10 Picture-Perfect Towns in North Carolina

The Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachians set quite a stage for North Carolina. This Southeastern state is blessed with an equal amount of appealing mountain towns, harbor towns, and beach towns. In all cases, green spaces are guaranteed to complement the already unique communities. Additionally, residents of the Tar Heel State love to express themselves through pop-up markets, public art displays, and indie music that flows out of countless cool venues. The result is something that will both sweep you into the moment and have you reaching for your camera so that you won't soon forget your picture-perfect small-town adventure. 

Brevard

Few natural phenomena are more photogenic than waterfalls. Well, Brevard, aka "North Carolina's Land of Waterfalls'' has 250 of them (i.e. North America's highest concentration) within shouting, or rather, hiking distance. This seat of Transylvania County maintains an admirable amount of trails (over 1,000 miles, to be precise), through Gorges State Park, DuPont State Recreational Forest, and beyond, making the mission to get to these plunging rivers just as attractive. Brevard also compliments the soothing white noise around its perimeter by pumping out melodic tunes each night from its range of live music venues. Get those phones out and let the social media world know that real people performing real music will always have a place.

Corolla

It is tough to narrow down the prettiest places throughout North Carolina's Outer Banks, but Corolla (pronounced "Kuh-RAH-Luh") is popular for a reason. This upscale resort town sports blank, lengthy beaches (24 miles, to be exact) that nicely contrasts the opulent homes lining them. The two forces are separated by gentle sand dunes and wild grasses. Along with barefoot strolls, 4WD vehicles can have a go at covering some of the sandy marathon. Either way, you'll feel as free as the many wild horses that inhabit the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. Even though Corolla is a vacation destination, resist the temptation to sleep in, as those Atlantic Coast sunrises are a beautiful way to start any day.

Black Mountain

While Asheville remains to be North Carolina's go-to hub, it has thoroughly outgrown its small town status. But fear not, Black Mountain is only 15 miles to the East, equally beautiful, and ready to welcome all of Asheville's spillover traffic. This place is backdropped by the deep green of Pisgah National Forest and the three-dimensional textures of Blue Ridge Mountains. Black Mountain even dashes in some blue, with the Swannanoa River rolling right by the historic district, and Lake Tomahawk proving a quaint swimming hole on the West side of town. This Buncombe County community has also sculpted a pedestrian-friendly downtown, with thoughtful shops, captivating galleries, and even subtle accents like murals, painted rocking chairs, and gardens. 

Waynesville

Waynesville provides another attractive alternative to Asheville. This time, head just 30 or so miles West. This Haywood County sits right off the Blue Ridge Parkway – one of America's favorite scenic drives. And speaking of seductive road trips, Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park (far and away the most popular national park in the country), is also just a good album's drive to the Northwest. But don't go too far, for Waynesville has lovely farm-to-table restaurants, colorful outdoor markets, and the blend of quirky/artisanal shops, craft breweries, and immaculate nature trails that are expected of the Tar Heel State. 

Burnsville

On the North side of Asheville (about 35 miles to the Northeast), and the North side of the dense and undulating Pisgah National Forest, Burnsville is ready to turn some heads. Yancey County, where this small mountain town resides, is home to six of the ten tallest peaks on the East Coast. Get the unforgettable panoramic experience by attempting the summit of at least one. Don't worry, the Appalachians are more manageable than the West Coast ranges, but equally overwhelming in their beauty. All the natural allure has inspired Burnsville's artistic side – everything from a blown-glass gallery, to ceramics, photography, painting, and the always-popular Mount Mitchell Arts & Crafts Fair. Now that you've experienced the surrounding nature and the beauty within, it's time to be mesmerized by the cosmos. The Bare Dark Observatory at Mayland Community College has earned the international Dark Sky Park designation. So stay long enough for a cloud-free evening, and you'll be reminded of just how vast and wondrous the Milky Way is when it isn't obscured by city lights. 

