Martin Marietta Park – Story Walk Trail

For one of the most charming and family-friendly trails in Craven County, the Story Walk Trail at Martin Marietta Park in New Bern, NC is a real delight. This engaging educational feature combines literacy with outdoor activity — creating one of the most genuinely creative trail experiences anywhere in eastern North Carolina. Stretching approximately half a mile and showcasing pages from a children’s book displayed along the path, the Story Walk lets families read a complete story together as they walk. Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for the trail before you go — or to relive the visit after.

An Educational Trail for Young Readers

The Story Walk Trail is one of the most distinctive features of Martin Marietta Park — and one of the most creative ways any park anywhere has found to encourage young readers to engage with literature. The trail features pages from a children’s book mounted at child-friendly heights along the path, allowing families to walk from page to page and read the full story together as they make their way around the half-mile loop. The book selection changes periodically, giving repeat visitors a fresh story with each new visit.

The setting itself is part of the magic. The park sits on a former quarry site along the Neuse River — a once-industrial landscape that has been transformed into one of the most peaceful, family-friendly destinations in the area. Walking the Story Walk is genuinely meaningful: it pairs reading with movement, fresh air, and the satisfying sense of finishing a story together as a family.

A Partnership with the Friends of the New Bern Public Library

The Story Walk Trail was developed in collaboration with the Friends of the New Bern Public Library — a community partnership that gives the trail a deeper meaning beyond the basic concept. The collaboration speaks to the kind of community spirit that has defined Martin Marietta Park since its opening, and it’s one of the most thoughtful examples of how a city park can serve as both a recreational and educational resource.

For local families and visitors alike, the Story Walk Trail is one of the most genuinely useful and joyful features of the park — a place where curiosity, literacy, and outdoor activity all meet in a single accessible loop.

Family-Friendly Setting with Pavilion and Playground

One of the most wonderful aspects of the Story Walk Trail is its physical setting. The trail wraps around a pavilion and playground, making the whole area a natural hub for family activities. Families can read the Story Walk together, take a break at the playground, settle in at a picnic table at the pavilion, and create a full afternoon’s outing in one easily accessible spot.

The trail is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, ensuring that the experience is welcoming for visitors of all ability levels — a thoughtful detail that makes the Story Walk one of the most inclusive trails anywhere in the park.

Connecting with the Park’s Wider Trail Network

For visitors looking to extend their outing, the Story Walk Trail connects with the Explorer Trail — combining the two creates an easy, family-friendly outing that pairs literacy with broader park exploration.

Good to Know

Length: Approximately half a mile
Difficulty: Easy, flat terrain
Concept: Pages from a children’s book mounted along the trail — read the full story as you walk
Featured book: Changes periodically, so each visit can be a new story
Partnership: Developed in collaboration with the Friends of the New Bern Public Library
Accessibility: Wheelchair- and stroller-friendly
Setting: Wraps around a pavilion and playground, making it a natural family hub
Best for: Families with young children, early readers, and visitors looking to combine literacy with outdoor time
Pair with: A connecting walk on the Explorer Trail for a longer outing. See our hiker’s guide to Martin Marietta Park for the full trail network
Located inside Martin Marietta Park in New Bern, NC

A Martin Marietta Park Highlight

The Story Walk Trail is the kind of feature that genuinely makes a park feel exceptional. The thoughtful pairing of literacy and the outdoors, the warm community partnership with the Friends of the New Bern Public Library, the family-friendly accessibility, and the natural connection to the rest of the park’s amenities all add up to something parents and grandparents will love bringing their kids back to again and again. Whether you’re reading the latest featured book with little ones, settling in at the adjacent playground, or stringing the Story Walk together with the Explorer Trail for a longer family outing, this is one of the most meaningful trails you can walk in Martin Marietta Park.