A few weeks ago, my friend, Melissa Vera, invited me up to her neck of the woods to explore Goldsboro. I’d never spent any time in Wayne County before, so, of course, I said yes!

I don’t know if y’all remember, but I’ve written about Melissa before. She is the blogger behind Adventures of Frugal Mom, the host of Chats from the Blog Cabin, and a fabulous tour guide!

Melissa took me all over town. We had lunch, went hiking, saw historic sites, and popped into a few shops. I learned a lot about Goldsboro while we zipped around the city.

Goldsboro was founded in 1847 and beat out the floundering village of Waynesborough for the county seat. Today, it boasts 33,000 residents and is home to the Seymour Johnson Airforce Base.

The city has been working on various revitalization projects over the last few years, and it shows. As Melissa showed me around, I noted 5 reasons to visit Goldsboro. I’ve dropped them down below for y’all. Enjoy!

5 Reasons to Visit Goldsboro

Wayne County Museum

Want to learn more about Wayne County’s history? Check out the Wayne County Museum. It covers more than 200 years of local history. Currently, the upstairs is set up like a World War II-era USO. I could’ve spent all day up there listening to 1940s hits.

Barbecue

Goldsboro is famous for their barbecue restaurants! If you’re like me and love some good barbecue, you’ve got to stop and get yourself a plate. McCall’s, Wilber’s, and Grady’s are all highly recommended. I ate at McCall’s, and it did not disappoint.

Old Waynesborough Park

Old Waynesborough Park sits on the location of the defunct town of Waynesborough. The site features several historic buildings, hiking trails, and an old family cemetery.

Downtown Goldsboro

Downtown Goldsboro is precious, y’all! We spent hours roaming around and never ran out of things to do. The area has art installations, murals, cute shops, restaurants, and breweries. You’ll definitely want to check it out on your next trip.

The Battle of Goldsboro Bridge

Take a self-guided tour of the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield, where 15,000 soldiers converged on Goldsboro during the Civil War in 1862. The site includes trails that lead down to the Neuse, earthworks, and the open battlefield.

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I’m so glad I decided to take Melissa up on her offer. Goldsboro is such a sweet little city! Have you ever been before? What do you like to do when you’re in town?