} This family-friendly gated community in South Asheville is situated among 1000 acres of preserved forest and bordered by the Blue Ridge Parkway. Dont forget to visit our favorite waterfalls in Cherokee: Mingo Falls and nearby Soco Falls. jQuery && jQuery( function( $ ) { Bryson City is a great gateway if youre looking to explore the expansive Great Smoky Mountains. Mitchell Craft Fair, adding to their creative haven atmosphere. Mount Airy, a.k.a. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; About Catawba Falls, we think youll love the 2.3-mile hike that leads to the 100-ft tall waterfall with beautiful cascades. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops. .ai-viewport-1 { display: none !important;} In summer, you might want to head to the coast to experience the best beaches in North Carolina or have some fun in the Outer Banks. Read More: The Best NC Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes. The compact downtown is replete with restored old brick buildings housing interesting restaurants, art shops, and stores. Below are the best North Carolina mountain towns for your next gorgeous getaway. This famous performance, running each summer since 1952, tells the story of Daniel Boone's adventures in the local area. Is there anything more magical than a lakeside mountain town in NC?! One contributing factor to the overall safety of Western NC may be the small size of the towns and cities here. .wp-block-button a { } Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, you'll find main streets lined with historic buildings, restaurants, family-owned stores and trendy shops. Cashiers is the gateway to one of our favorite NC mountain escapes, Bear Lake Reserve. @media (max-width: 767px) { Lake Glenville has the distinction of being the lake with the highest elevation east of the Mississippi River. .generate-back-to-top:visited { shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson best places to live in south carolina mountains 25 Feb/23 (No Ratings Yet) If youre a literary lover, Sylva is a great getaway. .ai-viewport-3 { display: none !important;} Just outside of Hendersonville is the North Carolina mountain town of Flat Rock. Its easy to relocate to North Carolina and youll be convinced of that after talking to our Relocation Director, Karen Danner, who can assist you with every detail of your move to North Carolina. Tourists travel from all over to soak in the waters. One of our absolute favorite North Carolina mountain towns is Maggie Valley, a consistent family vacation spot. Black Mountain has a little bit of something for everyone. Banner Elk, NC 28604, USA. Cashiers is the gateway to Bear Lake Reserve. One of the top summer attractions for families is Santa's Land Fun Park & Zoo, a large amusement park with rides and animals. In the fall, U-pick farms like Grandad's Apples N' Such open up and make a fun stop for families. .ai-viewport-2 { display: none !important;} Its not so much a town, and is definitely a city in North Carolina. "pluginVersion": "3.0.12" max-width: calc(100% - 320px); If you are looking for something a bit bigger in a small-town getaway, Boone is a lively university town with a little less than 20,000 people. The Museum of NC Handicrafts offers distinctive displays of work by a range of North Carolina artists. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Maggie Valley. It's famous for its' "all American" Main Street, but it offers so much more. 7. @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 979px) { ), How to See Elk River Falls (Trail and Safety Tips), 100+ Unique Things to Do in North Carolina, The Asheville Art Museum (How to Visit + 7 Great Things to Do), Winter in Boone (20 Great Activities, Snow Tubing, and More! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Welcome to the Carolinas, as seen through the eyes of Cameron Seagle and Natasha Alden. Use it as a base for nearby hikes and waterfalls, rides on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, or just relax in luxury at Biltmore Estate or The Omni Grove Park Inn. 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. Market Square, is a popular tourist stop that is impossible to miss as you drive through town. All this wonderful scenery might be a reason why many movies, including The Fugitive and Nell, were filmed in the area. Park the car and wander through small shops, discover local cuisine, and enjoy the fresh mountain air, or take a drive through the spectacular scenery to find waterfalls, lookouts, and hiking trails. It is no secret that Boone is one of our favorite North Carolina mountain towns. .site-header .header-image { Include stops in Valdese (more on it later), Connelly Springs, and other great smaller towns. Charlotte is one of the best places to live in North Carolina for a few reasons. