Read More: 100+ Unique Things to Do in North Carolina. Its a setting rich with rocks and minerals, ideal for any geology buffs looking for a scenic retreat. The outskirts of Highlands are known for spectacular waterfalls, but the downtown of Highlands is equally beautiful! This gives the area a hip youthfulness that many find appealing. Blowing Rock, North Carolina is one of the best small North Carolina towns and located just 10 minutes from Boone, it has a small village vibe. Burnsville is one of the best North Carolina mountain towns for exploring the outdoors. 3 Brevard at No. Its a small town that harkens back to simpler times with vintage signs and brick buildings. We love the Carolinas and think they are one of the most special areas in the world. If youre looking to explore the many waterfalls near Brevard, we recommend starting with Looking Glass Falls. Maggie Valley is also a popular stop on motorcycle routes through the mountains, and the Wheels Through Time Museum is one of the town's biggest attractions. Properties are provided courtesy of Highlands-Cashiers Board of REALTORS. Youll find stunning waterfalls and spectacular North Carolina hikes all right outside your doorstep in this small mountain town. If youve heard the saying From Murphy to Manteo, then you might already know that the former is the western end of US-64 in North Carolina. Its also where you can see the spectacular Soco Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North Carolina. The mountains of North Carolina are dotted with quaint towns but it seems that Highlands gets much of the acclaim. Be sure to wander up and down Boone's restored downtown, where you'll find a good selection of dining and shopping options, including a Mast General Store with its eclectic selection of merchandise, souvenirs, and fun selection of candy. With only about 500 people living here, its main draw is the eponymous natural thermal mineral baths. padding-left: 10px !important; You'll also find a fine assortment of restaurants, many with outdoor patios. .inside-article{ A number of great restaurants and breweries (including Fonta Flora) are based here, too. Waynesville is the largest town in Haywood County, home to adorable shops, amazing restaurants, and surrounded by beautiful outdoor scenery. A handful of breweries and Burntshirt Vineyards (one of the states best wineries) is also here and waiting for you to stop by. .rll-youtube-player, [data-lazy-src]{display:none !important;}. It's an outstanding alternative for those . The water also calls anglers to cast their lines in a variety of streams great for fly fishing. Its a hotspot for entertainment, with music at the Folkmoot, the acclaimed HART Theater, and Mountain Street Dances every Friday night. On the edge of the town is Soco Falls. The Ramble Biltmore Forest, Asheville. the inspiration for Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show, is a time capsule of midcentury small-town America. ), Hendersonville NC Map of Attractions (+ 5 Surrounding Counties! 5. Thank you, Lori! "source": "woocommerce", Beyond the downtown, you will find lovely homes and streets with manicured yards and views in all directions. Mount Airy is a tiny town at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. "pluginVersion": "3.0.12" Highlands attracts those looking for a quaint atmosphere, in this hidden mountain gem. The tree-lined Main Street in the upscale downtown is filled with charming stores and tourist shops. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Bryson City. Read More: 20 Excellent Things to Do in Cherokee and the Qualla Boundary (and Nearby!). It includes some of the top wild places in western North Carolina, such as Catawba Falls, Andrews Geyser, and Point Lookout. North Carolina is bracing for severe weather headed our way. Between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, visitors will find charming downtowns with local shops and restaurants as well as cozy inns and cabins. Blowing Rock and Boone are often talked about together because they are so closebut so different! It's also the apple capital of North Carolina and one of the largest apple-producing counties in America. Lake Glenville has the distinction of being the lake with the highest elevation east of the Mississippi River. In Flat Rock, spend your days hiking the trails, saying hello to the many goats, and touring the house before heading downtown for some beers and barbecue from Hubba Hubba Smokehouse. Read More: The North Carolina Bucket List. /***Underline Links***/ We enjoyed renting a cabin house with our grandson & children, the young children walking in the New River & my husband & I kayking. Upon graduation, she met her partner, Cameron, and they traveled the world together crossing 85 countries and six continents. Festivals are a big deal in