20 North Carolina spots from Nicholas Sparks books & movies
Nicholas Sparks has sprinkled North Carolina’s magic in nearly everything he’s ever written, and you can experience it firsthand by visiting these famous spots.
Nicholas Sparks and North Carolina are practically synonymous at this point, and the beloved author never shies away from his adoration for the state. The Nebraska native began calling North Carolina home in 1992, and he’s lived there since. To say his literary inspiration since the move has been inspired by the state would be an understatement. His 1996 bestseller “The Notebook” is set in the same city he still lives in today—New Bern—and the rest of the books in his bibliography take place in various locales throughout The Tar Heel State.
“Practically every city has its own identity, idiosyncrasies and charms, but the beauty of the state as a whole is unparalleled,” Sparks wrote for the Los Angeles Times in 2016. He went on to add that setting and community are integral in his writing, which shows in spades thanks to his familiarity with the state he’s written so extensively about.
This isn’t to say that the author is closed off from loving other cities—he gushed to Garden & Gun in 2022 that he loves Florida’s St. Pete Beach, which is why one of his novels picks up there—but at the end of the day, it’s safe to say that he’s never felt more at home than he does in North Carolina. And if you want to feel the same way, you’ll want to take a road trip to these now-famous spots from Sparks’ various novels and film adaptations.
1. Union Point Park (New Bern)
Union Point Park is New Bern’s premier gathering place and boasts six acres of space for all manners of fun, including fishing, walking, grilling, and more. There’s also a stunning gazebo on-site that’s the perfect backdrop for any day under the beautiful North Carolina sun. It’s probably not surprising, then, that Union Point Park appears in Nicholas Sparks’ 2001 novel “A Bend in the Road,” which is fully set in New Bern just like “The Notebook.”
Like the characters in the novel, you can take a quaint walk through the downtown area before spending some time relaxing in all of the park’s green glory.
2. DoubleTree by Hilton (New Bern)
Address: 100 Middle St, New Bern, NC 28560
DoubleTree might normally be known for its mouthwatering chocolate chip cookies, but New Bern’s location is known for being referenced in “A Bend in the Road.” Well, the hotel referenced in the book is actually one that once stood where DoubleTree now does. It was named the Sheraton, but you’ll be able to see the exact spot from the book nonetheless.
Even more excitingly, the docks behind the hotel, which are also mentioned in the book, are the same, so this is really a twofer. Just follow the scent of freshly baked cookies, and you’ll sniff your way to the next stop on your Nicholas Sparks tour!
3. Pollock Street Deli (New Bern)
Address: 208 Pollock St, New Bern, NC 28560
Pollock Street Deli is sadly no longer open, but the building still stands—and it’s the same sunny shade of yellow that it always was despite a new restaurant having moved in. Now Michael’s Pub & Patio, the building was once believed to have “the best sandwiches in town,” according to one of the characters in “A Bend in the Road.”
4. Wachovia Bank (New Bern)
Address: 401 S Front St, New Bern, NC 28560
Similarly to Pollock Street Deli, Wachovia Bank is referenced by name in “A Bend in the Road” but has since been shuttered. However, a Wells Fargo building now stands in its place, so you can still see the location where Missy began her loan officer job in the classic novel. (Note that the Wells Fargo has also seemingly closed for business, but the building remains.)
5. Alfred Cunningham Bridge (New Bern)
The Alfred Cunningham Bridge is one of North Carolina’s only 11 drawbridges left operating, and it’s immortalized in Nicholas Sparks’ eternal hit “The Notebook,” which, as we know, is set in New Bern. Several passages from the novel mention the town’s drawbridge, including how it, at least in the novel’s context, could easily back up traffic. This isn’t too surprising, considering that the bridge is half of a mile long—not too shabby!
Just note that the bridge you see won’t be the exact one that Sparks was likely envisioning when writing “The Notebook,” as the bridge was replaced with a newly constructed one in the late 2000s. Safety first!
