Places to Explore In The North Carolina Mountains

Banner Elk

Surrounded by the lofty peaks of Grandfather, Hanging Rock, Beech, and Sugar Mountains, this ski resort bills itself as the "highest town in...

• 1 Restaurants
• 1 Hotels
• 1 Things To Do

Black Mountain

Black Mountain is a small town that has played a disproportionately large role in American cultural history because of the college located nearby...

• 1 Restaurants
• 0 Hotels
• 2 Things To Do

Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock, a draw for mountain visitors since the 1880s, has retained the flavor of a quiet New England village, with stone walls and buildings...

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• 2 Hotels
• 2 Things To Do

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway's 252 miles within North Carolina wind down the High Country through Asheville, ending near the entrance of Great Smoky...

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• 1 Hotels
• 9 Things To Do

Boone

This college town is home to Appalachian State University (ASU) and its 18,000 students. Suburban sprawl has arrived, especially along U.S....

• 2 Restaurants
• 2 Hotels
• 1 Things To Do

Brevard

This small town in the Pisgah National Forest has a friendly, highly walkable downtown. In summer, more than 400 talented music students from...

• 5 Restaurants
• 2 Hotels
• 6 Things To Do

Bryson City

Bryson City is a little mountain town on the Nantahala River, one of the lesser-known gateways to the Great Smokies. The town's most striking...

• 2 Restaurants
• 4 Hotels
• 4 Things To Do

Cashiers

Cashiers (pronounced CASH-ers) is not quite a town. Until recently, it was just a crossroads with a store or two, a summer getaway for wealthy...

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• 1 Things To Do

Cherokee

The Cherokee Qualla Boundary consists of almost 57,000 acres, and the town of Cherokee is its capital. Truth be told, there are two Cherokees...

• 2 Restaurants
• 1 Hotels
• 4 Things To Do

Chimney Rock and Lake Lure

Chimney Rock and neighboring Lake Lure—both day trips from Asheville—were the dream projects of a single man, Dr. Lucius Morse. In the early...

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Dillsboro

• 3 Restaurants
• 2 Hotels
• 2 Things To Do

Flat Rock

Flat Rock has been a summer resort since the early 19th century. It was a favorite of wealthy planters from Charleston eager to escape the Lowcountry...

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• 2 Things To Do

Hendersonville

With about 14,000 residents, Hendersonville has one of the most engaging downtowns of any small city in the South. Historic Main Street, as...

• 3 Restaurants
• 1 Hotels
• 1 Things To Do

Highlands

Highlands is a tiny town of only 900 people, but the surrounding area swells to 20,000 or more in summer and fall, when those with summer homes...

• 3 Restaurants
• 1 Hotels
• 4 Things To Do

Hot Springs

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Lake Toxaway

A century ago, a group called the Lake Toxaway Company created a 640-acre lake in the high mountains between Brevard and Cashiers. Nearby, a...

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• 1 Hotels
• 0 Things To Do

Robbinsville

If you truly want to get away from everything, head to the area around Robbinsville in the far southwest corner of North Carolina, a little...

• 1 Restaurants
• 5 Hotels
• 4 Things To Do

Valle Crucis

This tiny mountain town has the state's first rural historic district; vintage stores line the downtown streets. ...

• 1 Restaurants
• 1 Hotels
• 1 Things To Do

Waynesville

This is where the Blue Ridge Parkway meets the Great Smokies. Waynesville is the seat of Haywood County. About 40% of the county is occupied...

• 4 Restaurants
• 3 Hotels
• 5 Things To Do