The Farmhouse at Mill Creek sits about 25 minutes from the Cherry Point flight line, which makes it one of the more practical and peaceful lodging options for air show weekend in the area. If you are planning a trip around the show, here is what you need to know.

About the MCAS Cherry Point Air Show

The Cherry Point Air Show is a biennial event hosted by MCAS Cherry Point and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing as a community appreciation event for Eastern NC. It runs across a full weekend in May and features a mix of military and civilian aviation performances, static aircraft displays, and food vendors along the flight line.

General admission and parking are free, though a free base pass is required for entry and must be obtained in advance through the official air show website. Premium seating options, including reserved grandstand seats, box seats, and exclusive chalets, are available for purchase.

The 2026 show runs May 9 and 10 and features the U.S. Navy Blue Angels as the headliner, alongside the F-35B Lightning II, F-16 Viper Demo Team, and a full lineup of civilian aerobatic performers. It is also a special year, timed to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary.

Practical Tips for Attending

Get your base pass early. They are free but required for vehicle entry. The show website opens pass registration well ahead of the event and they go fast as the weekend approaches.

Arrive early. The flight line at Cherry Point is large and the crowds spread out well, but the roads leading onto base get congested as the morning progresses. Give yourself extra time on both days.

Plan for full sun. The flight line has limited shade. Hats, sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle are essentials. Clear, empty water bottles are permitted and free refill stations are available on the grounds.

Food is handled by vendors on site. Outside food is not permitted, so plan accordingly or bring snacks for the littlest ones.

Note that weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited on base, as is any food brought from outside the event. Review the full rules on the official show website before you go.

Why Hotels Fill Up Fast Around Air Show Weekend

Havelock is home to MCAS Cherry Point and sits right at the center of the action. It is a small town, and the hotels there fill up months in advance for air show weekend. New Bern, about 15 minutes north of Havelock, has more options but follows the same pattern. If you wait until a few weeks out, you are usually looking at a long drive from wherever you could find a room.

That is part of why staying at the Farmhouse at Mill Creek makes sense for air show weekend. Pollocksville is about 25 minutes from Cherry Point, far enough to be clear of the traffic and noise, close enough to make the drive easy both mornings. And when you come back in the evening after a long day on the flight line, a quiet farm porch is a very welcome thing.

Make It a Full Eastern NC Weekend

Air show weekend is a good reason to explore more of what this part of North Carolina has to offer. New Bern is 15 minutes from the Farmhouse and worth a morning or evening of wandering. Tryon Palace, the downtown waterfront, Mitchell’s Hardware, and a strong lineup of local restaurants make it an easy half day.

If the show runs Saturday and Sunday, consider arriving Friday evening and staying through Monday morning. That gives you the air show, a New Bern evening, and a slow farm morning to decompress before heading home. It is one of those trips that ends up being more than you planned for, in the best way.

Book the Farmhouse at Mill Creek for Air Show Weekend

The Farmhouse sleeps up to six guests across three bedrooms and has a full kitchen, two porches, and the kind of quiet that makes a loud, full day at the flight line feel well earned. We are about 25 minutes from MCAS Cherry Point and available year-round.

The show is biennial, next up in 2028, so if you are reading this after the 2026 show, now is a good time to start thinking ahead. Availability fills up faster than most people expect.

Check availability and book the Farmhouse at Mill Creek on Airbnb

For official air show information, base passes, and premium seating, visit cherrypointairshow.com.

Hope to see you out this way.

Mary Ann

The post MCAS Cherry Point Air Show: What to Know and Where to Stay appeared first on Farm House at Mill Creek | Quiet Farm Lodging.

The Crystal Coast of North Carolina does not get the same attention as the Outer Banks, and that is exactly why it is worth the drive. Less crowded. More local. The kind of beach town that still feels like a beach town.

Here is how to do it right over two days.

Day One: Emerald Isle and the Beach

Head out from the Farmhouse mid-morning and take Highway 17 south toward Morehead City. The drive itself is worth a slow look. You will pass through marshland and pine forest, cross the bridge at the White Oak River, and start to feel that shift in the air that tells you the ocean is close.

Emerald Isle sits on Bogue Banks, a barrier island that stretches about 12 miles along the Crystal Coast. The beach is wide and clean with relatively gentle surf, which makes it a favorite for families. Find a public access point, spread out, and stay as long as you want. There is no agenda today.

When hunger hits, head to the Bogue Inlet Pier area. The pier itself is a good walk whether or not you fish. For ice cream and a well-earned break, Ben and Jerry’s on Emerald Drive has been a Crystal Coast tradition worth stopping for.

If you want to stretch the day, Swansboro is just a short drive west and sits right on the White Oak River. It is one of those small waterfront towns that charms people every time. Walk the historic downtown, browse the shops, and eat at Boro’s Restaurant if you can get a table. The seafood there is the real thing.

Head back to the Farmhouse in the evening and let the porch do its work. There is something about coming back to a quiet farm after a day at the beach that feels exactly right.

Day Two: Beaufort, Morehead City, and the Waterfront

Save the second day for the towns. Morehead City and Beaufort sit just across the sound from Bogue Banks, and between the two of them you have a full day without rushing.

Start in Morehead City. Ruddy Duck’s Tavern on Arendell Street is a local favorite for good reason. If you enjoy fresh seafood in a no-fuss setting, this is your place. Walk the waterfront after and watch the shrimp boats come and go. Morehead City is still very much a working port town, and that is part of its appeal.

Then cross over to Beaufort. If Morehead City is the working waterfront, Beaufort is the storybook version. The historic district along Front Street is one of the prettiest in North Carolina. The old burying ground on Ann Street dates to 1731 and is genuinely worth a slow walk through. Beaufort Grocery on Queen Street is a local institution for lunch or an early dinner.

If you time it right, you might spot the wild horses on Carrot Island just across Taylor’s Creek from the Beaufort waterfront. They are a small herd of feral horses that have lived on the island for generations. Seeing them in the wild, from the dock or from a kayak, is one of those things people remember for a long time.

Make your way back to the Farmhouse before the sun gets low if you can. The east and south porches at dusk are something you do not want to miss twice.

Why the Farmhouse at Mill Creek Makes the Perfect Base

Beach rentals on Bogue Banks fill up fast in summer, and when they are available they tend to cost significantly more than a night at the Farmhouse. Staying inland means more space, more quiet, a full working kitchen, and a farm experience you simply cannot get on the barrier island.

The drive to Emerald Isle is easy and scenic. You get the best of both worlds: a peaceful farm to come home to at night, and the Crystal Coast waiting for you every morning.

The Farmhouse sleeps up to six guests, requires a minimum of three nights, and books through Airbnb.

Check availability and book your stay at Farmhouse at Mill Creek

We will leave the porch light on.

Mary Ann

The post What to Do Near Emerald Isle: A Two-Day Itinerary from Pollocksville appeared first on Farm House at Mill Creek | Quiet Farm Lodging.