Highlands, especially those hosted in the fall which feature arts & crafts, the annual Halloween celebration, and the Culinary Weekend. Several Western NC towns made the list, including Fletcher (#3), Woodfin (#12), and Black Mountain (#20). Many small towns in North Carolina claim to be the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, but Bryson City has a serious argument. } .ai-viewport-0 { display: none !important;} Visit Tour Wheels Through Time for a unique display of classic cars and motorcycles. Each town has its own vibe and many unique outdoorsy things to do. Bryson City The gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryson city is one of the best NC mountain towns! Read More: The Best Black Mountains Hikes near Burnsville. text-decoration: none North Carolina is home to over 250 waterfalls with a number of them located in the Plateau region. In 2020, we decided to share more about our home in the Carolinas. Asheville lies at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, the highest portion of the Appalachian Range. For example, its right on the outskirts of Pisgah National Forest and very close to Mount Mitchell (the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi). A massive aquarium, a mountain coaster and. Enjoy Wake Forest's many restaurants, museums, galleries, concerts, and more. With a mere 5,000 residents, this community certainly fits the bill when discussing the places best suited to those seeking a small-town style of living. The 3,800-acre development has nearly half the land set aside in conservation areas including lakes, waterfalls, woodlands and hiking trails. Discover destinations, find outdoor adventures, follow the journeys of our travel writers around the world, and be inspired. Add to that a good selection of restaurants, many with outdoor patios in summer; hotels; and attractions; and it's not surprising you frequently hear people describing Hendersonville as the best small town in North Carolina. Cities across North Carolina round out the top 10, including several in the western part of the state: Hickory at No. The various festivals and several golf courses is what residents have come to love about Sapphire Valley along with the peaceful scenery that attracts many to the area. Its main attractions, including the darling historic downtown, the . For more ideas, see our list of the Top Attractions in North Carolina. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Blowing Rock. Imagine waking up each morning to stunning 360-degree mountain views, the rushing sound of nearby waterfalls and in close proximity to some of the nations top hiking trails, prize fly fishing and a list of other pursuits. Top 9 Mountain Towns to Live in Tennessee While Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis may grab all the attention, Tennessee has some incredible, more rustic places to live. Old Fort is another of our North Carolina small towns off I-40, best known for gold and Catawba Falls. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the doorstep of great hiking trails, scenic drives, and spectacular waterfalls, the location is hard to beat. Floating high at 3,700 feet is one of the best NC mountain towns Banner Elk. America's 50 Best Small Towns in the Mountains By Lissa Poirot, updated on December 13, 2022 Getty Images Small towns and wide-open landscapes are great places to be. Awesome to hear, Rebecca! n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; In fact, the town is home to the only fly fishing trail in the United States. This is also a popular area for trout fishing in North Carolina, particularly in the fall, with the Watauga River presenting a great opportunity for anglers. It is no secret that Boone is one of our favorite North Carolina mountain towns. While there's a bit of a dispute that we won't get into, Old Fort's Gold Festival typically kicks off each June. Named after blowing rock that is located 4000 feet above sea level the town has sweeping vistas, and is located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. One contributing factor to the overall safety of Western NC may be the small size of the towns and cities here. 13 Best Small Towns in Western North Carolina: Sometimes, smaller is better. } Mitchell. Right down the road from Maggie Valley is Lake Junaluska, a lovely community with a trail that takes you around its namesake lake. One of the big attractions, just outside of town, is Grandfather Mountain and its mile-high swing bridge, one of the top sites in North Carolina. Asheville, Greensboro and Charlotte are among the best places to live in North Carolina, a state experiencing continual economic growth. Of course, they can serve as the perfect base for some of the best hiking trails and the most beautiful waterfalls in North Carolina. ), 25+ Beautiful North Carolina