20 Things to Do Near Columbia, NC — and Your Spring Itinerary at Blue Juniper Inn
The NC Inner Banks is one of eastern North Carolina's best-kept secrets. Tucked between the Outer Banks and the rest of the state, this region of blackwater rivers, vast wildlife refuges, artisan studios, and unhurried small towns rewards those who slow down and explore. Columbia — a riverside community of fewer than 1,000 residents perched along the Scuppernong River in Tyrrell County — sits at the heart of it all.
Whether you're a birder chasing warblers through pocosin wetlands, a paddler drifting beneath bald cypress canopies, an art lover browsing handcrafted pottery and metalwork, or simply someone looking for a peaceful weekend away, Columbia has something waiting for you.
This guide covers the top attractions in and around Columbia, with a sample spring itinerary to help you make the most of your stay at Blue Juniper Inn.
Downtown Columbia
1. Walter B. Jones, Sr. Center for the Sounds
Located at the edge of the Scuppernong River at the entrance to Columbia, this interpretive center brings the ecology and history of the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds to life through interactive displays. Learn about the blackwater rivers, fishing traditions, and the remarkable wildlife refuge network that surrounds the town. It's a perfect first stop to orient yourself before heading out to explore.
2. Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk
One of the most accessible and beautiful walks in the region, this .57 mile boardwalk loops along the Scuppernong River and through a primeval cypress forest. Turtles, otters, wading birds, and — if you're lucky — alligators are regular sights. The boardwalk begins behind the Walter B. Jones Center for the Sounds and is ideal for morning strolls or golden-hour walks at dusk.
3. Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft
A fixture in downtown Columbia for over 30 years, Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft is nationally recognized as one of the finest craft education institutions in the country. The school sits along the Scuppernong River and offers classes and workshops in ceramics, woodworking, metallurgy, jewelry making, and even guitar and dulcimer crafting — taught by artists from across the U.S., Canada, Greece, and China. Even if you're not taking a workshop, stop in to browse the gallery full of handmade pottery, sculpture, and jewelry.
4. Inner Banks Mercantile
This eclectic storefront-meets-café, housed in a former winery building on Elm Street, is the beating heart of Columbia's social scene. Browse shelves stocked with gourmet foods, NC-made gifts, candles, jewelry, and home décor — then order a specialty latte, cold brew, or seasonal espresso drink from the coffee bar. On the second Saturday of each month, the Mezzazine fills up with local vendors for the Second Saturday Makers’ Market.
5. Columbia Theater Cultural Resources Center
Step inside this beautifully restored 1930s movie palace — active from the 1930s through the 1960s — for a fascinating window into the region's past. The exhibits inside focus on fishing, forestry, and farming: the three industries that shaped life along the Scuppernong for generations. Look for the pound net boat, a Model T Ford, an animatronic fisherman, and artifacts from the theater's heyday.
6. Stick Burnin BBQ Company
Classic, no-fuss Southern barbecue done right. Pulled pork, chicken, ribs, and brisket are the stars of the show, served under red-and-white checked tablecloths with a roll of paper towels on the table — the universal sign of excellent 'cue. Save room for the banana pudding.
7. Tienda Mexicana Peniel #2
Right next door to Stick Burnin, this authentic Mexican grill serves tacos, quesabirria, enchiladas, and burritos packed with flavor. An unexpected find and a local favorite.
8. BLACK DIRT COFFEE SHOP AND café
A dedicated coffee shop and café, Black Dirt features an outdoor patio overlooking the Scuppernong River — one of the best seats in town. Scratch-made biscuits are the star of the breakfast menu, and the full coffee bar turns out lattes, cold brews, and specialty drinks made with care. Breakfast and lunch are served Monday through Saturday, including one of the best burgers you’ll ever eat.
9. The Scuppernong River Waterfront
The town's waterfront along the Scuppernong River is quiet, scenic, and perfect for an evening walk. Catch the sunset from the boardwalk as the river glows amber and the cypress trees cast long reflections — one of the most serene experiences the Inner Banks has to offer.
