These Towns in North Carolina Come Alive in Spring
Many things came to life in North Carolina—the fabled lost colony, the Wright Brothers, Mt. Olive Pickles, Pepsi, and Krispy Kreme, among them. But it is the small towns of the Tar Heel State that truly come alive in the spring this year. From high-altitude towns like Bryson City, Highland, and Silva that perch on the shoulders of great mountains to history-wealthy villages such as Manteo and Edenton, the flowers will bloom, and the atmosphere will be energetic once you sample the cultural and natural treasures of North Carolina. Let your wintry worries melt away because these towns in North Carolina are as alive and joyful as a blossoming garden.
Mount Airy
When exploring the airy town of Mount Airy, you might feel a stark sense of nostalgia. That is because the town is also called Mayberry in the hit TV classic, The Andy Griffith Show. Located about 40 minutes from Winston-Salem, one can venture into familiar set pieces from the show such as Floyd’s City Barber Shop, the titular character’s home, and the Old Mayberry Courthouse and Jail. The Andy Griffith Museum further enhances and enchants fans of the series with memorabilia from the show.
Aside from TV references in this “Friendly City,” visitors can go sightseeing at Flat Rock, the town’s historic granite quarry and the largest open-face granite quarry in the world since 1889. Hiking trails and sinuous routes await at the Westwood Park and Veterans Memorial Park. If you ever feel airy from all the breezy adventures, root yourself and relax at Bee’s Bed & Breakfast or the Andy Griffith Parkway Inn.
Edenton
Edenton, lounging on the shores of Edenton Bay and the Albemarle Sound, entices travelers with its 18th-century architectures reminiscent of the first American colonies. Indeed, Edenton was the first colonial capital of North Carolina. It was there that women began their first political activities in American communities. By taking a vintage trolley tour, you will be wheeling through 300 years of Edenton’s history. For example, the town’s Victorian estates and architecture—such as the Cupola House, the Roanoke River Lighthouse, and Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church—have barely changed for the past 300 years. Other structures include the Chowan County Courthouse, the oldest-operating Colonial Courthouse in America since 1767; and the Maritime Underground Railroad, where slaves and figures like Harriet Jacobs—the abolitionist author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl—escaped from injustice. Do spend your flowery springtime at the Couch House.
Bryson City
Beneath the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains lies the town of Bryson City. As the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, explorers can brave treacherous trails to witness a trio of waterfalls—Tom Branch Falls, Juneywhank Falls, and Indian Creek Falls—at Deep Creek. More watery wonders await at the Upper Nantahala Cascades and Fontana Lake, the latter being the of the Fontana Dam which is the tallest dam east of the Rocky Mountains. For those who are not keen to walk up the Smoky Mountains, climb aboard a train along the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
In addition to being a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Bryson City is connected to Cherokee, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Native Americans and an entranceway to the Blue Ridge Parkway. There, you can admire indigenous attractions such as the Oconaluftee Indian Village, Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama, and Harrah's Cherokee Casino. Only an hour away from Asheville, make merry moments while staying at the Nantahala Village Resort, Fryemont Inn, or Fontana Village Resort.
Manteo
Manteo is a well-preserved and wonderfully perfect example of what the first English settlements looked like on Roanoke Island. Several veritable sites and structures dot the Outer Banks, especially in the Roanoke Island Festival Park, where locals and tourists alike can commemorate the establishment of the first English colonies on America. Nearby, the Island Farm exhibits recreational reenactments of bygone life. As for the Elizabethan Gardens, located within the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, one can sample the majesty of nature while also taking a curious tour at the site of the enigmatic Lost Colony which vanished in the year 1587. Facing the Atlantic Ocean is the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse in the Shallowbag Bay, and pointing at the sky is the Manteo Weather Tower. It was from this tower that weatherman Alpheus W. Drinkwater broadcasted reports of the Wright Brothers’ aerial experiments to news agencies across the country. Discover more of Manteo’s vibrant past in Roanoke Island Maritime Museum, and refresh yourself at the Hotel Manteo, Scarborough Inn, or the Tranquil House Inn.
Hillsborough
Hillsborough, around ten minutes from Raleigh, houses more than a hundred 18th to 19th century structures, each containing a fragment of American history. The Alexander Dickson house, for example, was where General Joseph E. Johnston headquartered when he surrendered the largest of the Confederate armies to General William T. Sherman at the end of the American Civil War. Nearby, William Hooper’s house was the home of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Burwell School educates residents and outsiders about Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley—a freed slave and close confidante of Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.
Because Hillsborough is centrally located near Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area and Eno River State Park, travelers can enjoy scenic walks and travels through North Carolina’s countryside. One can consider following the footsteps of famed explorer John Lawson, who visited Occaneechi Village in 1701. For those looking for lodgings, look no further than to the Inn at Teardrops, Historic Colonial Inn, or Holiday Inn Express.