Road Trips (Scenic Byways and Highways), Max Patch Trail (A Short Hike to Beautiful 360-Degree Views! My son moved to Asheville in 1991 so we moved up here in 2006 after Katrina in New Orleans. Home of the Davidson College Wildcats, Lake Norman, and great prices on real estate, the #3 best place to live in North Carolina, Davidson, is one of the Tar Heel State's best kept secrets. Beyond ski season, we love hanging out in this town. You can view Fontana Lake in Graham County, too, though another spot is near Bryson Citys Road to Nowhere. Its truly a unique experience. } For a mixture of small-town roots and modern comforts, Boone is a great balance of the two. Thanks for sharing your favorite with us, Jacquelyn! } ); 7. .archive .content-area a { As such, it offers an amazing assortment of natural feats to discover. There are several opportunities for guests to learn about the history and culture of the tribe. Davidson. @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 979px) { Boone Boone boasts a vibrant and active outdoor adventure scene. Mitchell Crafts Fair and the Burnsville Metric, a popular bike ride held in late April. The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum is a testament to this moniker, set in a 19th-century jailhouse. text-decoration: none padding-left: 10px; Home - North Carolina - NC Mountains - 32 BEST North Carolina Mountain Towns. This article may contain affiliate links. 15 Best Small Towns in North Carolina - Great Small Towns to Visit and Live In NC 1 Best Easy, Cheap Dinner Ideas for Your Family 2 42 Best Bedroom Paint Color Ideas for 2023 3 Early Spring Flowers Will Combat the Winter Blues 4 What Our Editors Bought and Loved in February 5 Dad Jokes To Keep the Whole Family Laughing But it's far from the only one. If you prefer to spend your day being pampered, there are some excellent spas in the area. According to Trico Long Distance Movers, the best place to live in the mountains in the United States is Telluride in Colorado. Just outside of Hendersonville is the North Carolina mountain town of Flat Rock. .search .content-area a { Overall SnackAbility. At an elevation of 4,118 feet, the temperatures, even in the peak of summer, rarely get above the high 70s. Many of the most popular public access points, including Valle Crucis Community Park and the Watauga Gorge Access Area, are a short drive from Banner Elk. This is an isolated outpost at a high elevation and a hidden gem of the high country. If you are looking for easy access to the Smoky Mountains, it doesn't . Set on a high plateau, some of its surrounding peaks boast breathtaking views. Nearby Sugar Mountain Ski Resort and Beech Mountain Ski Resort attract skiers from across the state and regions farther south, and many of them make their base Banner Elk. Taylor. Banner Elk, NC 28604, USA. There are three breweries making some of the finest mountain drafts around. Just outside the entrance to Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the small town of Cherokee, headquarters of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. Here are a few of them. You forgot to mention that it is home to Lees-McRae College! At 90-feet high, Pearsons Falls is an exciting natural attraction. Not to be outshone by the National Park, Bryson City manages to be an experience all its own! Read More: Chimney Rock State Park (How to Enjoy an NC Icon). Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. You'll find the Great Smoky Mountains on the Eastern side of Tennessee. Morganton is one of the easternmost North Carolina mountain towns well mention. See our article on the Best Ski Resorts in North Carolina for ideas to help plan your ski vacation. Nevertheless a gorgeous one and one of the most romantic places to travel in North Carolina. Asheville is a popular retirement spot, and over a quarter of the population is age 60 or older . The town is home to the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad, a popular sightseeing excursion that has several different routes, the most popular is the Nantahala Gorge return trip. Youll also encounter a thriving art community through the Toe River Arts and awesome barn quilt trails! The Tuckasegee River flows nearby and is regarded as a hot spot for trout and whitewater fish populations. Known as a culinary hot spot in the mountains of North Carolina, Banner Elk offers a charming place to simply relax, enjoy the scenery, and indulge in some fine dining. You can also walk to Blannahassett Island and fish or enjoy views of the French Broad River. For local beer and live music, hit Nantahala Brewing, one of the best breweries in North Carolina, before enjoying some amazing Bryson City restaurants. text-decoration: underline Art festivals are held here year-round and an impressive array of galleries and funky shops to browse.