Wildlife & Nature (Within 30 Minutes)
10. Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
One of the most extraordinary wildlife areas in the eastern United States, this 110,000-acre refuge protects rare pocosin peatlands — a unique wetland ecosystem found almost exclusively in the Southeast. The refuge supports one of the densest black bear populations east of the Mississippi, and in spring, the woods come alive with Prothonotary Warblers, Swainson's Warblers, and other neotropical migrants. The Pungo Unit offers driving wildlife tours and a lakeside observation platform. Sunrise visits, when bears are most active, are especially memorable. Do not miss the winter migration of the tundra swan.
11. Red Wolf Education Center
Located just one mile south of Columbia on Highway 94, the Red Wolf Center is one of the most moving wildlife experiences in North Carolina. The critically endangered red wolf — fewer than 20 remain in the wild — makes its last wild stand in this region. Staff naturalists give presentations throughout the day (generally Thursday through Saturday), and guests can observe two resident male wolves in an outdoor habitat. Come away with a deeper understanding of what it means to share a landscape with a predator on the edge of extinction.
12. Pettigrew State Park & Lake Phelps
Just a short drive from Columbia, Pettigrew State Park encompasses Lake Phelps — a remarkable natural lake with nearly 16,000 acres of open water and miles of undeveloped shoreline. In spring, the lake draws nesting ospreys and herons, while the surrounding hardwood forest fills with birdsong. Paddling, hiking, fishing, birding, and camping are all available. Archaeological excavations of the lake bottom have uncovered over 30 dugout canoes, some more than 4,000 years old.
13. Somerset Place State Historic Site
One of the most significant and sobering historic sites in North Carolina, Somerset Place was a large antebellum plantation on the shores of Lake Phelps where over 300 enslaved men, women, and children lived and worked. The site offers guided and self-guided tours of the grounds, the main house, and reconstructed slave quarters. It is a powerful, necessary visit for anyone seeking to understand the full complexity of the region's history.
14. Palmetto-Peartree Preserve
A 10,000-acre refuge and mitigation bank for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, Palmetto-Peartree Preserve offers excellent birding in a pristine coastal plain forest. The preserve lies between the Alligator River and Little Alligator Creek, offering an intimate encounter with one of the Inner Banks' most beautiful and wild landscapes.
15. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Spanning over 150,000 acres across the Albemarle Peninsula, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a landscape of pocosin shrublands, swamp forests, and open wetlands. Spring brings nesting songbirds, black bear activity, and brilliant wildflowers. The refuge's dirt roads are excellent for slow wildlife drives at dawn and dusk. The refuge also offers seasonal tours and programs, including tram tours.
16. Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
About 45 minutes from Columbia, Lake Mattamuskeet is the largest natural freshwater lake in North Carolina — a vast, shallow body of water ringed with marsh and swamp forest. While winter brings tens of thousands of Tundra Swans, spring is quieter and equally rewarding, with herons, egrets, ospreys, and nesting songbirds filling the surrounding habitat. The iconic Mattamuskeet Lodge, a historic hunting lodge converted from a pumping station, stands at the edge of the lake and is worth a stop for photographs.
Day Trips & Nearby Destinations
17. Vineyards on the Scuppernong
This local winery in Manteo crafts wines from the native Scuppernong grape — a muscadine variety with deep roots in eastern NC history. A tasting here is a genuinely regional experience, connecting visitors to a fruit and a tradition that has grown along these rivers for centuries.
18. Edenton, NC
About 30 minutes northwest of Columbia, Edenton is one of the most beautiful small towns in North Carolina. Its colonial-era downtown sits on the Albemarle Sound, with a harbor, historic homes, waterfront parks, and exceptional dining. Spring brings blooming gardens and open-air dining — a perfect half-day excursion.
19. Outer Banks Day Trip
Columbia sits just 40 minutes west of Manteo and about an hour from most Outer Banks beaches. For those who want to combine inland serenity with a taste of the coast, a day trip to the Outer Banks — the Wright Brothers Memorial, Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras Lighthouses, Jockey's Ridge State Park, or simply a swim in the ocean — is entirely doable from Blue Juniper Inn.
20. Elizabeth City, NC
About an hour north of Columbia, Elizabeth City combines a walkable waterfront with a lively arts scene, independent restaurants, and the Museum of the Albemarle. It is a great full-day excursion for those who want more urban energy.
