Waynesville is the largest town in its county and is a hopping spot to host any mountain traveler. You can also walk to Blannahassett Island and fish or enjoy views of the French Broad River. 5 Pinehurst at No. .ai-viewports {--ai: 1;} The sparkling North Carolina lake of the same name is the main draw for this mountain town. Read More: The Best Black Mountains Hikes near Burnsville. Dont forget to visit our favorite waterfalls in Cherokee: Mingo Falls and nearby Soco Falls. Dont forget Catawba Brewing is based here for a cold refreshing craft pint post-adventure. Many people come to this waterfall every year as the trail is an almost entirely flat gravel road. 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). We also love that town and cant wait to go back:). Spend a luxurious weekend at The Old Edwards Inn and roam the charming shops. Read More: Chimney Rock State Park (How to Enjoy an NC Icon). There's a lot to do here, such as hiking the famous Appalachian Trail and rafting down the Cheoah River. 2 Marion at No. Except here, you can taste delicious wine and take some home with you. For a traditional lodge experience, stay at the Chetola Lodge looking out over Chetola Lake. ), 20 Excellent Things to Do in Cherokee and the Qualla Boundary (and Nearby! @media only screen and (max-width: 359px) { Include stops in Valdese (more on it later), Connelly Springs, and other great smaller towns. Burnsville offers an authentic small-town experience, with a cute downtown area, where you can find shops, restaurants, and galleries lining the town square. .ai-viewport-3 { display: inherit !important;} Saluda is a popular spot for rafting and tubing along the Green River. For rare historical mountain artifacts, check out Swain County Heritage Museum. This gives the area a hip youthfulness that many find appealing. This vacation destination is located on the eastern edge of the Plateau region near Sapphire Valley. Anglers come from far and wide to try and catch one of the river's colorful rainbow trout. Looking Glass Falls and Moore Cove Falls are stunning sites as well. The Trail of Faith explores this heritage through a collection of preserved monuments and buildings. If youre feeling adventurous, you can even visit the nearby ghost town of Henry River. At Lake Lure, get the best of mountain and lake life by going boating, biking the trails at Buffalo Creek Park, or climbing to the top of Chimney Rock. Its a setting rich with rocks and minerals, ideal for any geology buffs looking for a scenic retreat. Retail shops and restaurants can be found on Sylva's Main Street. Explore the hiking trails and waterfalls, and if you are here on a weekend, check the local events calendar to see the complete lineup of festivals. Old Fort is another of our North Carolina small towns off I-40, best known for gold and Catawba Falls. These affordable towns could be your next home or vacation home! On the edge of the town is Soco Falls. Close to lots of great waterfalls (like Soco 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. Natasha moved to North Carolina for college years ago (but she's not trying to age herself here). n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; I hope Waynesville stays relatively small in comparison to Asheville which is getting very crowded. Read More: How to Find 20+ Haywood County Artists on Blue Ridge Craft Trails. Access to enjoy kayaking, canoeing, waterskiing or just spending a day out on the boat is what most love about Lake Glenville. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, Bryson City is well-known for hiking and river recreation. To ease your search, weve organized these NC mountain towns in alphabetical order. } 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. .generate-back-to-top:visited { But, with only 12,920 full time residents, there aren't a lot of people to get the word out. It has just enough diversity within its quaint downtown to attract plenty of visitors, from eclectic eateries to art studios to specialty shops. Well, youll need to answer that question when you visit Marion and their annual Bigfoot Festival! Its bustling with incredible restaurants, shops, and an iconic courthouse on a hill. The Murphy River Walk is an idyllic stroll around the scenic town. At 90-feet high, Pearsons Falls is an exciting natural attraction. Taylor. Its truly a unique experience. Its downtown is home to nice shops, a cozy atmosphere, and great restaurants. If you brought kids, theyll want to check out the fire engine outside! Often called the crown of the Blue Ridge, it boasts both the oldest tourist attraction and a current vibrant visitor scene. Flat Rock. Begin with our list of the best mountain towns in North Carolina. In winter, Blowing Rock can be a nice place to base yourself if you are skiing at nearby Appalachian Ski Mountain just a few minutes away. North Carolina is home to over 250 waterfalls with a number of them located in the Plateau region. 