14 Off The Beaten Path Towns in North Carolina
North Carolina, known as the Tar Heel State to some, has a plethora of towns that are familiar to people who live as far away as California, Texas, and Florida. Behind these more famous places, there are some towns that are just as exhilarating though, even though they might not be recognized quite as easily. From Bryson City, known as the outdoor adventure capital of the Great Smoky Mountains, to Calabash, nicknamed the seafood capital of the world by some, here are over a dozen towns that fall under that category of being off the beaten path yet still possessing incredible amounts of outdoor fun and excitement for the entire family.
Bryson City
The quaint town of Bryson City lies along the southern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is also in close proximity to the Tuckasegee River, which runs through town, passes by the Swain County Park to the west, and runs into Fontana Lake. With a population of less than two thousand residents, this small, laid-back town has a casual ambiance mixed with a placating sense of excitement and adventure. Beyond the normal activities available through being just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryson City also offers opportunities for individuals and families alike to experience white-water rafting, try zip-lining for the first time, or hike the Deep Creek Trail, which passes three stunning waterfalls during its two-mile-long loop.
Banner Elk
Some distance to the northeast of Bryson City, in Avery County, the small town of Banner Elk is easily overlooked by most people visiting North Carolina. This is due to it being located deep within the Pisgah National Forest. Yet, this peaceful town of approximately a thousand people is worth visiting, especially if you enjoy the wonders of nature. From the Profile Trail at Grandfather Mountain State Park to Elk River Falls in the nearby town of Elk Park, adventure and excitement are available around every corner. Not only is Profile Trail worth checking out, as it is a seven-and-a-half mile hike up Grandfather Mountain and back, but the waterfall at Elk River Falls is said to be one of the most awe-inspiring waterfalls in the mountains of North Carolina.
Southport
The town of Southport, located in Brunswick County, has a variety of opportunities to enjoy the beauty of nature while staying relatively close to town. From taking the ferry across Cape Fear River to Carolina Beach, Fort Fisher, or Kure Beach and back, to a private tour of the lighthouses in the area, including Bald Head Lighthouse and Oak Island Lighthouse, the town of Southport is a haven for adventure. There are even several museums in town. The North Carolina Maritime Museum provides history about Southport as an upcoming coastal town while the Old Brunswick County Jail Museum gives visitors an idea of how it would have felt to be incarcerated back in the early twentieth century.
Black Mountain
Along with a historic district that includes several late 19th and early 20th century buildings, the quaint town of Black Mountain, located in Buncombe County, possesses several outdoor amenities that cater to the avid nature lover, like strolling around Lake Tomahawk Park and seeing if you can catch sight of the Seven Sisters, a well-known mountain range, or hiking one of the many trails in the area, including the West Ridge Trail, which leads from the second sister to Greybeard Mountain, and Catawba Falls Trail, which passes a hundred-foot-high waterfall. There is even a quaint bed & breakfast by the name of the Arbor House that sits on Lake Tomahawk, offering guests excellent views of the lake and the surrounding mountain ranges.
Manteo
On the opposite side of North Carolina, between Roanoke Sound and Croatan Sound, on Roanoke Island, the town of Manteo has a variety of activities that emphasize nature as well. The Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and the Elizabethan Gardens, best known for the sculpture of Virginia Dare from Italy, are well worth the visit. The Roanoke Island Festival and their interpretation of what 1585 was like for the English settlers is also a great way to spend some time with the family while visiting the town of Manteo. Plus, if you are an avid adventurer, there are also the two bodies of water, Roanoke Sound and Croatan Sound, which offer some of the best surfing in the Outer Banks.
Blowing Rock
Sharing parts of Watauga and Caldwell Counties, the town of Blowing Rock, which is quite near Banner Elk, is still unique in its own way. While Banner Elk possesses several outdoor adventures, like checking out the two different ski resorts, the town of Blowing Rock is known as the “Crown of the Blue Ridge Mountains” and has a variety of activities and attractions that call this peaceful little town home, including the Blowing Rock geological rock formation that gave the town its name in the first place. Also, just outside the town of Blowing Rock, the Blue Ridge Parkway links the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Virginia.
Hillsborough
The town of Hillsborough, about half-way between Greensboro and Durham, though it is along the way to both of these North Carolina cities, is forgotten by most and considered to be off the beaten path. While both of the cities offer a plethora of dining, lodging, and entertainment choices, the town of Hillsborough has some distinct attractions, amenities, and activities which set it apart and allow it to hold its own. Located along the Eno River, Hillsboro is home to the Handmade Parade, which shows homage to costumes constructed by hand every October, Moorfield’s Bluegrass Festival in September, and the Revolutionary War Living History Day, every March. Plus, just outside town, the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area has several excellent trails to explore with friends or family.