3-Day Spring Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive, Explore Downtown Columbia
Morning / Afternoon:
Head to Inner Banks Mercantile to browse through the curated mix of NC-made gifts and gourmet goods.
Walk Main Street and pop into the Columbia Theater Cultural Resources Center to get a feel for the town's character and history.
Check into Blue Juniper Inn and settle into your room. Wrap yourself in one of the plush robes and decompress on the wraparound porch with a glass of wine or a cold beer.
Late Afternoon:
Stroll the Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk — one of the most peaceful walks in eastern NC. Look for turtles, herons, and river otters moving through the cypress shadows.
Evening:
Dinner at Tienda Mexicana Peniel #2 for quesabirria and paletas. End the evening on the Blue Juniper's porch, watching the light fade over Main Street.
Day 2: Wildlife Refuge & Red Wolves
Early Morning:
Rise early and drive to the Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge for a sunrise wildlife drive. Spring mornings bring black bears, white-tailed deer, nesting Prothonotary Warblers, and the stirring landscape of a wetland ecosystem waking up. Bring binoculars and a telephoto lens — the opportunities are exceptional.
Midday:
Stop at the Walter B. Jones, Sr. Center for the Sounds on your return, and walk the boardwalk one more time to catch the midday light on the river.
Grab lunch from Stick Burnin’ BBQ — pick up your lunch and dessert for a picnic along the waterfront.
Afternoon:
Visit the Red Wolf Education Center just south of town for a naturalist presentation and your best chance of seeing these critically endangered animals up close. Allow plenty of time — the story of the red wolf in this landscape is one you won't soon forget.
Evening:
Grab a pizza from The Depot to go and head back to Blue Juniper Inn for a quiet evening. Enjoy a cup of tea and a good book on the porch as evening settles over the Scuppernong.
Day 3: History, Water & Craft
Morning:
Drive to Pettigrew State Park and spend a few hours paddling Lake Phelps or walking the lake trail through the hardwood forest. The spring canopy is spectacular, and the water reflects miles of undisturbed shoreline.
Afterward, visit Somerset Place State Historic Site for a guided tour of this remarkable and sobering plantation site on the lake shore.
Midday:
Return toward Columbia and stop at Barnyard Betsy’s for an authentic Philly cheesesteak.
Afternoon:
Spend your last afternoon at Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft — browse the gallery, watch artists at work in the studios, or pick up a handmade piece to take home. If timing aligns, sign up for an afternoon workshop.
5-Day Weekday Spring Itinerary
Day 1: Settle In & Walk the Town
Arrive at Blue Juniper Inn and get oriented
Coffee and browse at Inner Banks Mercantile
Walk Main Street — history and art
Evening stroll on the Scuppernong River Boardwalk
Takeout from The Depot
Day 2: Deep Into the Refuge
Sunrise drive in Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (Pungo Unit)
Red Wolf Education Center presentation
Afternoon at the Walter B. Jones, Sr. Center for the Sounds & Interpretative Walk
Dinner at Tienda Mexicana Peniel #2
Day 3: Lakes, Paddles & History
Kayak or canoe Lake Phelps at Pettigrew State Park
Lunch at Barnyard Betsy’s
Tour Somerset Place State Historic Site
Dinner at Cahoon’s Pizza & Wings
Day 4: Art, Craft & the Outer Banks
Morning workshop or gallery visit at Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft
Afternoon day trip to Manteo and the Outer Banks (40 minutes east)
Sunset on the beach or at Jockey's Ridge State Park
Dinner at Basnight’s Lone Cedar
Day 5: Big Water & the Road Home
Morning drive to Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
Walk the dike trails and photograph herons, egrets, and osprey over the lake
Optional stop at the historic Mattamuskeet Lodge
After days of wandering wildlife refuges, drifting down cypress-lined rivers, and discovering the art and stories that make this corner of North Carolina quietly extraordinary, settle in at Blue Juniper Inn, where every room is a carefully considered retreat and every morning begins with coffee, conversation, and the unhurried pace of the Inner Banks. Reserve Your Stay at Blue Juniper Inn
