10 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In North Carolina
In a state where Orville and Wilbur Wright perfected their prototype for aviation, travelers will be soaring and fluttering in gladness once they visit the most captivating small towns in North Carolina. Although the Tar Heel State—so named since North Carolina was a major producer of turpentine, tar, and pitch—has experienced its fair share of warfare during the two major conflicts in American history, its many small towns nevertheless have developed and thrived from their independence as seen in historical places like Edenton and Blowing Rock. Moreover, there are several locales in North Carolina brimming with the splendors of nature as best experienced in Hendersonville or Brevard. Whichever town you intend to visit in the Tar Heel State, you should be open to newness and surprises in the most captivating small towns in North Carolina.
Hendersonville
Hendersonville praised popularly for being the “City of the Four Seasons,” is one of the most captivating small towns in North Carolina worth seeing, whether in the sunshine of spring or in the chill nights of winter. Along with the famous Cheers! Trail are five unique craft beverages that are reminiscent of those found in the hit TV series Cheers! Other scenic treks around Hendersonville include the Blue Ridge Mountains and Jump Off Point, while landmarks like Wolfe’s Angel Statue—based on a character from Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward, Angel—stand as testaments to Hendersonville’s remarkable atmosphere.
The Henderson County Heritage Museum not only talks about the town’s involvement in the American Civil War but also Hendersonville’s interconnectivity to its close neighbors Apple Country (Edneyville), Etowah/Horse Shoe, Flat Rock, Fletcher, Laurel Park, Mills River, and Tuxedo/Zirconia/Green River. There are plenty of sensational sights to behold in the City of the Four Seasons, so whether in the spring or the winter, you should definitely consider booking a room in a fine lodging like the Charleston Inn or The Henderson.
Mount Airy
Feel airy and spirited when exploring the delightful small town of Mount Airy. Renowned for being the filming site of the popular classic TV show, The Andy Griffith Show, the “Friendly City” of Mount Airy might as well be the fictional yet beautiful town of Mayberry since one of its top attractions are Floyd’s City Barber Shop, Andry Griffith’s home, and the Old Mayberry Courthouse and Jail. Learn more about the old TV series and how Mount Airy contributed much to its success at the Andy Griffith Museum, or you can go sightseeing at Mount Airy’s historic granite quarry called Flat Rock, considered the largest open-face granite quarry in the world since 1889. Should you wish for more exploratory opportunities in the “Friendly City,” then feel at ease and relaxed when strolling through Westwood Park and Veterans Memorial Park. And if you require accommodations, then look no further than the Bee’s Bed & Breakfast or the Andy Griffith Parkway Inn.
Highlands
Highlands, found high atop the Highlands Plateau, is about 4,000 feet above the well-regarded Nantahala National Forest. Since the entire town and its surroundings are considered the “biological crown of the southern Appalachian Mountains,” travelers can go exploring through some of the most diverse and dynamic habitats close to the state border of Georgia. Whether you are having fun in destinations such as the Cashiers Sliding Rock and along the Secret Falls Trail Head or learning about the town’s history at the Highlands Historical Museum and Archives and the Hudson Library, you will undoubtedly feel rejuvenated and revitalized by the untamed and unclaimed natural landscapes brimming around Highlands. So for those of you excited to experience the majesty of the Appalachian Mountains, then you should first book a room in one of Highlands’ resplendent abodes like the Highlands Inn, the Highlands Chateau, or the Old Edwards Inn.
Blowing Rock
Be blown away by the magnificent small town of Blowing Rock. Two notable legends surround the town’s origins. Either the town was so named from the blowing rock cliffs at the Blue Ridge Parkway or from a Native American love story called “The Blowing Rocks,” where two lovers from the warring Catawba and Cherokee tribes played their own version of “Romeo and Juliet” long ago. The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum gives more context and details to these narratives. Meanwhile, the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park showcases impeccable artworks for and by conservationists. Of course, Blowing Rock urges newcomers to explore scenic destinations such as the Grandfather, Table Rock, the Hawksbill Mountains, Bass Lake Trail, and the Thunder Hill Overlook, which has a photo-perfect view of Blowing Rock. If you ever get tired from all the trekking, you can rest up nicely at places such as the Chetola Resort.
Chapel Hill
Around 30 minutes away from the cities of Raleigh and Durham, the town of Chapel Hill is one of the most colorful towns in North Carolina. Nearly every building in every street is bright with artistic murals, and the University of North Carolina which Chapel Hill surrounds contains the Ackland Art Museum with its exhibits straight from Europe and Asia. On the other hand, the North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center are excellent places to admire Chapel Hill’s horticultural scenery and watch a few live performances, respectively.
The Chapel Hill Pride Promenade is a joyous and inclusive celebration held every year in June. Additionally, there is the Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, when the townsfolk celebrate the emancipation proclamation which liberated all slaves in America. Meanwhile in other months of the year such as February, there is the Annual Carolina Jazz Festival; in April, the Revolutionary War Living History Day at the Alexander Dickson House; and in August, the Annual Forest Theatre Summer Giant Puppet Show. No need to feel unwanted int Chapel Hill, not when you have booked a room at one of the town’s best lodgings such as The Siena Hotel, the Carolina Inn, or Rizzo Center.
