10 Unspoiled Small Towns in North Carolina
Spanning from the misty Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the fantastic beaches of the Outer Banks on the east, North Carolina boasts ample natural assets within its borders. As one of the primary Thirteen Colonies, the Tarheel State is esteemed for its undefiled environments, storied past, flourishing cultures, and superb recreational opportunities. Even though populated metropolises like Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, and the state capital, Raleigh, are preferred by many vacationers, the innumerable unspoiled tiny communities are repetitiously unnoticed! Let us embark on a trip and discover the uniqueness of each of these North Carolina towns.
Pinehurst
A charming New England-style community in Moore County, Pinehurst is christened after its placement in an area full of sky-high, long-leaf pines at the heart of the state. Lovingly dubbed “Home of American Golf,” a greater part of the central village, including the resort complexes, has been tagged a ‘National Landmark Historic District’ for its characteristic landscaping and notability in the nation’s golf history. The renowned Pinehurst Resort, Country Club of North Carolina, Rassie Wicker Park, Tufts Archives, Pinehurst Harness Track, Mystic Cottage, Carolina Hotel, Camelot Playground, and Sandhills Horticultural Gardens are some outstanding points of interest. The town also hosts numerous wonderful concerts, antique fairs, street festivals, theatrical performances, and equestrian events year-round.
Bryson City
Swain County’s administrative center, Bryson City, is a peaceful, all-weather Great Smoky Mountain town located about 65 miles from Asheville, directly west of Tuckasegee River and Deep Creek. Owing to the town’s location to the west of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s entryway, it has helped to make it a well-liked holiday spot offering engaging outdoor activities for thrill-seekers. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, one of the country’s most favored tourist railroads, provides unparalleled vistas of the Nantahala Valley, wooing more than 200,000 passengers every year. Adventurists can participate in various leisure pursuits along the Fontana Lake, the Nantahala River, and the Nantahala National Forest. The Swain County Visitor Center & Heritage Museum, Smoky Mountain Trains Museum, and Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians are must-stops for heritage lovers. At the same time, The Bistro at the Everett Hotel is apt for partners who wish to enjoy a romantic supper.
Saluda
Extending across the Polk and Henderson Counties, Saluda is a scenic alpine hamlet recognized for its location atop Saluda Grade of the Norfolk Southern Railway, exactly 35 miles south of Asheville. Excursionists on a trip to Saluda should take a serene saunter down the tree-lined Main Street and be impressed by the exquisite Victorian homes, shops like Saluda Outfitters, general stores like the M. A. Pace General Store, art galleries like Wood Berry Gallery featuring Western North Carolina’s contemporary art and fine crafts, and restaurants like The Purple Onion and Green River Eddy’s Tap Room & Grill. For those wishing to cultivate companionship within the bosom of nature, head straight to the nearby wilderness areas like the DuPont State Recreational Forest, Green River Gorge, Pisgah National Forest, and the myriad trails and parks managed by the Saluda Community Land Trust. Annually, the town serves as a venue for the Coon Dog Day Festival, Saluda Arts Festival, and the Saluda Hometown Christmas Festival.
Boone
Boone, the Watauga County seat named in honor of the illustrious American pioneer Daniel Boone, is situated at an elevation of 3,333 ft circled by the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern part of the state. Dubbed “The Heart of the High Country,” Boone is the biggest community and economic mecca of the seven-county region of western North Carolina. In addition to being home to the Appalachian State University’s principal campus and Samaritan’s Purse’s international headquarters, the convenient location of Boone has transformed it into the most enviable spot for open-air entertainment. Do visit the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, Grandfather Mountain, Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, Jones House Community Center, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Kidd-Brewer Stadium. Creative connoisseurs witness the nation’s oldest Revolutionary War drama performance at the Daniel Boone Amphitheater every summer.
Blowing Rock
Set on the Blue Ridge Mountains crest, this mesmeric hillside community spread across the Watauga and Caldwell counties has been baptized after a projecting rock formation that overlooks the Johns River Gorge, providing awe-inspiring panoramas of the vicinal region. The Green Park Inn, Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine, Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, Julian Price Memorial Park, and Mystery Hill, together with multiple breathtaking cascades such as the Glen Marie Falls and Glen Burney Falls, are some iconic sights which must not be missed. Annually, try to attend the Independence Day festivities & parade, Blowing Rock Winterfest, Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival, Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show, and Christmas in the Park & Lighting of the Town.
Manteo
Manteo, named after a Croatan Native American, is the seat of Dare County, located on the north-central part of Roanoke Island by the side of the protected Shallowbag Bay. Publicly known for its proximity to the Outer Banks, this bucolic coastal settlement has magnetized vacationers for ages. Incalculable gift shops like Roanoke Marshes Trading Co., independent bookstores like Downtown Books, coffee shops like Front Porch Café-Manteo, accommodations like Scarborough Inn, and eateries like Darrell’s Seafood Restaurant and TL’S Family Restaurant cram the downtown along the waterfront. When visiting Manteo, tourists must stop by the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, Roanoke Island Festival Park, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Washington Creef House, Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, John T. Daniels House, Elizabethan Gardens, and Theodore S. Meekins House, apart from watching an outdoor drama performance in a Waterside Theatre. Also, try to attend the town’s yearly events, such as the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, Dare Day celebrations, and New World Festival of the Arts.