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. jQuery && jQuery( function( $ ) { Weve created many more NC travel guides that include these mountain towns in more detail. The Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is a newer attraction nearby, sure to provide you with a year-round thrill! Youll love Murphy for its fun downtown and the surrounding NC mountains, water, and trails. Its also home to the only fly-fishing trail in the country on the Tuckasegee River, making this activity quite a draw. These studios open twice a year for Weaverville Art Safari, for which art lovers and makers alike travel from all over to be a part of. There are a plethora of charming small towns nestled among the majestic Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina. The main street is designed with tourists in mind, and is lined with cute shops, galleries, and covered walkways. } Read More: 20+ Amazing Things to Do in Maggie Valley. Ranging in size and shape, North Carolina mountain towns come packed with unique attractions and wait with warm, welcoming smiles. .ai-viewport-1 { display: inherit !important;} The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum is a testament to this moniker, set in a 19th-century jailhouse. Its proximity to many NC ski resorts makes it especially alluring for the winter seasons as well. Charlotte is one of the best places to live in North Carolina for a few reasons. Walk Score: 36/100. 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. Hi Marguerite, the goats are at the Carl Sandburg home in Flat Rock. There is a draw for every season, with plenty of outdoor adventure opportunities to partake in. Its reputation for charm precedes it, known mainly as the hometown of Andy Griffith and the inspiration for the idyllic neighborhood his show was set in, Mayberry. Tryon Fine Arts Center is a cultural institution of North Carolina, hosting eclectic exhibits, community events, TEDtalks, performing arts, classic films, and live music. Banner Elk is also a popular gateway to Grandfather Mountain State Park and the Mile High Swinging Bridge on the privately-owned Grandfather Mountain attraction. ), 25+ Beautiful North Carolina Road Trips (Scenic Byways and Highways), Max Patch Trail (A Short Hike to Beautiful 360-Degree Views! These two streets are also home to numerous shops and restaurants. Skiing in North Carolina: With elevations that exceed 5,000 feet and extensive snowmaking equipment, the mountains of North Carolina offer excellent opportunities for skiing. Morganton is one of the easternmost North Carolina mountain towns well mention. 3. 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. Residents enjoy natural settings with a wellness center with a pool and tennis court, parks, playgrounds, trails, outdoor/indoor gathering spaces for community . Cashiers is in the heart of the Nantahala National Forest and provides a front row view to the spectacular annual fall foliage. Just a few miles from Sylva (see below) is Dillsboro, an artist community that is one of the coolest North Carolina mountain towns. 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. Stop into Myras 1950s style diner for a taste of the good old days. Every time we visit, we dream of our next home on a hillside in the High Country! .sidebar a { @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 979px) { Experience a mountain resort atmosphere in Sapphire Valley. Home to the Woolly Worm Festival in October, we can't get enough of this town, the amazing restaurants and shops here, and its gorgeous surroundings. Joyce Kilmer Forest, the Cherohala Skyway, Nantahala National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Lake Santeetlah are nearby. While much of the Blue Ridge Parkway closes during inclement winter weather, Otter Falls near Boone is a beautiful hike, especially if theres snow down there! Banner Elk, NC 28604, USA. Set on the banks of the Tuckasegee River, its a tiny treasure trove for local art, as this community lives and breathes creativity. Streets here are rampant with a retro nostalgia, for a unique feel unlike anywhere else. 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. Home to East Carolina University, it's no surprise that apartments in Greenville are more affordable than in many larger, more professionally-focused cities. It is a popular tourist destination as well, so developing tourism . Let us know in the comments section, as always. The downtown area has many restored buildings and interesting shops, and you'll have no trouble finding a place for lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants. The town hosts a number of signature events, including the Mt. The 5 Best North Carolina Mountain Towns to Live In Real Estate Blog The majestic peaks of the Blue Ridge Parkway, charming towns offering luxurious properties with panoramic beauty are just a few of the reasons that many seek out the best place to live in the North Carolina mountains. Each town has its own vibe and many unique outdoorsy things to do. padding-right: 10px; .search .content-area a { There are a few hiking trails there, too, which are among the best in the area. Read More: 25+ Beautiful North Carolina Road Trips (Scenic Byways and Highways). Wilmington is one of the best places to live in North Carolina near the beach as it is more affordable than the Outer Banks, which is the state's most popular coastal vacation spot. Sapphire Valley is tucked away in a scenic niche of the North Carolina mountains but offers visitors an experience like none other. Mitchell. It's no wonder Asheville is consistently voted as one of the best places to live in the Blue Ridge Mountains. 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. Its one of many falls along the famed Waterfall Byway. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { } Annual celebrations like the Elk Fest and Hillbilly Jamboree are reason enough to visit.