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Hendersonville. Beautiful scenery, friendly people, and a great vibe. One of the town's major annual events is the Folkmoot International Dance & Music Festival, held over a 10-day stretch in July. Blowing Rock and Boone are often talked about together because they are so closebut so different! Read More: Winter in Boone (20 Great Activities, Snow Tubing, and More!). - 5/13/2022 I lived in Black Mountain for about ten years and loved it! Experience a mountain resort atmosphere in Sapphire Valley. Retail shops and restaurants can be found on Sylva's Main Street. /***Underline Links***/ It has just enough diversity within its quaint downtown to attract plenty of visitors, from eclectic eateries to art studios to specialty shops. The town of Cashiers is centrally located in the Plateau region and attracts thousands of visitors between May to October each year. Its charming downtown is composed of just a general store, bookstore, and restaurant. Here are a few of them. Stacker used 2020 data from WalletHub to determine the 46 best U.S. lake towns to live in, evaluating each on six factors: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of . Were ending this list of beautiful mountains towns in NC with perhaps the most well known Asheville. Home to the Woolly Worm Festival in October, we cant get enough of this town, the amazing restaurants and shops here, and its gorgeous surroundings. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, Bryson City is well-known for hiking and river recreation. Whether drawn to the fresh mountain air, top dining, award-winning art galleries and unique shopping boutiques all and more can be found in the mountains of North Carolina. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Make sure to get a taste of Hollywood at the Henry River Mill Village in Hildebran. With a population of just over 1,000 people, the village atmosphere of Banner Elk makes it an appealing attraction. Dry Falls along Highway 64 where visitors can walk behind a beautiful 75-foot waterfall. One of the top 10 arts communities . ), Maggie Valley draws tons of tourists each year. People visiting the quaint town of Sylva are advised to walk up the 107 stairs to the Jackson County Courthouse, where they will witness the panoramic views over the countryside, downtown, and the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. } At an elevation of 4,118 feet, the temperatures, even in the peak of summer, rarely get above the high 70s. Head here for one of the most romantic weekends in North Carolina. Stately homes can be found along the residential streets, a few of which have been converted into romantic B&Bs. Hike around the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock, NC. Downtown, youll find vintage motels, lots of motorcyclists, and the best pancakes of your life at Joeys Pancake House! Discover destinations, find outdoor adventures, follow the journeys of our travel writers around the world, and be inspired. Each year, they hold several celebrated events, like the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival and the Mt. Beyond chasing tall hairy creatures, Marion is situated at the base of Mount Mitchell with many waterfalls nearby, such as Linville Falls and Toms Creek Falls. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { The Tuckasegee River flows nearby and is regarded as a hot spot for trout and whitewater fish populations. My favorite is Waynesville because I live there. Tryons reputation as an equestrian haven and arts enclave is revered. READ MORE: The Top 20 Blue Ridge Mountain Towns in GA & NC Best Western NC Small Towns Guide Weaverville Black Mountain Brevard Hendersonville Saluda Burnsville Hot Springs Morganton Chimney Rock Village Banner Elk Blowing Rock West Jefferson Elkin Sparta Boone Beech Mountain Bryson City Cherokee Maggie Valley Murphy Sylva Dillsboro Franklin Known as the moonshine capital of the world, this foothills haven is spirited in more ways than one. North Carolina is home to over 250 waterfalls with a number of them located in the Plateau region. ), downtown Brevard is charming and boasts the best toy store in North Carolina, O.P. Highlands attracts those looking for a quaint atmosphere, in this hidden mountain gem. There are several opportunities for guests to learn about the history and culture of the tribe. Upon graduation, she met her partner, Cameron, and they traveled the world together crossing 85 countries and six continents. Located between Ashville and Cherokee, this town near the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and the, Blowing Rock is a charming hamlet tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Youll encounter galleries galore downtown, among specialty shops, fine fares, and craft beverages. This stunning area is home to nearly 520,000 acres of forested mountains. Historic Biltmore Estate is one of the. Beyond ski season, we love hanging out in this town. padding-left: 10px; A significant number of people living in Cali go to a higher altitude. If youre feeling adventurous, you can even visit the nearby ghost town of Henry River. A little over 1.5 hours from Asheville, just over two hours from Atlanta, and about three hours from Charlotte, Highlands is a beautiful town in the far southwest corner of North Carolina, not far from the South Carolina border. For a traditional lodge experience, stay at the Chetola Lodge looking out over Chetola Lake. Thanks for sharing your favorite with us, Jacquelyn! Originally settled in the 1850's as a health resort, Asheville has an interesting history- in the late 1800 . Affiliate links linking to products we love may be found in our articles. I would never live anywhere else again. Known as the apple capital of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hendersonville is a great central stop for all the scenery of the area. 