Carolina Beach
Across the waters of the Cape Fear River from Southport, in New Hanover County, the town of Carolina Beach has its own share of excitement, though it is considered to be somewhat off the beaten path. From the Carolina Beach State Park, which offers camping, fishing, and hiking, to the Boardwalk, which offers amusement rides, carnival food, and fun in the sun, the town of Carolina Beach is filled with excitement and awe-inspiring adventure. There are even several other attractions worthy of a visit to this small coastal town, like the beach, which is also called Carolina Beach, and the Fort Fisher Aquarium, which features Luna, a rare albino alligator, and much more.
Beaufort
Along the coast of North Carolina, approximately a hundred or so miles northeast of Carolina Beach and the mouth of the Cape Fear River, the town of Beaufort is another town that may be considered off the beaten path to most. Hidden behind Morehead City, Havelock, and Jacksonville, Beaufort is all but forgotten. Yet, this small costal town possesses a plethora of outdoor activities that make it a unique place to visit, whether it is winter, spring, summer, or fall. From seeing some of the pieces of Queen Anne’s Revenge (Blackbeard’s ship) in the Maritime Museum, to the Beaufort Historic Site, to Cape Lookout National Seashore, a barrier island with the Cape Lookout lighthouse, the town of Beaufort is filled with history for all ages.
Lake Lure
On the opposite side of North Carolina, near Forest City in Rutherford County, the town of Lake Lure is a haven for outdoor adventure, though most tend to miss most of it on the way to Ashville. Known best for Chimney Rock and Chimney Rock State Park, which has a couple of great trails, Hickory Nut Falls Trail and Skyline Trail, and a phenomenal waterfall, Lake Lure is an “off the beaten path” getaway for the entire family. Even without stopping by Chimney Rock, which is not suggested, there is still the lake to consider. Morse Park and Lake Lure offer visitors and residents alike opportunities to hike, swim, and boat with family, friends, or even solo.
Saluda
Hidden just beneath the town of Hendersonville, in Henderson County, the tiny town of Saluda, with a population of less than a thousand people, is as “off the beaten path” as a town could get. This does not prevent visitors to this tiny town from finding some fun and excitement, though. From Pearson’s Falls, a wildlife and bird sanctuary, to Melrose Falls, and its beautiful waterfall, to the Saluda Nature Park, there is something for everyone in this quaint North Carolina town. There are even opportunities for visitors to enjoy some tubing along the Green River with Living Waters Tubing, which offers guests delicious snacks and a great time with the family on the river.
Sneads Ferry
About half-way between Beaufort and Carolina Beach, in Onslow County, is the town of Sneads Ferry. Though the population of this charming, quaint town is just over two thousand residents, making it most definitely an “off the beaten path” town and a place without too many tourists, Sneads Ferry has a variety of activities and attractions that keep people coming back for more. From the Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival, held in September for the last fifty plus years, to all the river and ocean water sports and activities common along the New River and out on Onslow Bay, like fishing, boating, and jet-skiing, the town of Sneads Ferry is well worth the visit.
Sylva
Hidden away in the Plott Balsam Mountain Range, in Jackson County, the little town of Sylva possesses some great attributes that enable it to be mentioned as one of the best “off the beaten path” towns in all of North Carolina. From Poteet Park and Pinnacle Park, the latter having a seven-mile trail that climbs more than 3000 feet in elevation, to Wolf Creek Lake and Mark Watson Park, the town of Sylva is alive with natural wonders. It is also less than twenty miles southwest of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which offers the chance to get some great photos at the Wesner Bald, Yellow Face, or Fork Ridge Overlooks.
Calabash
The quaint town of Calabash, positioned in Brunswick County on the North/South Carolina border, along than being called the “seafood capital of the world” by some, is relatively close to a plethora of natural attractions, including the Shallotte River Swamp Park with zip-lining in the nearby town of Shallotte, Ingram Planetarium with laser shows of the stars in the town of Sunset Beach, and Sunset Beach itself, also in Sunset Beach. Plus, there is the Kindred Spirit Mailbox to visit on Sunset Beach, which is a famous mailbox on the beach filled with letters from grieving parents. Plus, just over the North/South Carolina border, the opportunity for a glass-bottom kayak tour is worth the drive.
Though the cities of the “Tar Heel State” are well worth mentioning, as there is a plethora of great activities to do and exciting attractions to see in each, there are also several great, small towns that tend to be forgotten by most in North Carolina. From Bryson City and the Tuckasegee River to Calabash and the Shallotte River, the fourteen towns above, though they are considered “off the beaten path” by most, possess much more than meets the eye.
