New Bern, North Carolina is a wonderful place to Ramble. There are a lot of things to do and places to see. The most magnificent of them is the Tryon Palace, . Just what the Tryon Palace is, its history and what you can expect out of your own visit is the focus of this week’s episode of Rocky’s Ramblings.  I hope my interview with three of the directors who run the site will encourage you to ramble on over to New Bern, North Carolina to see The Tryon Palace for yourself. Below the video, as always I have put links, directions and other information that will assist you in planning your own rambling expedition.

First, here is  the Tryon Palace Website, where you can begin learning about the palace and what there is for you to see there.

And, of course, here is a Map of the Tryon Palace to allow you to get directions from wherever you are.

Next, let’s look at aspects of the Tryon Palace that we were not able to fit into the show. As I remind you all the time, we can’t fit everything into a half-hour episode, and there is so much more than we can show on a 2-dimensional screen. So, you will simply have to ramble on over to New Bern, North Carolina and explore this site for yourself – you will not be disappointed.

You can scroll through the special events at their Special Events at the Tryon Palace page. Here are some we discussed – off-camera – that would be well worth your rambling time. There are more, so check out the webpage.

Tryon Palace Multicultural Fair

This event is coming up quickly, July 22, 2017 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and explores the cultural diversity of eastern North Carolina.

Behind the Scenes: Costume Shop

This is fascinating! While I was going about filming the grounds for the show, my wife headed over to see the costume workshop, where Leslie Lambrecht, whom we interviewed on the show, oversees the building of all the costumes for the site. This special opportunity is offered from time to time, so check out the special events calendar to see when the next one will be.

Tryon Palace Gardens Lecture Series

All you gardeners out there will want to put September 16 (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.) on your calendar to hear Craven County Master Gardner, Jennifer Knight discuss the incredible gardens on the Tryon Palace grounds.

Behind the Scenes: Gardens

This is a special tour of the gardens on the Tryon Palace grounds, and as with the Costume Shop tour, is offered on an irregular schedule, so you’ll want to check the calendar.

African American Heritage Tour

This is a tour of the larger city of New Bern to explore the history of African Americans at the palace.

Candlelight Christmas Celebration 

If you have never been to one of the historical sites at Christmas time, you have no idea what you’re missing. Holiday tours at the Tryon Palace begin at the end of November and run through December, with the Saturday evening Candlelight Christmas Celebration Saturday evenings. Check the calendar for details and ramble on over to see this historical look at Christmas.

We discussed the private and special use opportunities at the Tryon Palace in the video. From Group Tours to Renting the Palace (or parts thereof), you’ll want to Contact the Staff to work out the details.

All-in-all, the Tryon Palace is a special place for your next ramble! I encourage you to do so. I also encourage you to make sure you are driving a safe, well-maintained vehicle to assure that you get there and back safely.

Defensive Driving Tip for the Week

Make sure your brakes are in good shape. Your brakes should stop you firmly, quietly, evenly and straight. If your braking experience is anything other than this, or if you brake pedal seems to be spongy, take you vehicle in to a qualified brake mechanic. Your life depends on it.

Until my next posting, here’ wishing you…Safe Rambling!