Highlands
Following its own namesake, Highlands is located approximately 4,000 feet up at the Nantahala National Forest. Because of its magnificent and impressive elevation, Highlands—specifically the Highlands Plateau—has been lauded as the “biological crown of the southern Appalachian Mountains.” Among the many marvelous habitats and ecosystems in the plateau are vibrant rivers, lush lakes, and silver waterfalls that become more spirited in the spring. The Highlands Historical Museum and Archives illustrates the town’s development into a sprawling and prospering resort in North Carolina’s outdoors. Furthermore, the Hudson Library has remained one of the oldest libraries in the state, providing information from both within and beyond Highlands. Since the town is a place of springtime luxuries, you will feel sprightly and vivacious in the Highlands Inn or the Old Edwards Inn.
Washington
Basking along the Pamlico River in North Carolina’s Inner Banks, the quaint and quiet town of Washington revitalizes many of its attractions in the spring. Goose Creek State Park, for instance, promises over 1,672 acres of untamed and unhindered regions once occupied by the Secotan and Pamlico Native Americans, members of the Tuscarora tribe. This same land was where infamous pirate Edward Thatch, aka Blackbeard, resided in his nefarious heyday. Along Pamlico River, the North Carolina Estuarium—measuring over a whopping 12,500 square feet—is the second largest estuary in the US. The estuary features around 200 exhibits of local wildlife in honor of the Pamlico/Tar River estuary. There are many more secrets to unravel in Washington this spring, but first you ought to find excellent accommodations at The Ell or Little Inn at Washington.
Banner Elk
Often called the ski capital of the South, Banner Elk provides impeccable access to the formidable Grandfather Mountain, a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve, and Boone in the Blue Ridge Mountains. One can catch a ride along the historic Tweetsie Railroad, situated between Boone and Blowing Rock, which offers rare opportunities to see elk and bear in their habitat. If you are the curious or courageous sort, you can brave the Mile High Swinging Bridge for even more views of the landscape. Aside from these unparalleled and exciting skiing and trekking courses, Banner Elk also leads to the Linville Caverns, one of the six natural wonders in North Carolina. There is also the 13-acre-long Wildcat Lake and the Apple Hill Farm, a dwelling place for alpacas and llamas. Additionally, one can learn of the town’s history at the Banner House Museum. Lest you forget, first book a room at Perry House Bed & Breakfast or Azalea Inn.
Hendersonville
Get away from the noisy bedlam of Asheville and head south to Hendersonville. Dubbed the “City of Four Seasons,” visitors can spend their springtime enjoying breathtaking vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Jump Off Rock. In the neighboring wilderness outside the town’s urban confines, one can enjoy leisurely strolls through the unusual Cheers! Trail, so named from the hit TV show since five different types of craft beverages riddle the trail. The Park at Flat Rock, once a former golf club, is home to indigenous fauna and flora like the red-winged blackbirds. Notwithstanding the natural scenery, Hendersonville houses the Henderson County Heritage Museum, which in turn contains memorabilia of the American Civil War as well as a replica of a 1900s general store. Should you require lodgings, the Charleston Inn and the Henderson have all the necessities you will ever want during the spring.
Sylva
Sylva is one of the highest towns in North Carolina, with a stunning elevation exceeding 5,000 feet. Like Bryson City, Sylva is only 20 minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee and the Blue Ridge Parkway at Balsam. Come explore the Pinnacle Park, 1,400-acre, challenging expanse that encompasses most of North Carolina. Wander liberally through Freedom Park, a strange abode for life-sized replicas of America’s founding documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Tour the sacrosanct grounds of the Jackson County Courthouse, the oldest courthouse in the area. Perhaps gawk at the Judaculla Rock, a soapstone rock decorated with Native American symbols closely associated with the Cherokee legends of Tsukalu or Judaculla, the hunting god. Only an hour away from Hendersonville, see for yourself why Sylva is a spectacular place to see in the spring.
Blowing Rock
Be blown by the springtime winds into the beautiful village of Blowing Rock. Only about two hours from Charlotte and 18 miles from Banner Elk, travelers can relish in the multitude of mountainous trails and scenic panoramas of Grandfather, Table Rock, and Hawksbill Mountains. The Bass Lake Trail, specifically, showcases the humungous majesty of the land due to Thunder Hill Overlook’s high location. In the town of Blowing Rock itself, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum elaborates on the town’s history, especially on a love story titled “The Blowing Rocks” where two lovers from the opposing Cherokee and Catawba tribes sought to defy their tribes’ taboos. You can also hear the noisy, windy cliffs in the Blue Ridge Parkway that gave the town its name, or observe more splendid amenities at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Give yourself a break at the Chetola Resort, a fine lodging that will lull you to rest like the blowing rocks of the area singing nature to sleep.
In Conclusion
When ships and colonists from the British Empire first sighted the unknown continent west of the Atlantic, the dynamic mountains and serene isles of North Carolina greeted the newcomers to the New World. Nowadays, the Tar Heel State opens its arboreal and mountainous arms like flowers blooming with the end of winter. It is best to explore the lively and sprightly small towns of North Carolina when they come alive in spring. Whether your head is in the cloud in Mount Airy or Blowing Rock, or you are too immersed in the culture and rural countryside of Banner Elk or Hillsborough, North Carolina’s towns will transfix and enchant you like the first colonists mesmerized by the promise of a new home. Prepare your gear and scent the atmosphere as North Carolina’s small towns come alive in spring.