Beaufort
The fourth oldest town of the state, Beaufort, the administrative center of southeastern North Carolina’s Carteret County, is placed right on the Beaufort Harbor just opposite Morehead City and linked by the Beaufort Inlet with the Atlantic. Rated by readers of Budget Travel Magazine as ‘America’s Coolest Small Town,’ this 4,464-inhabitant community invites holidaymakers to walk down the Beaufort Historic District and admire the time-honored buildings in different architectural styles skirting the narrow oak-lined streets. Furthermore, the town’s scalable downtown, brimming with a plethora of boutiques like Harbor Specialties, art centers like Craving Art Studio Fine Art, coffee shops like Historic Grounds Coffee Shop, and restaurants like Front Street Grill and Beaufort Café, is considered one of the Inner Banks region’s lauded town centers. Travelers gotta check out the noteworthy sites of interest such as the Old Burying Ground, Fishtowne Brewhouse, Gibbs House, Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market, Carteret County Home, North Carolina Maritime Museum, Jacob Henry House, and Beaufort Historic Site Visitor Center & Museum. The Rachel Carson Preserve is ideal for birdwatching, hiking the primal trails, and spotting horses. Finally, visitors can also hop aboard the Island Express Ferry to reach the adjacent Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Hillsborough
Orange County’s seat of government, Hillsborough, is situated alongside the Eno River in the state’s north-central portion, approximately 10 miles northwest of Durham. Over a hundred meticulously maintained late 18th and 19th-century properties fill the town’s National Register-listed Downtown Hillsborough Historic District. Some remarkable examples include the Old Orange County Courthouse, Margaret Lane Cemetery, Poplar Hill, Alexander Dickson House, Green Hill, Ayr Mount, the Occoneechee Speedway Trail, and the Inn at Teardrops. The Riverwalk, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, and Eno River State Park are perfect places to spend some wonderful moments with family members amidst the greens. Merrymakers must take some time off from their crazy schedules to attend yearly festivities like the Solstice Celebration Lantern Walk, Hog Day BBQ Festival, and the ‘Art in the Heart of Hillsborough.’
Banner Elk
This picturesque Avery County town, part of North Carolina High Country’s Blue Ridge Mountains, is less than 20 miles from Boone. Flawlessly fusing small-town ambiance with big-city conveniences, travelers visiting Banner Elk can appreciate the town’s cultural richness aside from partaking in many outdoor activities. Skiing and snowboarding activities can be availed during the cooler months at the Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain ski resorts, while water-based recreations are popular in areas around the pristine Watauga Lake, in addition to tasting and blueberry-picking activities at any of the town’s wineries: Grandfather Vineyard & Winery and Banner Elk Winery. With umpteen prize-winning restaurants such as the Sorrento’s Bistro, Artisanal Restaurant, and the Pedalin’ Pig BBQ, the town is reputed for its dynamic culinary scene. On the third weekend of October every year, Banner Elk celebrates the woolly worm’s presumed weather-forecasting abilities regarding the upcoming wintry season with the Woolly Worm Festival.
Sylva
Set in the Plott Balsam Mountains at the nucleus of Jackson County in the western portion of the state, Sylva is placed close to two widely known holiday spots: the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Cherokee Indian Reservation and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Anchored by the most snapped Jackson County Courthouse (at present, the Jackson County Public Library), the “all American” Main Street of this pretty 2,578-inhabitant alpine community is chockablock with gift shops like B & B Gifts & Interiors, coffee shops like Blue Ridge Bootleg Coffee, bookstores like Jackson County Friends of the Library Used Bookstore, art galleries like Gallery 1 Sylva, bakeries like Cotton Leigh Bakery, and restaurants like Meatballs Pizzeria and Lulu’s On Main. The Appalachian Women’s Museum, American Museum of the House Cat, and Museum of the Cherokee Indians are must-visits for history buffs, whereas to witness matchless views of the Scotts Creek Valley and the entire town, adventurists should trek to the top of The Pinnacle. Annually, Concerts on the Creek, Hook, Line & Drinker Festival, and Greening Up The Mountains Festival draw thousands of merrymakers to Sylva.
From the high-elevation settlement of Boone to the ravishing waterfront locale Manteo, the untouched small towns in the 9th most populous and 28th most extensive state of the country present priceless memories and an all-inclusive experience for all visitors. Boasting magnificent natural sceneries, historically important structures, colorful celebrations, profuse outdoor recreations, and hospitable natives, these Old North State towns will surely not let you down on your weekend getaways, extended breaks, or romantic escapades.
