American Legion Fairgrounds

Stepping aboard a trolley tour in central Edenton is probably the easiest way of ticking off the many monuments scattered about the place. Over the course of your travels you'll drive past handsome historic buildings, with a top-rated guided commentary to put all the well-preserved colonial heritage into context. You can also glide more or less gracefully through the town harbour aboard a paddleboard or kayak, both of which are available to hire. Escaping the city streets for the day is another option. Fond of long walks in the wilderness? Merchants Millpond State Park (40 minutes' drive) or Goose Creek State Park (an hour and 10 minutes) should see to that. Prefer picking your way around a set of pins and cups? Go golfing at Albemarle Plantation (25 minutes) or let loose on the links at Mulberry Hill (10 minutes). Got sandals and suncream? Ship out to the Outer Banks, a sandy stretch of land that runs along North Carolina's Atlantic coast. The nearest big resort is Kitty Hawk (an hour and a half), where there are sizzling fish bars, boardwalks and acres of dog-friendly beaches.