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 Morganton is charming town in the foothills surrounded by beautiful scenery and outdoor adventure opportunities. Disclaimer: This site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. If you are looking for easy access to the Smoky Mountains, it doesn't . Old Fort is set at the foot of the Black Mountains and surrounded by Pisgah National Forest. The town hosts a number of signature events, including the Mt. "agent": "woocommerce-7.4.0-3.0.12" We mentioned Lake Junaluska earlier and thought you should know that it is only 3 miles away from Waynesville. Spread over 78 acres but within walking distance of downtown Blowing Rock, this resort offers three lodging choices to suit everyone, from couples to families. 2 Marion at No. "source": "woocommerce", This is an isolated outpost at a high elevation and a hidden gem of the high country. The 3,800-acre development has nearly half the land set aside in conservation areas including lakes, waterfalls, woodlands and hiking trails. It is a small community of approximately 2,500 people, and the main industries in this area are skiing and tourism. You're 20 minutes away from Raleigh, 20 minutes away from Durham, and 10 minutes away from Cary. Near Beech Mountain skiing and Grandfather Mountain hiking. The selection and quality of its culinary scene are impressive given its size, so be ready to enjoy some fine foodie fares during your stay here. The town is also a junction for the Appalachian Trail, which winds through downtown. Boone boasts a vibrant and active outdoor adventure scene. Stop into Myras 1950s style diner for a taste of the good old days. We love the latters overlooks almost as much as the Blue Ridge Parkway, if not more. Read More: The Best Black Mountains Hikes near Burnsville. The simple and slowed-down atmosphere of these magical enclaves makes for an ideal relaxing respite from the real world. Its easy to relocate to North Carolina and youll be convinced of that after talking to our. Just a short distance off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Boone makes a nice place to stop for a night or an afternoon. In early September, the Morganton Festival is a huge event with big name bands, celebrations, games, and arts and crafts vendors set up in the streets. Table Rock Mountain is one of the best hikes around. Copyright 2023 PlanetWare Inc. All rights reserved. 2. As a university town, the population reaches heights of around 20,000. Brevard is frequently ranked as one of the best small towns in WNC, and it's for good reason. 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. Lake Glenville is a very popular summer vacation spot with several vacation homes available in Glenville and in the nearby Cashiers and Highlands communities. Each of our 12 Best Small Mountain Towns around Asheville has its own great Visitor's Center where you can plan your day. Located in western North Carolina on what is known as the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau in the Nantahala National Forest, Highlands has been called "the Aspen of the East.". Dont forget to visit Dry Falls, an accessible waterfall that you can walk behind. They have a tiny population of residents but a vast number of visitors each year. Get the latest Severe Weather Alerts. The Ashe County Cheese factory and store are two great places to visit in West Jefferson, one of the cutest mountain towns in NC! If youre looking to explore the many waterfalls near Brevard, we recommend starting with Looking Glass Falls. My favorite is Flat Rock because I am a resident. That last part is why Wilkes County is also home to the first-ever NASCAR track. .inside-footer-widgets a { Read More: National Parks Sites in North Carolina. 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. You'll also find a fine assortment of restaurants, many with outdoor patios. Valdese was settled by 19th-century Waldensians from Italy, giving it a unique identity apart from its neighbors. This is the best of the North Carolina mountain towns to soak all your worries away. Whether Cashiers is the ideal location or an elegant private estate on the shores of Lake Toxaway beacons, contact any of our Landmark real estate brokers to help you explore the area and find your next North Carolina dream home.