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Activity-Newcomer/Alumni

Activity Leader

Dick & Sharon Totino (Alumni)
Email: totinorj@gmail.com

The RV group was formed in late 2020.  The group shares information on all things RVing and Camping.  Group members do not have to have an RV.  We have social gatherings to talk all things RVing and share out RV adventures. We plan short trips to nearby points of interest in North Carolina and surrounding States.  Members of the group vary in RV experience.

To Attend:

Contact the group leader to be added to the RV group email.

rangerrobin40341@gmail.com


Seeking new activity leaders for  2024-2025

As Darrell and I have been doing this for 5 years it is our intention to step down as activity leader for the RV Group in the Fall of 2024.  At this time we have no one who has expressed interest in taking over the group.  Our membership is currently approx 25 couples/singles.  Will keep trying.  We had a successful social on Feb. 22nd at Blackbeards  - 20 people attended mostly new folks from Newcomers.  Raised our desire to pass on the responsibilities for this group this Fall, but did not get anyone interested in coordinating at this gathering.  Currently planning a July and a Nov 2024 trip - but these will be the last trips we plan..

Robin Melton--

 Robin and Darrell Melton           rangerrobin40341@gmail.com

RECENT ADVENTURES

December 2023

We had a blast in Charleston ( December 2023)
This was a jam packed trip!  The Mt. Pleasant/Charleston KOA could not have been more hospitable.  We used their Rec. Room twice during our stay free of charge.
Campground was nice and well maintained.  Our weather was cool and for the most part the weather stayed dry!  The Garneys, Loehrs, Meltons, and Mercurios attended this trip.
We enjoyed a Pot luck on our first night at the campground and took care of introductions etc.
Day 2  - Some of us shopped, some of us visited Boone Hall Plantation, but we all met up at Firefly Distillery for a tasting and cocktails.  Ending our night with a toasty campfire!
Day 3 - Some went shopping and some relaxed and some of us took a Cocktails walking tour and had a great dinner at 83 Queen.
Day 4 - Some of us were still shopping, and some of us visited the Charleston Tea Garden,  Deep Water Vineyard, the Angel Tree and the Angel Tree Restaurant,  and most of the group ended the day enjoying the drive thru holiday light show at James Island County Park.
Day 5 - Still shopping!  Group dinner at Pages Okra Grill in Mt. Pleasant and then the group reconvened at the campground Rec Hall for a night of crazy conversation and cocktails!

Kentucky Derby Trip

Date - May 3-11

The RV Group's May trip was to Louisville KY - we attended the Kentucky Derby.  Only two couples from the group did this trip.  We had a blast.  During the trip we attended both Oaks Day and Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, we visited the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, we did Bourbon tastings and Tours at Angels Envy, Makers Mark, and Evan Williams.  We did a Ghost Tour in Old Louisville, and we tried the famous Hot Brown Sandwich!


First Camping Trip of 2023

Date:  March 12-16

Location: Outer banks

Oregon Inlet Campground - Group members received an email with detailed information.


Social 

Date: January 25th, 4-6 PM

Location:  Freshwater Brewing Company

This was a gathering for folks to meet and to discuss upcoming trips.


RV Trip to the Biltmore in December

Date: December 4-8

Location:  Biltmore Estate

Hi all,

I would like to share some of the activities from our most recent trip to Christmas at the Biltmore in Ashville, NC.  The RV group members who attended, Elkins, Garneys, and the Meltons stayed at the KOA in East Ashville.  It was a rainy 4 days but jam packed with activity!

Some highlights:

  • Dinners out at Wicked Weed Brewing and Tupelo Honey
  • International Gingerbread Contest Winners review at the Omni Grove Inn - some amazing Gingerbread creations.  (The winner was from NC!)
  • Evening tour of the Biltmore all decked out for Christmas - stunning!
  • North Carolina Arboretum Winter Lights - beautiful!
  • Biltmore Gardens and Winery along with a little Christmas shopping in Biltmore Village.

It takes a village to plan these trips!  Cathy E. found the Gingerbread information and winter lights, Mary G. hosted our final evening cocktail and nibbles gathering.