Ocracoke

Another gem along the Outer Banks is Ocracoke. This unincorporated community sits on the Southwest side of a small, narrow island by the same name. Engulfed by a combination of Pamlico Sound, to the North/Northwest, and the North Atlantic Ocean everywhere else, there is no shortage of blue to capture in the frame (hint: try to get the tall, white, historic Ocracoke Lighthouse in the shot to add some perspective). Ocracoke is graced with 16 miles of wild, undeveloped coastline that is predominantly free of crowds. Cars are also a rarity out here. Boats, bikes, golf carts, horseback riding, and good old-fashioned, serenity-preserving walking are the preferred modes of transportation. 

Manteo

The Outer Banks is so pretty that we have to make one more stop. Manteo more or less splits the distance between Corolla and Ocracoke. This Dare County town, which is the focal point of the 8-mile-long, 2-mile-wide Roanoke Island, also seems to split the difference, developmentally, between the fancy beach houses in the North and the wild coastline to the South – striking a Goldilocks zone of charming seafood restaurants (and ice cream parlors), cozy lodgings, and cute shops. Manteo is sheltered from the brunt of the Atlantic by Shallowbag Bay, Roanoke Sound and Nags Head (to the East), and faces Croatan Sound on its West side. It is here that English colonization began. This event is memorialized in several respects, but one of the more photogenic manifestations is the Elizabethan Garden on the North side of town/the island. 

Edenton

Edenton keeps the water theme going, but this time, further inland, where Pembroke Creek and Little Creek meet Edenton Bay, which itself joins the substantial Chowan River as it prepares to empty into Albemarle Sound. This Inner Banks waterfront town was modern-day North Carolina's first Colonial capital. It is therefore rich in 18th century homes and historical landmarks, such as some of the oldest churches in the state, the oldest-operating Colonial Courthouse in the entire country, a harbor that was part of the Maritime Underground Railroad, and plenty of other entries on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the best ways to take in the history, and the relaxed beauty of the area is to sign up for the trolley tour. 

Boone

Let's head back into the Appalachians, this time in North Carolina's Northwest corner, where the idyllic high-country town of Boone awaits. Try a portion of the nearly East-Coast spanning Appalachian Trail, climb the ladders dispersed about the Grandfather and Daniel Boone Scout trails to experience the breathtaking views above deep and steep valleys, and/or delve right into the wild canyon cutting through Linville Gorge Wilderness. There is no shortage of photo-ops for those willing to work for it. At the same time, the Blue Ridge Parkway is always ready to provide sweeping vistas on a rest-day. Another fulfilling way to drink in the region's landscape is to participate in the Boone Area Wine Trail, which passes through the East Coast's highest elevation vineyards. 

New Bern

With easy access inland via the Neuse River, where it meets the Trent River, New Bern was initially deemed the capital of North Carolina. Though this honor has since been shifted to Raleigh, New Bern retains elegant charm. Plus, it's still the birthplace of Pepsi Cola, so that's pretty cool. But bragging rights aside, this little harbor town is not only a place to enjoy the water, but it is also part of the East Coast Greenway – a string of trails, bike paths, and roads that prioritize the public parks, gardens, other hiking trails, and the wild stretches of pine, oak, and hickory forest that run up and down the state (in New Bern's case, specifically, the Croatan National Forest). New Bern sits on the Complimentary Route, which is a more meandering trail that sticks even closer to the coast and uses ferries and bridges to complete its long run. A major attraction right in town is the Tryon Palace & NC History Museum. This massive, red-brick estate also includes 16-acres of lavish gardens. The stately aesthetic also bleeds into the downtown core, with many of its shops and eateries boasting beautiful facades. 

North Carolina paints with calming earthy tones. The deep green of the Appalachian highlands and the primordial blue of the Atlantic Ocean never gets old. Plus, this foundation is perfectly punctuated by the soft white sands of the Outer Banks and that angelic glow of an East Coast sunrise. The small towns across this Southwestern state also play their part in adding to the picture-perfect beauty – sprinkling fresh personality onto the timeless environments they are blessed to be in.