North Carolina is located in the southern region of the United States and is among the most beautiful states you should visit at any cost. North Carolina is home to several amazing mountain and beach towns offering picturesque views of nature.
The state is home to mountain towns preserved beautifully, and you can spend the beautiful time of your life here. The mountains are perfect for hiking and camping, and you can enjoy unreal scenery views while doing these activities. North Carolina isn’t only famous for the mountains and beaches but also for the food and beer. NC is simply heaven for beer lovers, and apart from beer, you can try delicious food at restaurants, which offer a variety of cuisines to choose from.
So North Carolina has almost everything to offer for a traveler. If you are visiting NC for the first time and confused about which mountain towns to stay in to have the best experience and fun, then don’t worry. We got you! We have come up with the best 15 mountain places you should visit in NC, and here is a list of them:
Asheville
Asheville is the hidden gem of North Carolina, and it has to offer countless activities. The town has to offer scenic views of nature, history, culture, food, and beer. If you want to spend some time in the water, head to the broad French river, where you can enjoy the water activities such as kayaking, paddling, and fishing.
The backbone of the town is Blue Mountain Ridge, and the tour to this town is incomplete without visiting the blue mountain ridge, where you can go hiking along the trails to enjoy the beautiful view of nature. You can have the opportunity to camp and enjoy a picking here too!
If you want to appreciate the art of the town, then you can roam around the city and enjoy the street art in the Rivers Arts District. The river art district is heaven for the art lover, and several exhibitions and festivals are held annually. Be sure to join one of them if they are happening during your time here.
Franklin
Franklin is heaven for nature lovers who want to spend real time in nature away from people. The mountain is perfect for people coming with families as it provides many kids activities where you can let your kids enjoy their time and carry on your fun. Franklin is located in the heart of the Nantahala National Forest and has to offer several outdoor activities in the center of the soul.
The must thing to do in Franklin is visit Wayah Bald Outlook, which you can climb to get fantastic views of nature. Enjoying the amazing scenery of the mountains isn’t the only thing to do as the mountain town is home to several museums. The museum which you should visit when in Franklin is the Scottish Tartans Museum, where you can learn about the emergence of the Scottish people in Franklin.
Banner Elk
Banner elk has a population of only 1200 people but is a famous tourist spot because of the sites and mountains it has to offer, such as Grandfather Mountain. The Banner Elk was a spot for fishing and hunting in the past, but there are many activities you can enjoy here.
As there are many mountains and you might be confused about where to hike or not, we have a suggestion for you. Go walking in the Grandfather Mountain National Park, where there are 12 miles of trails where you can go hiking. The hiking isn’t easy, and you may require climbing, too, but the scene during the hike is indescribable and jaw-dropping.
If the time is short, then the place you shouldn’t miss out on is the Pisgah national park, where you can go hiking and see the Elk river falls. The Elk River Falls is perfect for enjoying a picnic in the heart of nature with picturesque views.
Beech Mountain
If you want to enjoy the beautiful scenes of nature with the wind pushing against your face, then beech mountain is the perfect mountain town for you to visit. Beech Mountain is ideal to be seen in any season. During the summer, you can enjoy countless activities such as hiking, biking, roaming around the area, and shopping for local things.
Beech Mountain is open during the winter season, too. You can enjoy the water activities such as skiing, skateboarding, and skate rolling but be sure you can tolerate the intense winter of Beech Mountain.
Boone
Boone is located northwest of North Carolina and offers several outdoor activities, making it the best tourist spot. It is among the finest mountains of North Carolina head to the Boone to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you can go hiking and explore the hidden beauty of the mountains.
Hiking and exploring the mountains isn’t the only thing you can do here. One place you shouldn’t miss out on at any cost is the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park which offers the unreal scenery of nature. You can head to the Daniel Boone Native Garden, which is home to 200 plant species, and you can explore them while roaming around the park and enjoying a picnic here.
Brevard
Another lovely mountain town in North Carolina is Brevard, approximately 45 minutes from the famous Asheville mountain town. It is located on the base of Blue Mountain Ridge, and there are many activities you can do here, such as camping, hiking through the trails, or biking through the area. The mountain town is not only perfect for mountain activities, but it has to offer delicious food, brews, and impressive waterfalls. Brevard is home to more than 200 waterfalls where you can enjoy the fantastic view of nature.
