Five Ways to Welcome Spring in Elizabeth City

Now is the perfect time to get up, get outside, and welcome the warmer weather of spring! Don’t stay cooped up inside all day; Elizabeth City is full of opportunities to explore in the great outdoors. Here are just a few.

1. Fishing

Between Veterans Park, Mariners’ Wharf, Waterfront Park and Charles Creek, there is lots of room to spread out and cast a line. The local fishing industry is abundant, which explains our awesome selection of fresh seafood from the Albemarle region. Just make sure before you head out on your fishing venture that you have an up-to-date fishing license.

2. Hiking & Biking 

If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to explore the region’s state parks. The Dismal Swamp State Park has 16.7 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails perfect for taking a mental break in nature. Merchants Millpond State Park has another 9 miles of hiking trails and a scenic pond area, ideal for a picnic. Not only will you get some exercise in, the fresh air and sunshine is a definite mood booster so lace up your running shoes and hit the trails on foot or your bike!

3. Kayaking

Take your pick from the Dismal Swamp State Park, Merchants Millpond State Park, Sawyer’s Creek, Big Flatty, Newbegun Creek, or right on the Pasquotank River! You can launch on the river at Mid-Atlantic Christian University or Charles Creek Park. Kayak one or explore them all! There’s nothing that melts stress away like spending a day on the water. Take in the scenic waterways, explore nature and have fun doing it.

4. Birding

If you have your windows open you probably hear birds singing, happy about the warm weather. Take a trip to the Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail and boardwalk behind the College of the Albemarle and see a variety of local species of birds, turtles, flora and more. The boardwalk is 3,440 feet long so you can immerse yourself in nature and relax in one of the gazebos while you birdwatch. Some of the interesting waterfowl that you can keep an eye out for are herons, egrets, and various types of ducks. Find more wildlife and birding trails near Elizabeth City here.

5. Picnic in the Park

Fortunately, the downtown and Waterfront Park area make picnicing outdoors easy to do. Park at the Waterfront, walk over to your favorite downtown restaurant for something to-go, and pick a spot on the green at Mariners' Wharf or Waterfront Park to eat. Relax, enjoy a delicious meal (without having to wash any dishes afterwards!), and welcome the beautiful spring weather with a river view. Bring a blanket and make an evening of it or, if you prefer, there are picnic tables and benches available with plenty of room to practice social distancing. We've even curated a list of local restaurants still operating with takeout or curbside pickup and their phone numbers for you!

Elizabeth City is a beautiful place all year, but spring has an allure all its own. We're thankful to live in a place full of opportunities to get outside, explore nature, and relax. If you're not able to visit and experience them just yet, we hope to see you soon!

 

Looking for more things to do and places to see in Elizabeth City? Check out our Insider's Guide Blog for a local's perspective on why EC is a great place to visit any time of year!

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