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Your weekend starts here - a Civil War gunboat, Kinston craft beer, and the coffee shop that gives back

One day trip south, one neighborhood morning. Both worth it.

Author

Frank Jones
March 11, 2026

Hello, ENC Explorers!

The first week of March in Greenville has its own texture. The Bradford pears are already done - that brief white bloom that fills every parking lot and median strip for about ten days - and now the dogwoods are thinking about it. The light is staying past 6pm. The mornings are still sharp but the afternoons have a warmth in them that hasn't been there since October. It's the week before the pollen, and it is the best week to be outside in ENC.

If you use the Tar River Greenway, go this week. The trees haven't leafed out yet, which means you can actually see the river from the trail - something that disappears by May and doesn't come back until December. The red-winged blackbirds are back along the marsh edges, and the whole corridor is quieter than it'll be for the next eight months. This is the window. Take it.

This week we're sending you 35 minutes west to Kinston for a Civil War gunboat and the best craft brewery in ENC - and keeping you right here in Greenville for a Saturday morning at a coffee shop that's doing something genuinely worth supporting. Two different kinds of good day. Both under $25.

⚓ CSS Neuse + Mother Earth Brewing

Location: Kinston, NC (about 35 minutes from Greenville)
Cost: ~$20 per person depending on stops
Hours: CSS Neuse (Tue–Sat) | Mother Earth Brewing (Mon–Thu 3–10 PM, Fri–Sat 12–10 PM, Sun 1–8 PM)

The CSS Neuse is one of only a handful of Confederate ironclad gunboats that survived the Civil War. It was raised from the Neuse River in 1963 and is on display in Kinston for $5. The museum is small and unhurried - plan an hour. The gunboat itself is remarkable: you can walk right up to the iron hull and read the history of a vessel that was scuttled by its own crew to keep it out of Union hands.

After the museum, drive five minutes to Mother Earth Brewing in downtown Kinston. Order a pint of whatever is rotating on tap - their small-batch brews change often and the taproom staff will point you to the right one. The beer garden is comfortable in early March. Optional stop on the way home: Skylight Inn in Ayden has been cooking whole-hog BBQ over wood coals since 1947. Cash only. Closed Sunday. They sometimes sell out by early afternoon on weekends - go before 1pm if you want to be sure.

Pro Tip: Visit the CSS Neuse earlier in the afternoon and plan to arrive at Mother Earth right when the taproom opens. You’ll avoid crowds, get easier seating in the beer garden, and still have time for a quick BBQ stop in Ayden before heading back.

☕ Awaken Coffee + Dickinson Ave Murals

Location: Greenville, NC (Dickinson Avenue area)
Cost: ~$7 per person
Hours: Awaken Coffee (Mon–Sat mornings, closes at 12 PM) | Pitt County Arts Council Gallery (regular business hours, free)

Awaken Coffee on Dickinson Ave is a nonprofit cafe that employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The coffee is good. The mission behind it is better. It’s the kind of place that regulars come back to not just because the drinks are right but because spending money there feels like it matters. Bring the kids – they hire people who will be genuinely glad to see them - and they have hot chocolate.

After coffee, walk the Dickinson Ave mural corridor - one of the best collections of outdoor murals in ENC and a good stretch of sidewalk for kids to roam. Cap the morning at the Pitt County Arts Council gallery a few blocks away, which has rotating exhibits and is always free. The whole morning runs under $10 a person and gives older kids something real to talk about on the way home.

Pro Tip: Check museum hours before heading out, and aim for mid-afternoon when temperatures are usually warmest. Bring a light jacket just in case - early March likes to surprise us.

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🐦 Barbara J. recommends: The Tar River Greenway in early March

The greenway is worth running right now before the trees close everything in. In early March you can actually see the Tar River from the trail - that view disappears once the canopy fills in and you don't get it back until December. The red-winged blackbirds are back in the marsh sections and the whole corridor is quieter than it'll be for the next six months. Go on a weekday morning if you can. It's a different place than it is on a Saturday afternoon.

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We want to hear from you! What’s your favorite spot in and around Greenville, NC? Whether it’s a hidden gem, a local eatery, or a scenic park, your input could be featured in an upcoming City Guide!

ENC EVENTS THIS WEEK

  • Location: Clark-LeClair Stadium, Greenville
    Dates: Friday–Sunday, March 13–15
    Cost: ~$8–$12 general admission

    Home weekend series against Penn at Clark-LeClair. Friday night is the traditional opener -- good energy, early March weather, and $8-12 for a seat. The series runs all three days if Friday doesn’t work out.

  • Location: Downtown Greenville (Start/Finish near the Belk Building)
    Date: Saturday, March 14
    Time: 9:00 AM
    Cost: Registration required (varies by participant)

    A community race honoring Nelson Cooper, who lost his battle with ALS in 2017. Proceeds support ALS research, local families living with ALS, and ECU scholarships in Dr. Cooper’s program. Choose the 4-mile run, 4-mile ruck, or 1-mile fun walk. All ages welcome.

  • Location: Pitt St Brewing
    Date: March 14
    Time: TBA

    St. Patrick’s Day falls on Tuesday the 17th, so most of the celebrating happens the weekend before. Pitt Street Brewing is running a block party on the 14th, and downtown spots will have specials through the weekend. Worth checking in with your usual places before you make plans Saturday night.

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ENC Explorer connects readers with local spots every week. If your business would like to reach an engaged local audience, reply to this email to ask about sponsorship opportunities.

🤍 Who’s Making ENC Better?

Eastern North Carolina runs on people who show up. The coach who stays late.
The neighbor who checks in. The business owner who gives back.

We want to help tell their stories. Nominate someone who:
🤍 Leads with integrity
🤝 Brings people together
🌱 Invests in our community

📬 Selected nominees will be featured in ENC Explorer, so the whole community can celebrate the people who make ENC feel like home.

Let’s shine a light on the locals who truly matter.

Happy exploring,
— The ENC Explorer Team