5 unique spots to stay in Elizabeth City

This article was written for our sponsor, Visit Elizabeth City.

Located just over two-and-a-half hours from the Triangle and an hour from the Outer Banks, Elizabeth City is home to scenic parks, ample outdoor recreation and five-star local dining.

Whether you need a change of scenery while working from home or want to stretch your legs and explore a new area, Elizabeth City has it all — and here are five unique spots to stay during your trip.

1. The Loft Gardens

A three-bedroom, three-bathroom loft in the heart of downtown Elizabeth City, the Loft Gardens is the lovingly curated creation of Doris Johnson.

"The Loft Gardens is my lemonade," said Johnson. "When we started, I wanted to have my business downstairs and live upstairs — so it was built with that in mind, putting in a chef's kitchen and other features I wanted in my own home. In the end, my own home didn't sell so I wasn't able to move in, but we finished the loft up over the years with the features I had planned."

The loft is in a historic building located just a block away from the waterfront and a few doors down from popular local businesses like Ghost Harbor Brewing and Hoppin' Johnz. The lower level of the building is often rented out for events and weddings, and the accompanying loft provides a convenient place for wedding parties and guests to stay.

Since the Loft Gardens offers three suites and a private elevator, it's ideal for offering privacy to parties both large and small and can house up to 16 people. A rooftop deck is also currently under construction. Other perks include free WiFi, streaming access and cable TV, new appliances, an in-unit washing machine and dryer, and 24/7 access to the gym across the street.

"We offer just about every amenity you could imagine. Since you have to be 21 or older to book the unit, we also offer our guests two complimentary bottles of wine, and they can choose between white or red," said Johnson. "It's a place where you can go in and have a peaceful stay or host your own event — it's whatever you want it to be. So many of our guests say that what they loved the most was the spaciousness and the tranquility that the apartment offers."

"While Elizabeth City is not a big metropolitan area, we're still a place where you can come and get all of the things you would find in a bigger city," she continued. "We have theater, we have concerts at the university, we have breweries and quaint restaurants — it's a great place to come and get everything that you would in a larger town without a lot of the downsides."

2. Historic bed and breakfasts

Founded in 1793, Elizabeth City is a haven for history buffs. In its heyday, the city was a hub for traffic thanks to its waterfront location, serving as a base for trade, shipping and industry. Today, Elizabeth City is dedicated to preserving and celebrating its storied past through restored historic buildings, museum exhibits and historic landmarks.

For guests who want to experience a slice of the town's past, there are a handful of historic bed and breakfasts to choose from.

• Blue Ruby at Grice-Fearing House Bed & Breakfast: The oldest house in the entire town, the Grice-Fearing house was built in 1798, but still has the hallmarks of modern comfort. Guests will find large bedrooms, jacuzzi tubs and charming traditional breakfasts that harken back to the town's past.
• Culpepper Inn: Built in the 1930s and recently restored, the Culpepper Inn offers eleven rooms, including a separate private suite above the Carriage House. Amenities include an inground saltwater pool, homemade breakfast, a social gathering space with board games, a gazebo, a fish pond and more.
• Foreman House Bed & Breakfast: Built at the end of the 19th century, the Foreman House maintains its historic charm thanks to the surrounding magnolias and dogwoods and scenic porch views.
• Philemon House Bed & Breakfast: An updated 1950s farmhouse-style bed and breakfast, the Philemon House is all about hospitality, offering guests a choice between a grab-and-go breakfast or a full-on, family-style feast.
• Pepperberry Inn: Also known as the John A. Kramer 1902 Historic Home, the Pepperberry is an English-style bed and breakfast, complete with an old-fashioned porch and accompanying swing.
• The Pond House Inn: On the banks of the Pasquotank River, you'll find the Pond House Inn, a waterfront bed and breakfast with a private island and private dock.

3. Scattered Hotel

Similar to the Loft Gardens, Scattered Hotel is located in a rehabilitated building in downtown Elizabeth City. The hotel offers four units to choose from, each with its own unique theme.

Constructed between 1902 and 1904, the building that now houses the hotel was originally split into two separate buildings. Through the years, the buildings have seen colorful tenants, from a hardware store visited by the Wright brothers to a beloved sporting goods outlet.

While rehabbing the building, Dean Schann and his team took care to preserve as much of the original character as possible.

"Each room has its own unique style. One room we call the Space Room has some paintings on the walls of stars and planets, and we were able to keep that during the renovation. One story is that those were painted up there during Prohibition, and the building was actually an undercover speakeasy. That's the story we like to believe, but we've also heard it used to be an arcade, as well," said Schann. "Now, the unit has three large, eight-foot windows in the front that look down to Water Street, as well as kitchen and laundry facilities."

In addition to the Space Room, the Scattered Hotel also has three other units. By utilizing renovations made to the building back in the ‘60s, Schann and his team were able to turn the upstairs space into two additional, smaller rooms.

"We call one of them the Bicycle Room, and that's decorated with an old bicycle on the ceiling. They have the original exposed hardwood beams on the ceiling and hardwood floors, and we tried to keep as much of that up as possible," said Schann. "They're all beautiful spaces. They have new furnishings, so it's very modern but they still have that historic feel preserved from the original building. There are so many people that are so active in rehabbing and keeping the Elizabeth City downtown historic area vibrant, putting their time and effort into restoring these buildings."

For Schann, the passion from the local community has been key in supporting the growth of the Scattered Hotel. For guests coming to Elizabeth City, he encourages a stay in the heart of town, opening up a front-row view to the completed and in-progress renovations.

4. Airbnbs on the water

Airbnb hosts in the area have taken advantage of Elizabeth City's waterfront location by letting guests stay on the water — literally. For guests who want to upgrade their waterfront views, there are a handful of house boats available for rent, perched right on the Pasquotank River, including:

• Endless Summer: a 50-foot Gibson with two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms and wall-to-wall windows
• Island Time: a Catamaran Cruiser with two bedrooms and one bathroom just a stone's throw from the heart of downtown
• One Too Many: a one-bedroom, one-bath boat that offers an expansive bow for lounging and taking in the views
• Tiki Turtle: a one-bedroom, one-bath boathouse that's ideal for a cozy, two-person getaway

For those who want the waterfront views from land, Elizabeth City Airbnb hosts also offer downtown condos, apartments and private rooms, all adjacent to shopping, dining and parks.

"Downtown Elizabeth city is wonderful, and the historic downtown district has really stepped up. In the last few years they transformed an abandoned gas station into a veteran's park, then there are three other parks, right on the waterfront within walking distance including Mariners' Wharf Park and Waterfront Park," said Schann. "There's also a kayak access area that the city has provided. The waterfront area itself is great, not to mention everything else — like art, restaurants, theaters that you'll find downtown."

5. We Out Here

We Out Here provides guests with not only accommodations in a downtown apartment, but also pre-planned activities, transportation to and from each activity and the airport, and three meals a day from Black-owned restaurants.

The experience was created in response to COVID-19, offering people with the opportunity to recreate responsibly. The hosts are husband and wife duo Ron Griswell and Linea Johnson, who hoped to provide a mental-health break for guests through socially distanced activities and a safety bubble.

Griswell and Johnson follow all steps outlined by the CDC and WHO, including social distancing, masking up, and applying sanitizer when needed. Activities planned are all included in the low-risk categories outlined by health professionals, and a thermometer is provided for daily temperature checks.

This article was written for our sponsor, Visit Elizabeth City.