who’s a member of the United States Coast Guard.
Nothing says “summer” like a day playing in the water! The Splash Pad at Enfield Park has tables and canopies to provide the adults a nice place to relax while the kiddos play.
This historic building on the corner of E. Fearing St. and Poindexter is the site of the first African-American-owned bank in the Albemarle region. The bank opened for business in August 1920 and served citizens of Elizabeth City for five years before it was forced to close in 1925. The historic building has since been the home of several other businesses including a clothing store and a cupcake shop.
The Pines is an 18-hole, par 72 golf course on the North side of Elizabeth City. Now owned by the local YMCA, the course features wide fairways, large chipping areas, plush Bermuda grass, and even an outdoor pool for a relaxing afternoon.
There are two of these signs in Elizabeth City: one at Waterfront Park and one at the administration building at ECSU. In 2004, the Pasquotank River was the first river in the nation to receive this designation for its role in helping freedom seekers escape slavery. Read more about the designation.
The Amazon Wind Farm US East, as it is officially known, spans about 22,000 acres of leased farmland across Pasquotank and Perquimans counties and is the first utility-scale wind farm in North Carolina and one of the first in the southeastern United States. The turbines produce enough energy to power about 60,000 typical American homes. The sight of the 100+ wind turbines across our beautiful landscape is impressive! The towers, with a blade pointing up, reach a height of 492 feet. One awesome view of the wind farm is from the bridge that crosses Hwy 17 looking west!
Note: Please stay on the public road, Sandy Road, when visiting the wind farm! All others are privately owned and not for public use.
The Elizabeth City Aviation Trail is a self-guided walking tour that winds through the downtown area and along the river. Take in the views and visit areas where the Wright brothers shopped, stayed and made friends while in Elizabeth City. Download the Elizabeth City Aviation Trail brochure.
From restaurants to boutiques, there are dozens of locally-owned businesses in Elizabeth City. Swing by your favorite one, snap a selfie and show your support!
One of the best assets we have is our waterfront, but that’s not the only place locals enjoy our coastal geography. Whether it’s of your neighborhood pond or a sunset over the river, we want to see your favorite water view in EC.
Each week, all summer (July 1 - August 29) long, four lucky participants will win a $25 gift card to one of Elizabeth City’s amazing locally owned and operated businesses including:
And even more coming soon!
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