Small Towns in North Carolina

1. Brevard

Brevard is a lovely Transylvania County town nestled within the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, known for its excellent outdoor recreational opportunities and small-town charm. The city has received many accolades from international publications, including listings on Budget Travel's Coolest Small Towns and National Geographic's Top 50 of the World's Last Great Places lists. Couples can explore the city's quaint downtown district, which is home to delightful shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Nearby, Pisgah National Forest offers opportunities for mountain biking, rock climbing, ziplining, hiking, and kayaking along the waters of the French Broad River. Each year, the city's White Squirrel Festival honors the region's large populations of albino squirrels with live music, arts and crafts booths, and local food vendors.

2. Bald Head Island

Bald Head Island is the southernmost settlement in North Carolina, located along the tip of beautiful Cape Fear. The island, which was featured prominently as a main setting in the feature film Weekend at Bernie's, is the home of three gorgeous lighthouses, including the 1817 Old Baldy Lighthouse, which is open to the public today for guided tours by docents of the Smith Island Museum. 14 miles of stunning pristine beachfront beckon visitors, creating a perfect backdrop for romantic sunset strolling or lively water sports. Couples can rent beautiful villas, cottages, and guest houses throughout the island for secluded romantic getaways throughout the year. Many rentals offer complimentary admission to the amenities of the island's Shoals Club and Bald Head Island Club, which are home to luxurious spas, spacious marinas, and upscale restaurants.

3. Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock is a lovely western North Carolina village, named in honor of its unique rock formation of the same name, which juts out 1,500 feet over the Johns River gorge. Visitors can scale the rock for unparalleled views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, which are also accessible via the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway drive. Regional artwork is on display at the lovely Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, while Tweetsie Railroad is home to North Carolina's only fully-functional steam engine train, along with a variety of family-friendly amusement park rides and attractions. Beautiful Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is home to a preserved 1901 mansion and country estate, while Annie Cannon Gardens serves as a trailhead for exploring the nearby Glen Burney and Glen Marie waterfalls. Annual special events include the summertime Art in the Park Festival and the city's Lighting of the Town event, which showcases a holiday parade and a Christmas in the Park celebration.

4. Boone

Boone is a charming Blue Ridge Mountains town named in honor of famed American pioneer Daniel Boone, known for its historic attractions connected to the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Spacious Daniel Boone Park is home to the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, which recreates pioneer homestead life during the 18th century. Couples can take in performances of the acclaimed Horn in the West seasonal drama, which brings the region's Revolutionary War history to life and explores the pioneer struggles of historical figures like Boone. The region is also known as a hub for bluegrass musicians and Appalachian storytelling, associated with 20th-century performers like Doc Watson and Michael Houser. The lovely Blue Ridge Parkway passes through the city's limits, offering unparalleled views of the nearby mountain range.

5. Bryson City

Bryson City is a lovely North Carolina town that serves as a gateway to the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The charming town offers a less-touristy alternative to Smoky Mountains resort areas like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, home to a quaint downtown district that highlights art galleries, chocolatiers, and craft breweries. It has been named as one of America's top 20 small towns to visit by the Smithsonian, acclaimed for its excellent outdoor recreational opportunities within the Gorge and Nantahala National Forest. Couples can whitewater raft on the Tuckasegee River, hike along the famed Appalachian Trail, or enjoy prime opportunities for kayaking, paddle boarding, and fly fishing. Area attractions include the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians, the Smoky Mountains Trains Museum, and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which offers scenic rides throughout the park during the year.

6. Cape Hatteras

Cape Hatteras has been named as one of America's top 10 beaches by Forbes, CNN, and the Travel Channel, known for its expansive stretches of sand dune, marsh, and maritime forest beach environments. The cape extends along a chain of islands off the North Carolina coastline into the Atlantic Ocean, adjacent to the state's Outer Banks region. It is home to the beautiful Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which protects the barrier islands of Hatteras Island, Bodie Island, and Ocracoke Island. Couples can explore the park's lovely visitor beachfronts, nature trails, and historic lighthouses throughout the year or camp overnight at several designated campgrounds. More than 70 miles of beachfront stretch along the cape throughout its islands, offering multiple boating access ramps and boardwalks. On Hatteras Island, visitors can explore the community of Hatteras Village, which is home to locally-owned restaurants and quaint rental condos.

1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954, Phone: 252-473-2111

7. Cashiers

Cashiers is a lovely Jackson County vacation destination located within the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, located just an hour from Asheville via scenic Highway 64. The city, which sits at an elevation of more than 3,500 feet within the gorgeous Nantahala National Forest, is known as a top spot for outdoor recreational activities within western North Carolina, including excellent opportunities for hiking at picturesque Whiteside and Yellow Mountains. Nantahala National Forest and Gorges State Park opportunities for hiking to waterfalls, including Schoolhouse Falls, Silver Run Falls, and Rainbow Falls. Nearby, Lake Glenville offers amazing opportunities for boating, while the Horsepasture and Chattooga National Wild and Scenic Rivers are prime spots for fly fishing. In town, couples can stroll through the beautiful 12-acre outdoor sculpture park at Cashiers NC Park, explore historic sites such as the 1852 Zachary-Tolbert House, or hang out and sample Bavarian-style beers at hip craft brewery Whiteside Brewing, a part of the Jackson County Ale Trail.

8. The Crystal Coast

The Crystal Coast stretches for 85 beautiful miles along North Carolina's Atlantic Ocean coastline, extending from the gorgeous Cape Lookout National Seashore to the banks of the New River. The popular tourist area, which is named for its lovely crystal-clear waters, is home to pristine beachfront stretches like the Circle, home to amusement rides and souvenir shops near the causeway to Morehead City. Excellent opportunities for diving and fishing line the region's coastline, which has been acclaimed for its near-perfect diving conditions by Scuba Diving Magazine. Historic Beaufort, located on Harkers Island, is home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum, which houses artifacts from the Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck, and the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, which preserves local decoy carvings. More than 100 restaurants line the region's tourist areas, along with full-service hotels such as the Doubletree Atlantic Beach.