Great campground, fun area, and wonderful travel companions!

Attached are some photos you might enjoy!

Robin and Darrell Melton

 


Local Camping opportunity - Goose Creek State Park (September 11-14, 2022)

Explored the Washington and Bath areas.


Chinese Lantern Festival - Cary, NC (January 5-6, 2022)

We traveled to Cary, NC at the beginning of the New Year to attend the Chinese Lantern Festival.  Our Campground for this trip was Jordan Lake Recreation Area (Crosswinds Campground.).  This is a huge State run recreation area, with 5 separate campgrounds, tons of outdoor opportunities, and in close proximity to the Raleigh area.  The Lantern festival is an annual event held in Cary usually from mid - November to the second weekend in January.  On this trip our campers enjoyed various activities on their own during the day.  Some went Eagle watching and Letterboxing and others slipped into a nearby Meadery for a tasting in Pittsboro.  In the evening we enjoyed a meet and greet and then attended the Lantern Festival.


Trip to Murrell's Inlet, SC and Night of a Thousand Candles (December 15-17)

Five RVers from our group attended this outing.  We enjoyed absolutely fabulous weather for December, beautiful and sunny and in the 70's. Joining this trip were the Melton, Elkin, Larcheveque, Krauss, and Greenspan families.
We stayed at Huntington Beach State Park.  Lovely park right on the Atlantic.
Some highlights from this trip - fabulous beach weather lead to morning and afternoon lounging on the beach. Dinner at Rustic Table in Pawleys Island, exploration of Atalaya , and of course Night of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens.
 

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Mt. Airy, NC - Boyhood home of Andy Griffith and inspirations for MayBerry!

This was a wonderful step back in time to an old TV show - the Andy Griffith Show!  Mt. Airy, NC is the inspiration for the town in the Andy Griffith Show!
We stayed at Mayberry Campground.  These folks could not have been better to work with when planning a group trip and they were just as welcoming when we got on site!
We enjoyed a fantastic Trolley Tour with Good Time Trolley  Werner went above and beyond, picking us up at the campground, sharing great stories, and even dropping us at our lunch locations of choice and picking us up after words!
The food on this adventure did not suck either!  Our first night was a tasty potluck and then we chose not to cook for the rest of our stay!  We enjoyed several great locations the Olympian Family Restaurant, 13 Bones, The loaded Goat, and Snappy Lunch!
Some adventures that everyone enjoyed - The Andy Griffith Museum, Downtown Mt. Airy, White Elephant Beer Company, Round Peak Vineyard, and Pilot Mountain State Park!
We sampled the local wine, the local brews, and tasted Moonshine pie and Moonshine Ice Cream!  We even sat at Andy's desk and posed for pictures in the jail cell so often enjoyed by Otis!
My Ah Ha moment for this trip - in the Andy Griffith show they often traveled to the big town of Mount Pilot - well that town is actually called Pilot Mountain and it is much smaller than Mt. Airy in reality!
Our special treat on this trip - Jon brought his banjo along hoping to jam at the White Elephant, but alas no one else came to play, so we had our own private musical offering!

 

 


Upcoming RV events 2024

Nothing currently scheduled.

The RV Group is for travel enthusiasts that enjoy traveling by recreational vehicle.  ( Although if you are a tent user and wish to join us you are most welcome.)  In the past years we did trips to Asheville, The Kentucky Derby, and had a trip planned to the Outer Banks that was cancelled due to weather conditions.   Not everyone goes on every trip - if a trip fits in your schedule you are welcome to sign-up for that trip.  Sign-up generally means making your camping reservation at the designated campground, and letting the group leader know you plan to attend the outing.  We usually plan one or two activities as a group at our destination and the rest of the time is yours to do as you like.   We also occasionally have local socials to discuss future trips and RVing relevant topics.

Welcome from the Newcomers Club of New Bern

The Newcomers Club of New Bern welcomes you to the great state of North Carolina and to the wonderful city of New Bern.

Connect with us

Home page photo credit - Rob Paine

Contact Info
Address

P.O. Box 14140
New Bern, NC 28562

Email

newcomerswebmasternb@gmail.com

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