New River Brewing is one of a few great places to grab some food and a beer. Catch some incredible views from Lovers Leap, a 2-mile loop with a gain of 500 feet in elevation. 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. In fact, the town is home to the only fly fishing trail in the United States. Downtown Blowing Rock is home to adorable shops and restaurants, as well as the only urban entrance to a waterfall that weve seen in North Carolina (Glen Burney). Venture out and explore the rest of Burke County, hike to Hawksbill Mountains peak, Linville Falls, the nearby Wisemans View in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, and High Shoals Falls inside South Mountains State Park. That scenic route is another reason we rank Highlands among the best mountain towns in NC! For the inside scoop on where to go, see our guide to the Top Rivers for Trout Fishing in North Carolina. @media only screen and (max-width: 359px) { Live like a local and experience a leisurely day of exploration. Asheville lies at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, the highest portion of the Appalachian Range. Several Western NC towns made the list, including Fletcher (#3), Woodfin (#12), and Black Mountain (#20). Taylor. Read More: National Parks Sites in North Carolina. Our Favorite Small Towns in North Carolina - Southern Living All of these mountain towns in NC possess something unique, which is why we cant choose our favorite. 2023 Compare Cities : Black Mountain, NC vs Elizabethtown, NC Today, Cashiers is home to only a few hundred full-time residents but is a much sought out vacation destination. This article may contain affiliate links. To ease your search, weve organized these NC mountain towns in alphabetical order. Read More: The Best Black Mountains Hikes near Burnsville. Median age: 44.7. Named for its likeness to the Swiss Alps, the Switzerland Inn is a century-old resort catering to this concept. ), Chimney Rock State Park (How to Enjoy an NC Icon), 20+ Amazing Things to Do in Maggie Valley, 75+ Fun Day Trips from Asheville (Within a 2-Hour Drive), 25 of the Most Amazing Winter Hikes in North Carolina, How to Find 20+ Haywood County Artists on Blue Ridge Craft Trails, Christmas in North Carolina (the Best Holiday Events), Craggy Gardens: A Beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway Stop, People of NC: Merlefest Director B Townes, Mingo Falls In Cherokee NC (a Great Waterfall + Easy Hike). Right down the road from Maggie Valley is Lake Junaluska, a lovely community with a trail that takes you around its namesake lake. The Dry Falls are the claim to fame of the Highlands, a stunning waterfall you can walk behind and stay completely dry. Grand Highlands encompasses 300 acres of woodlands and meadows. 19 Beautiful Mountain Towns in North Carolina (For Your Next Vacation!) } ); The Best Places to Live in North Carolina in 2022 Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 100+ Wonderful Places to Visit in Western North Carolina, Western North Carolina Map (400+ Wonderful Places Listed), 50+ Great Things to Do in Asheville (Downtown, Biltmore, and More! An all-natural water slide, you can rush down this smooth rapid for a refreshing thrill ride unlike any other. 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. 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. .archive .content-area a { !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? Asheville, NC Bend, OR Boise, ID Denver, CO Flagstaff, AZ Salt Lake City, UT South Lake Tahoe, CA Tacoma, WA Asheville, NC Photo via @jared_kay Population: 87,531 Home Price: $212,000 median purchase price; $910 median monthly rent Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of U.S. cities 11 Most Beautiful Mountain Towns in North Carolina - Trips To Discover Its original town limits are now a historic district where tourists can visit historical homes. There is a draw for every season, with plenty of outdoor adventure opportunities to partake in. Trust us, we will find it here in one of our great mountain towns. North Carolina Mountain Towns | Smoky Mountain Towns - Visit NC Smokies Include stops in Valdese (more on it later), Connelly Springs, and other great smaller towns. For a tasty and unique treat any time, stop in at the Toasted and Rolled Ice Cream and Bakery, where you can watch your custom ice-cream creation being made right in front of you. Of course, the nearby Moore Cove Falls and French Broad Falls (Mill Shoals) are two of many more to explore. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Maggie Valley. Affiliate links linking to products we love may be found in our articles. The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum is a testament to this moniker, set in a 19th-century jailhouse. While there's a bit of a dispute that we won't get into, Old Fort's Gold Festival typically kicks off each June. 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. padding-left: 10px; Brevard is ideally situated at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, close to some of North Carolina's most spectacular waterfalls. One of the top 10 arts communities . We're always looking for hidden gems here in the Tarheel State, and we'd love to hear from you. See our article on the Best Ski Resorts in North Carolina for ideas to help plan your ski vacation. - 5/13/2022 I lived in Black Mountain for about ten years and loved it! Access to enjoy kayaking, canoeing, waterskiing or just spending a day out on the boat is what most love about Lake Glenville. A number of great restaurants and breweries (including Fonta Flora) are based here, too. The last of the North Carolina mountain towns well mention is Wilkesboro. Show Transcript. Alabama's quintessential mountain town is Mentone, which is set atop Lookout Mountain and filled with charming spots, including the Wildflower Caf, Mentone Log Cabin Village, and Mentone Arts and Cultural Center. ), downtown Brevard is charming and boasts the best toy store in North Carolina, O.P. Mica Gallery is one of a few spaces that showcase local artists from here and surrounding counties. 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. 2022 Best Places to Live in North Carolina - Niche fbq( 'track', 'PageView', { Mitchell Crafts Fair and the Burnsville Metric, a popular bike ride held in late April. North Carolina is bracing for severe weather headed our way. If you are looking for things to do, the TGIF Summer Concert Series features a wide variety of musicians playing free Friday night concerts in the main square. One of the largest North Carolina mountain towns on this list, we absolutely love all the fun things to do in Hendersonville. Top 9 Mountain Towns to Live in Tennessee - ezhomesearch.com For rare historical mountain artifacts, check out Swain County Heritage Museum. Distance: 74.3 miles from Gatlinburg TN (2-hour drive) Robbinsville is a rural mountain town in the Smoky Mountain foothills that takes you back to a time of solitude and natural beauty. Greenville, South Carolina From fine dining and shopping to live music and festivals, downtown Greenville has it all. 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. If you decide to walk up the 107 stairs to the courthouse, you'll be rewarded by panoramic views over the downtown and surrounding countryside, including the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dont forget that Burnsville is home to a great restaurant scene, which you can explore downtown and beyond! Throughout the year, we think youll love eating and walking around downtown, tasting some of NCs finest beer at local breweries, and exploring the areas arts scene. Set right alongside the Green River, Saluda is a hotspot for water adventures, such as tubing, kayaking, and rafting. 25 Best Mountain Towns in the U.S. - PureWow - PureWow: Women's Black Mountain has a little bit of something for everyone. Join me to explore 5 NC Mountain Towns that you MUST visit! Set on the edge of the Yadkin Valley, there are also an array of award-winning wineries nearby. Its a hotspot for entertainment, with music at the Folkmoot, the acclaimed HART Theater, and Mountain Street Dances every Friday night. The ride down is thrilling, with the two-seater sleds hitting top speeds of 27 miles per hour as they twist and turn down the nearly 2,400-foot run. 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. If you want to immerse yourself further in the scenery, take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or head over to Linville Falls, about 30 minutes away. 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. Many small towns in North Carolina claim to be the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, but Bryson City has a serious argument. } Waynesville is the largest town in Haywood County, home to adorable shops, amazing restaurants, and surrounded by beautiful outdoor scenery. Bryson City The gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryson city is one of the best NC mountain towns! Written by Lana Law Updated Jun 23, 2021We may earn a commission from affiliate links ().