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. Historic Biltmore Estate is one of the. Regardless of your religious views, Fields of the Wood (a massive representation of the 10 Commandments) is an interesting place to visit. Include stops in Valdese (more on it later), Connelly Springs, and other great smaller towns. 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. .generate-back-to-top, Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Art festivals are held here year-round and an impressive array of galleries and funky shops to browse. See our article on the Best Ski Resorts in North Carolina for ideas to help plan your ski vacation. Its a small town that harkens back to simpler times with vintage signs and brick buildings. This wonderful (and family-friendly) music festival brings in big names each year. 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. Its not so much a town, and is definitely a city in North Carolina. Read More: National Parks Sites in North Carolina. Median age: 44.7. Highlands attracts those looking for a quaint atmosphere, in this hidden mountain gem. Stowe, Vt Getting There: 45 minutes from Burlington International Airport Back to Wilkesboro, of course, which is love for so many things but above all, the iconic Merlefest. You'll find the Great Smoky Mountains on the Eastern side of Tennessee. In Highlands you will also find high-end dining and bustling boutiques downtown. Frostys in Ashe County is one of our favorite Christmas tree farms in North Carolina. Asheville is one of the state's most popular vacation destinations with its funky Bohemian vibe and prime location in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Hampstead NC. Nevertheless a gorgeous one and one of the most romantic places to travel in North Carolina. Real Estate Rankings Best Places to Live Best Places to Retire Rankings Category Population Size X-Large 2.5M+ Large 1M - 2.5M Medium 500K - 1M Small 50K - 500K Average Rent < $500 -. Have you ever seen Bigfoot? The Most Beautiful Towns in North Carolina - Culture Trip There are also plenty of Blowing Rock Restaurants to grab a bite to eat at! Robbinsville is surrounded by some wonderful places both natural and manmade. 6. My son moved to Asheville in 1991 so we moved up here in 2006 after Katrina in New Orleans. Floating high at 3,700 feet is one of the best NC mountain towns Banner Elk. Below are the best North Carolina mountain towns for your next gorgeous getaway. Catch some incredible views from Lovers Leap, a 2-mile loop with a gain of 500 feet in elevation. Thank you, Lori! These 10 Towns Are Among The Safest Cities In North Carolina Fly fishing is a popular thing to do in Sylva. @media only screen and (min-width: 769px) { The city is perfect for a winter getaway, thanks to milder weather, great events like Christmas at Biltmore and more! North Carolina's 6 Best Mountain Towns - This Is My South padding-left: 10px !important; height: 100%; Due to Henderson Countys high concentration of orchards, the area offers some of the best apples for picking in North Carolina. The Diamondback (NC-226) is also a popular road for tourists and motorcyclists alike, famed for its incredible views. ), downtown Brevard is charming and boasts the best toy store in North Carolina, O.P. There is a happening scene of Boone breweries and Boone bistros to indulge in and an overarching focus on sustainability. The town offers a surprising amount of accommodation and has a number of family-focused attractions. If you want to spend a night up in this area, have a look at the Old Edwards Inn and Spa, an incredible European-style, luxury hotel in the heart of downtown. Cashiers is in the heart of the Nantahala National Forest and provides a front row view to the spectacular annual fall foliage. 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. 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. North Carolina is home to over 250 waterfalls with a number of them located in the Plateau region. Of course, they can serve as the perfect base for some of the best hiking trails and the most beautiful waterfalls in North Carolina. Read More: The Asheville Art Museum (How to Visit + 7 Great Things to Do). Set on a high plateau, some of its surrounding peaks boast breathtaking views. .ai-viewport-3 { display: inherit !important;} Feel free to browse the available properties on our website and contact us if you see something you love. Homes: $549K - $3.5M Lots: $69K - $450K. You can track severe weather with us by checking out these WXII . Make sure to stop in the Paces General Store (operating since 1899) and Thompons Grocery Market- North Carolinas oldest grocery store! The median home price in Ayden is 127,400 and the median income is $53,317, giving Ayden a solid ratio of home price to income. At 90-feet high, Pearsons Falls is an exciting natural attraction. Boone boasts a vibrant and active outdoor adventure scene. Head here for one of the most romantic weekends in North Carolina. 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. 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. RELATED The 12 Most Charming Small Towns in South Carolina Mark Vandenberg 1. The compact downtown is replete with restored old brick buildings housing interesting restaurants, art shops, and stores. Ensconced at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, youll discover the beauty of Brevard in its bounty of waterfalls. 11 Most Beautiful Mountain Towns in North Carolina - Trips To Discover . Its charming downtown is composed of just a general store, bookstore, and restaurant. } Accommodation: Where to Stay in Maggie Valley. Experience a mountain resort atmosphere in Sapphire Valley. According to Trico Long Distance Movers, the best place to live in the mountains in the United States is Telluride in Colorado. 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 My favorite is Spruce Pine that is my home town but I also love Maggie Valley Boone and Cherokee. The Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is a newer attraction nearby, sure to provide you with a year-round thrill! The Ramble Biltmore Forest, Asheville. 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. 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. Tryon Fine Arts Center is a cultural institution of North Carolina, hosting eclectic exhibits, community events, TEDtalks, performing arts, classic films, and live music. Grandfather Vineyard is one of many nice spots along the water. Read More: Chimney Rock State Park (How to Enjoy an NC Icon). Banner Elk is a very interesting town with quaint little stores, wineries, and restaurants! Youll find stunning waterfalls and spectacular North Carolina hikes all right outside your doorstep in this small mountain town. Livability Asheville, NC Read the Magazine. We mentioned Valdese earlier and thought you should know about this truly interesting place. 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. Spruce Pine is a nice spot throughout the year, but two events here are really coolthe NC Mineral and Gem Festival in August and SPACE (Spruce Pine Alien Conference & Expo) in June. 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. padding-right: 10px; Ride the trains through majestic mountains on the local railroad. Known as the apple capital of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hendersonville is a great central stop for all the scenery of the area. 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.". One of the largest North Carolina mountain towns on this list, we absolutely love all the fun things to do in Hendersonville. Asheville, Greensboro and Charlotte are among the best places to live in North Carolina, a state experiencing continual economic growth. 17 Terrific Cities & Towns Near Asheville, NC To Visit For example, here are some facts about Crestline in the San Bernardino Mountains: Population: 10,770. Sylva is one of the most interesting and quaint NC mountain towns youll find. Some small towns are lucky enough to be tucked into the mountains where people can explore on foot, bike and skis all with hardly another person in sight. Explore the charming downtown area on foot to discover its collection of shops, restaurants, breweries, and a famous Mast General Store that features an eclectic selection of souvenirs and candy. Tourists travel from all over to soak in the waters. Many small towns in North Carolina claim to be the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, but Bryson City has a serious argument. @media (max-width: 767px) { About Catawba Falls, we think youll love the 2.3-mile hike that leads to the 100-ft tall waterfall with beautiful cascades. } .ai-viewport-1 { display: inherit !important;} Its a town with a rich cultural heritage and an amazing area to learn more about these native peoples. Table Rock Mountain is one of the best hikes around. Just outside of Hendersonville is the North Carolina mountain town of Flat Rock. The main street is designed with tourists in mind, and is lined with cute shops, galleries, and covered walkways. Cities across North Carolina round out the top 10, including several in the western part of the state: Hickory at No.