Banner Elk
Banner Elk, the premier ski capital of North Carolina, should be on the top ten list of best destinations to visit in the state. After all, it is one of the few places in North Carolina where you can pet alpacas and llamas at the Apple Hill Farm, or where you can explore the UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve. Other panoramic landscapes around Banner Elk include Wildcat Lake, Grandfather Mountain, and the neighboring village of Boone in the Blue Ridge Mountains with its Mile High Swinging Bridge. Travelers can hop aboard the historic Tweetsie Railroad that connects Banner Elk with its neighbors of Boone and Blowing Rock, or you can always learn more about Banner Elk’s inception at the Banner House Museum. Finally, visitors can go spelunking into the depths of the Linville Caverns in Humpback Mountain. For those of you eager or curious to see Banner Elk, consider booking a room at either the Perry House Bed & Breakfast or Azalea Inn.
Edenton
Edenton, situated beside Edenton Bay and Albemarle Sound, is a quaint and comfortable Eden on Earth. Whether you are touring beside the 18th-century architectures composing the town—such as the Chowan County Courthouse, the Cupola House, the Roanoke River Lighthouse, and Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church—which all contributed to the Maritime Underground Railroad, you will feel a sense of history everywhere you go in Edenton. After all, a number of former African-American slaves such as abolitionist writer Harriet Jacobs were liberated during the American Civil War thanks to the efforts of Edenton and other towns.
Of course, one of the best ways to tour Edenton is by taking one of the vintage trolley tours, especially since the tours explain over 300 years of history of how Edenton became the first colonial capital of North Carolina and how it became the site of the first female political action in US history. So consider booking a room in comfortable establishments like the Couch House or Hampton Inn for a longer and happier stay in Edenton.
New Bern
If Edenton was the first colonial capital of North Carolina, then New Bern was the first state capital of North Carolina before the city of Raleigh took over. As a small town located on Neuse River which trickles out into the Atlantic Ocean, New Bern’s governmental past continues to shine as seen in the Tryon Palace, the former state capitol which even President George Washington visited. The New Bern Battlefield Park holds the site of the Battle of New Bern which occurred in 1862, while the New Bern National Cemetery protects the graves of those who fell in that conflict.
After the American Civil War, New Bern became prominent with the Freedmen’s Bureau, which aided White charities and Northern missionary communities in educating many African Americans after Emancipation. Along the intersections of Neuse, Broad, Roundtree, and Queen streets—more commonly known as the Five Points—travelers might be able to spot an old drugstore from the 1890s, which happens to be where Pepsi Cola was created. Other learning centers like the New Bern Firemen’s Museum talk about the Great Fire of 1922 at New Bern Firemen’s Museum, and stunning outdoor features like the Croatan National Forest will dazzle people with its sceneries. But the beautiful accommodations of the Bridge Pointe Hotel & Marina, Aerie Bed & Breakfast, and the Abbot Zeigler Motel & Suites will keep you staying long and merry in New Bern.
Black Mountain
About 25 minutes from Asheville, the small town of Black Mountain is another beautiful resort town located on the Black Mountains. With its 20th-century architecture and Appalachian artworks, Black Mountain is a serene homestead for those eager for adventures in either the Mount Mitchell State Park or the Pisgah National Forest. Andrew’s Geyser shoots into the sky with picture-perfect sprays, while the Black Mount Fire Tower gives you a great vantage point overlooking much of the mountainous geography. Visit the Catawba Falls and Lake Tomahawk Park for some watery delights, and consider attending the Sourwood Festival every August in celebration of Black Mountain’s culture. Once you have spent the entire day in adventure, spend your nights asleep and dreamful in warm lodgings like the Black Mountain Inn or the Lake Eden Retreat.
Brevard
Brevard, just around 50 minutes away from Black Mountain, is a gateway to some of the most serene regions in North Carolina, such as the Gorges State Park, the Nantahala National Forest, and the DuPont State Recreational Forest. There are nearly 250 waterfalls all over town, like the Looking Glass Falls, Cove Creek Falls, and Daniel Ridge Falls, and in the month of May, you can participate in the White Squirrel Weekend, when the town’s white squirrels are roaming about more often.
The Silvermont Mansion hosts venues for bluegrass music, while the Allison-Deaver House stands as the oldest known standing frame house west of the Blue Ridge Mountains since 1815. The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas features soldiers who have fought in both the First World War and the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the War on Terror. Finally, the Transylvania Heritage Museum talks about the Native American tribes like the Cherokee, Yuchi, and Creek, whose artifacts have been uncovered in the surrounding woodlands. Should you ever need a place to spend a longer vacation in Brevard, you can certainly pick either the Sunset Motel or Campbell House as suitable lodgings for you.
Between the compelling and enchanting woodlands encircling towns like Brevard and Black Mountain to small towns that contributed much to the formation of modern American society like New Bern and Mount Airy, the most captivating small towns in North Carolina are plentiful with attractions that will suit everybody and almost anybody. When traveling down roads paved in tar and pitch and turpentine,e thanks to all the pine trees from the Tar Heel State, be sure to stop and stay in the many majestic and awesome small towns North Carolina is famous for. Most importantly, make new experiences and memories in these alluring destinations in North Carolina.
