Washington, NC

Known locally as "Little Washington," this welcoming river town sits right along the wide Pamlico River in eastern North Carolina. With around 10,000 residents, it offers an easygoing coastal pace with a true neighborhood feel. Daily life centers on the waterfront, where you can stroll the harbor boardwalk, grab dinner at a locally owned dockside restaurant, or browse the shops in the historic downtown. Shaded streets branching off the river are filled with restored cottages and grand Victorian homes.

ATTRFredlyfish4 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Settled in the 1770s, Washington was the very first city named after George Washington, and that maritime heritage still shapes the community today. Boating, kayaking, and fishing are everyday pastimes, supported by public marinas and scenic boardwalks around the North Carolina Estuarium. While everyday life remains quiet and scenic, you are never far from larger conveniences, as Greenville's regional healthcare system, university, and shopping centers are only about a thirty-minute drive down the road.