Many waterfalls, such as Moore Cove, offer a beautiful view of nature. The best thing about the waterfall is that hiking to the Moore Cove Waterfall isn’t as challenging as others, and you can take your kids along.
Cherokee
Cherokee is a mountain town located in the heart of the Great Smokey Mountains. The best part about the Cherokee is that it is perfect to be visited along with the family as there are numerous activities you can enjoy here, such as hiking, delicious food, and exploring the region’s rich history.
The list of activities you can do in the Cherokee goes on. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Blue Ridge Park are the must-go places. You can also go swimming in the waterfalls or enjoy a picnic in the heart of the waterfalls with a picturesque view.
Hendersonville
Hendersonville, like Asheville, is among the hidden gems of North Carolina but has to offer a set of activities. You can start your day by visiting the Hendersonville Visitor Center, where you can appreciate the historic buildings built 200 years ago but renovated from time to time, such as the Henderson County Courthouse.
One of the best things to do in this mountain town is to visit Dupont Forest, where you can do many outdoor activities. You can go hiking and enjoy the beautiful views of nature and the waterfalls, such as Western North Carolina waterfalls.
Saluda
Saluda is a lovely mountain town that has become a famous tourist attraction in the past, and Saluda has a lot to offer when it comes to exploring the area. Hiking is a popular activity in the mountain town. Still, there are many other activities to do, such as visiting the shops, art galleries, and restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food.
Apart from hiking, biking, swimming, and fishing in the waterparks are the outdoor activities you can do here. Several festivals are occurring in the town, such as the Saluda art festival, and join one of them to have the maximum fun. The place ensures that you have the best time here.
Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock is located in the Northwest of North Carolina. The best thing to do in the Blowing Rock is a hike through the mystery mountain where you feel a bit different from the ordinary and sense that the law of gravity isn’t being obeyed here. It is one of the fun trips you can have while in Blowing Rock.
The downtown has several restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food that satisfies your taste buds.
Sylva
Sylva is located west of NC at the junction of the West fork and east fork rivers in Jackson county. It is located in the Great smoky mountains, where you can enjoy great activities such as hiking and camping. It is the best mountain town to spend your vacation in, and there is a sea of activities you can do while in Sylva.
Besides the Great Smoky Mountains, Sylva has a beautiful downtown where you can explore the area by visiting different shops and restaurants to enjoy delicious food. Other activities you can enjoy at the Sylva are swimming, fishing, and kayaking in the calm waters.
Morganton
Morganton is another beautiful mountain town which is located on the eastern side of North Carolina.
It has to offer the best views as it is surrounded by mountains from all four sides where you can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking through the area to enjoy the beautiful views of nature.
The main attraction of the Morgan is the Brown Mountain Lights, which is why thousands of travelers visit this place each year. Lake James state park and Pisgah National Forest are also worth visiting in the area, where it is best to enjoy several outdoor and water activities.
Murphy
Murphy is another great mountain town where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and waterfalls. There are several places and activities to do while in this mountain town. The must-see place in the murphy is the Fire Creek Recreational Area, which is excellent if you visit the site with family as it offers several activities for the kids. You can also get the chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, swimming, or simply enjoying a picnic with the family.
Another highlight of the area is Hiwassee Dam which is used to produce electricity, but recently it has become a historic landmark and is visited by many people.
Maggie Valley
Maggie Valley, located approximately 1,500 feet above sea level, is a mountain town near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and two national forests. Like other mountain towns, Maggie Valley has fantastic scenery.
Maggie Valley is heaven for the motorcyclist; if you want to see the antique pieces of the motorcycles, head to the Wheels Through Time Museum. The Maggie Valley has several waterfalls where you can swim and relax your day.
Black Mountain
Last but not the tiniest mountain town which is best to visit in North Carolina is Black Mountain. It’s the hidden gem of the NC where you can sit back and relax while enjoying a scenic view of nature.
The Black Mountain town also has several shops where you can go shopping. There are some of the finest trails, and one of them is the grey bed trail, where you can go for a hike and enjoy the beautiful views of nature.
So that’s all about the best mountain towns in North Carolina. Head to NC to enjoy your best time here.