6. Cedar Grove Cemetery (New Bern)
Address: 808 George St, New Bern, NC 28560
If you thought we’d leave out our spooky readers, you’d be wrong. New Bern’s Cedar Grove Cemetery is mentioned by name in “A Bend in the Road” following a funeral, and you can visit it even if you don’t have family or friends resting there. The grounds appear to be well-kept, and though it’s enclosed by a stunning wall, it has an entrance marked by an equally breathtaking arch to welcome you. The cemetery has been in use since the early 1800s, making it one of the older cemeteries in the state—and perfect to wander through the next time you’re in New Bern.
7. Chowan River (Edenton)
Nicholas Sparks’ 2000 novel “The Rescue” is set in Edenton, one of the oldest cities in the state of North Carolina and one that’s beautifully sculpted by water. The book mentions that one of the protagonist’s family-owned property on the Chowan River, which runs just north of Edenton and must be crossed in order to enter the city. Thus, anyone coming into the city can immediately check this landmark off of their Nicholas Sparks to-see list, as you’re exposed to its brilliant water the second you reach your destination.
Then, the fun really gets started once you’re in town.
8. Edenton Fire Department (Edenton)
Address: 704 N Broad St, Edenton, NC 27932
The Edenton Fire Department might not sound exhilarating on paper—after all, every city has a plethora of fire departments—but this one is quite interesting and important, as some of the novel’s characters are volunteer firefighters. This tracks with the city’s real-life fire department, too, with its website stating it’s run by “both paid and volunteer firefighters.”
So, if you come to Edenton, don’t miss your chance to walk or drive by the fire station that kept the book moving. Just maybe don’t block the firetrucks’ path or linger too long.
9. Historic District (Swansboro)
Swansboro’s Historic District might be small, but it’s mighty, as seen in “The Guardian,” Nicholas Sparks’ 2003 romantic thriller. The entire book is set in this small town, and its energy can be felt in the way Sparks describes it. Swansboro is lax—it’s inviting, but it understands and sticks to the way life has always been lived within its borders. The same goes for the main character, Julie Barenson, who must get back to her life following the sudden loss of her husband.
If you want to witness the charm of this town, head to its Historic District and see not only memorable spots from the book but also real-world history, including tracing the steps of real-life pirates.
10. Fishy Fishy Cafe (Southport)
Address: 106 Yacht Basin Dr, Southport, NC 28461
If you’re a fan of the 2013 film “Safe Haven,” a close adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ 2010 novel of the same name, then you’re very familiar with Southport. The book is set in this small town, and the movie was partially filmed there, too.
If you’re a fan of the movie, you’ll also know that Julianne Hough’s Katie Feldman spends a lot of time in Southport’s General Store, but did you know that this building is a real business by the name of Fishy Fishy Cafe outside of the film? As its name suggests, this establishment is a time-tested seafood restaurant, but eagle-eyed fans of the movie will still be able to tell that it’s their favorite General Store when they see it in person.
11. American Fish Company (Southport)
Address: 150 Yacht Basin Dr, Southport, NC 28461
Another building we see a lot of in the “Safe Haven” film is Ivan’s Fish Shack. After arriving in town and needing to make money while starting a new life, Katie Feldman takes up waitressing, and the good news is that you can eat in the same restaurant Julianne Hough worked at—except in real life, it’s called American Fish Company.
This is much less of a difference than Fishy Fishy Cafe being changed from a seafood restaurant to a store, but it’s a very exciting place to see with your own two eyes.
12. Wilmington Convention Center (Wilmington)
Address: 10 Convention Center Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401
In addition to being filmed in Southport, “Safe Haven” was partially captured in Wilmington, a larger city to the north. Anyone who’s been to the Wilmington Convention Center likely recognized the bus station that Julianne Hough’s Katie Feldman visited at the top of the movie, as the convention center was temporarily decked out in bus station decor to bring that scene to life.
It’s a short scene, but it kicks off the movie and sets the film’s central mystery into motion, so no true tour of “Safe Haven” filming locations would be complete without seeing it.
13. Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry (Southport)
Address: 1301 Ferry Rd SE, Southport, NC 28461
Katie Feldman shares a special moment with love interest Alex Wheatley at the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry in “Safe Haven,” and you can see the docks and ferries up close when you visit this sweet coastal city. The area should become immediately recognizable when you arrive, immersing you in the small-town charm of the movie. And, really, who doesn’t love a gentle, breezy ferry ride?
14. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area (Kure Beach)
Address: 1000 Loggerhead Rd, Kure Beach, NC 28449
Rounding out the “Safe Haven” selections is Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, which hosted a beautiful kiss scene between Julianne Hough’s Katie Feldman and Josh Duhamel’s Alex Wheatley. We recommend either starting or stopping here when touring the “Safe Haven” filming locations, seeing as it’s a bit separate from everything else.
You could start here and catch a ferry to the other locations in Southport, or start in Southport and take a ferry here. Either way, die-hard “Safe Haven” fans will undoubtedly want to see this spot in person.
15. Caswell Beach
This one is less of a specific building and more of a specific vibe. In the 2015 film “The Longest Ride,” Ruth’s family spends some time on vacation at Caswell Beach (the Outer Banks in the film). Moreover, the car scenes with Oona Chaplin’s Ruth and Jack Houston’s Ira were filmed here, too. Caswell Beach is one of the most charming seaside towns in North Carolina, so vacationing here is worth it, even if you aren’t visiting with specific hopes of touring Nicholas Sparks’ greatest hits.
16. Rankin-Walker House (Wilmington)
Part of Wilmington’s Historic District, the Rankin-Walker House was built in the late nineteenth century and is still standing strong today. In fact, it’s so sound that it was used as the couple’s home in “The Longest Ride.”
While Wilmington has a few recognizable spots from the acclaimed movie, this house is one of the most important to see, considering several important and memorable scenes take place in it. But you won’t be getting any spoilers out of us!
17. Cape Fear Community College
Address: 411 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401
When disaster strikes, the hospital calls, and if you’re in “The Longest Ride,” that means heading to one that’s actually a community college in a well-designed disguise. We first see the hospital fairly early in the movie when Sophia Danko (Britt Robertson) checks on an elderly man named Ira Levinson (Alan Alda) following a car accident he was involved in.
Both the inside and outside of the hospital in the movie are the Cape Fear Community College, giving all the Sea Devils in the area a little something extra to feel proud about when they head to class.
18. Graystone Inn (Wilmington)
Address: 100 S 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401
We’ll get the bad news out of the way first: The Graystone Inn appears to be temporarily closed, according to Google, so you unfortunately can’t stay there if you visit it as part of your Nicholas Sparks tour in Wilmington. However, you may still want to go see the outside, as the inn was where the flashback party in “The Longest Ride” was filmed.
You may not get the full experience, but you can envision Ira and Ruth having a grand time inside.
19. Orton Plantation (Winnabow)
Address: 9149 Orton Rd SE, Winnabow, North Carolina
Many TV series and movies have been shot at Orton Plantation because of its scene-stealing gardens and greenery, including the 2002 film “A Walk to Remember.” This location appears throughout the movie, acting as a backdrop for much of the action and even providing key environmental storytelling. Jamie Sullivan lives in a house on the property, and the school play scene was shot here, too. In general, there’s plenty to look at when traipsing through the gardens, but if you’ve seen “A Walk to Remember,” you might simply find your time here a tad more sentimental.
20. Rodanthe
Some might call this cheating, but we had to conclude our list with the entire seaside town of Rodanthe, the namesake city in the 2002 novel and 2008 film “Nights in Rodanthe.” The book and movie are essentially a love letter to this small town, and they capture all of its bright, briney magic with ease.
Of course, the main place you need to see is The Inn at Rodanthe, the main setting of the movie (aka the place where the soon-to-be lovebirds meet). However, if you want to see it, keep in mind that it’s been moved since “Nights in Rodanthe” used it for filming. This happened because the ocean had risen so much that it was no longer safe to stay where it was built in the 1980s. You also shouldn’t look for the movie version of the inn’s signature blue shutters, as they were exclusive to the movie and are no longer on the building. And if you want to stay there, you’re in luck—rather than being a traditional inn, and despite its name, the building has become a vacation home that’s rented out.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
