Established in 1787 and located on the Roanoke River, Plymouth is known for its adventure-based attractions and an extreme love for bears. This town proudly calls itself the black bear capital of the world, and for good reason. Plymouth has one of the largest populations of black bears, which thrive thanks to access to plenty of food, mild winters, and great habitat. To celebrate them, the town puts on the Black Bear Festival each June on the banks of the river.

Besides honoring Plymouth’s abundant bear population, this festival also has a mission of teaching the public about them in entertaining and engaging ways. Activities are both river and black bear related. They include Wild Bear Tours, pontoon boat rides, Black Bear Theater, Lazy River Tubing, a children’s Bear Train Ride, Paddlewheel Cruises, a “Can You Outrun a Black Bear?” foot race, Hysu Cat boat rides, Black Bear Biologist presentations, the Reflections on the Roanoke Fireworks Show, and much more!

Outside of the festival, the love for black bears keeps growing. Downtown Plymouth has a museum about them, affectionately named Bear-Ology. Besides providing visitors with general information about these animals, this exhibit explains why North Carolina’s Coastal Plain hosts the world’s biggest black bears, and the reason behind such a dense population.

Besides potential black bear sightings, visitors to Plymouth can fish, hunt, kayak, and explore the area’s nature trails. There truly is something for every nature lover!