Eastern North Carolina is full of small towns with history, flavor, and personality, making it an ideal destination for a weekend in Lenoir County NC. From culinary gems to charming shops and historic streets, this region has plenty to explore. On my recent trip, I visited Lenoir County towns: Kinston, La Grange, Pink Hill, while venturing into neighboring county towns of Snow Hill, and Goldsboro—each offering its own unique experience. Keep scrolling for my weekend itinerary.
Photo via Lenoir County
A Weekend In and Around Lenoir County: Exploring Kinston, Goldsboro, Snow Hill & More
Friday Evening in Kinston
Kinston is the perfect starting point for a weekend in Lenoir County. Known for its evolving food scene, the city has become a must-visit for culinary enthusiasts. While there are delicious spots to choose from, such as The Counter at Chef & the Farmer, Jay’s 108 Kinston, and 222 Chophouse, my friend, Hannah, took me to Pizza Villa. This Kinston establishment has been around since 1973 and offers really fun, eclectic interiors, a great salad bar, pizza crackers (a must order), and I got a small pizza with pepperoni and jalapeños. If you are downtown, you may just catch live music or a local festival, adding an extra layer of charm.
Saturday Morning: Start in the Hills: Snow Hill and Pink Hill
We kicked off Saturday in Snow Hill with breakfast at Farmer and the Dail. Snow Hill in Greene County, just a short drive from La Grange, where I was staying with Hannah. Farmer and the Dail offers scratch-made, southern-inspired food in a welcoming, inclusive space. I ordered a bacon & cheese biscuit bomb with a side of hash browns and a coffee. I also brought home a few frozen dips for David and I to heat up on weekends when we are watching football. They also feature a great variety of desserts, specialty coffee drinks, and so much more. Be prepared to spend some time here browsing all of their options. During the week, they do serve dinners as well. Check their website for their weeknight dinner specials.
Next, we drove south to Pink Hill, a quieter town that offers quite the shopping for gifts, accessories, and women’s apparel. There is also a coffee shop if you need a little early afternoon-pick-me-up. We stopped in Wild Arrow Boutique, Southern Roots, and Vintage & Pearls to do a little browsing.
Saturday Afternoon: Antiquing & Ice Cream
From Pink Hill, we made our way into Kinston to do some antiquing at Copper Mill Mercantile and let me tell you, be prepared to spend some time here. It is a massive warehouse full of hidden treasures. Not only are there vintage items, there are some booths that feature boutique brands plus a snack bar.
From there, we drove into Goldsboro and did a little shopping at Vintage Collectibles, where I found a few pieces to finish decorating our mudroom from where we gave it a little face lift. This is another spot that you should be prepared to spend some time exploring because there are so many great items at even better prices.
Before heading back to Lenoir County, we stopped at Simply Natural Creamery in Ayden for a little pre-dinner treat. Their seasonal flavors are outstanding, though I opted for the peanut butter brownie and my goodness was it delicious! Be sure to make time to pet the calf as well.
Saturday Evening: Take Out!
Photo via TripAdvisor
Since we were running around for most of the day, we got takeout from Ken’s Grill and NC BBQ before they closed at 2:00 PM. I requested a return trip to eat at Ken’s in person, especially for one of those burgers they have pictured on their website.
Sunday Morning: Lunch in Kinston
Our final stop of the trip was to Jay’s 108 for a sushi lunch. Jay’s has quite a few restaurants around eastern North Carolina and this one is located in an alleyway with a cool atmosphere. I ordered the rainbow roll and one of the specialty rolls plus a side of their fries. Get there early on Sunday before it gets busy!
Final Thoughts
A Lenoir County NC weekend offers a mix of culinary adventures, small-town charm, and historic sights. From Kinston’s food scene to La Grange and Pink Hill’s boutique shopping, the rolling farmland and delicious bakery in Snow Hill, and Goldsboro’s antiquing scene, this region is an under-the-radar gem worth exploring. Whether you are coming from nearby cities or planning a longer Eastern North Carolina road trip, these towns make a memorable weekend getaway.
If you are looking for a place to spend the night while in town, be sure to check out The O’Neil in downtown Kinston for a unique experience. For more of my favorite places to stay across the state, check out this article.
Weekend Itinerary
Friday
Dinner at Pizza Villa, 1400 W Vernon Ave, Kinston
Saturday
Late Breakfast at Farmer and the Dail, 1329 US-258, Snow Hill
Shopping at
- Wild Arrow Boutique, 102 E Broadway St, Pink Hill
- Vintage & Pearls, 104 E Broadway St, Pink Hill
- Southern Roots, 101 W Broadway St, Pink Hill
- Copper Mill Mercantile, 1030 W New Bern Rd Suite G, Kinston
- Vintage Collectibles, 4750 US-70, Goldsboro
Ice Cream from Simply Natural Creamery, 1265 Carson Edwards Rd, Ayden
Dinner from Ken’s Grill (they close at 2:00), 7645 US-70, La Grange
Sunday
Lunch at Jay’s 108, 108-B West North St, Located behind the building/in the alley, Kinston
Use this interactive map to help plan your weekend getaway or use for a day trip.
Thank you to my friend, Hannah, and her parents, Mary Anne & Wiley, for hosting me for the weekend! Hannah planned this whole itinerary to show me around where her family is from and for me to get to experience some of her favorite places. As always, all opinions are my own.
