western north carolina cities

Boone is a college town (home to Appalachian State University) just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photograph by Caitlin Ragan. Prefer live music? The Cliffs at Mountain Park 2019 America's Best Neighborhoods Western South Carolina Learn More. The Bowie-Seagraves Municipal Park keeps families active with tennis and basketball courts, a playground, baseball field, and walking trail. The Tarheel State is a land of many features: to the east, the stunning beaches of the Outer Banks; to the west, spectacular mountain ranges including the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains. For those already in-the-know, taking a painting class at The Bascom, touring the Highlands Botanical Garden, or catching a performance at Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center might be in order. While Charlotte is the most popular N.C. city, Raleigh is the state’s capital. Asheville, WNC's largest city (Pop.1990 61,607) is located in the French Broad River valley, which basically lies in the center of North Carolina's Mountain region. There are also three downtown bookstores: the well-stocked Friends of the Library Used Bookstore, Harry Alter Books (home to vintage and rare volumes), and the standout City Lights Bookstore, which doubles as a classy yet casual café. The good thing is that for a town that takes up a mere 6.2 square miles, there’s no shortage of choices. Western North Carolina, or “WNC,” consists of the mountainous areas west of Charlotte, NC all the way west to the Tennessee state line, as far north as the border with Virginia, and as far south as the South Carolina state line. It’s a very convenient location for people that work in Asheville and want their own community in a quieter, slower-paced town. Road map of North Carolina with cities. Local towns near Western Carolina University. The Blue Ridge Mountains that cover Western NC provide a lifetime of outdoor adventure! Visit Bridge Park Pavilion, the town’s newest public venue, for the free down-home Concerts on the Creek staged every Friday night in the summer. Learn more at www.discoverfranklinnc.com. Specific spots within these places are not counted though. M.A. Mitchell Craft Fair, which takes over Burnsville’s quaint town square and celebrates its 60th anniversary in June, offers even more opportunity to shop for local art and crafts. The area also features such attractions, historical sites, and geological formations as Linville Caverns, Grandfather Mountain, and Blowing Rock. Sometimes, smaller is better. From the coast to the mountains, North Carolina has charm to spare. One contributing factor to the overall safety of Western NC may be the small size of the towns and cities here. But Banner Elk, it’s just about perfect.” Learn more at www.bannerelk.org. Smaller than Black Mountain, Weaverville is a great option for golfers (see Reems Creek Golf Community) or those looking for a more rural feel but not too far from Asheville. At 3,333 feet elevation, Boone has cooler summer weather and several nearby ski resorts to take advantage of its more alpine winter environment. While maintaining a year-round population of a lucky few, this isolated, high-elevation outpost draws an elite crowd of vacationers and second-homeowners from places like Charleston, Atlanta, and Knoxville. For example, the WNC Nature Center or Apple Hill Farm within a certain town are mentioned, but not a part of the count. Bryson City feels like a place in a pleasant state of perpetual motion. These places make visitors wish they were residents. Maggie Valley is more seasonal, focusing more on tourism than Waynesville. Learn more at www.exploretryon.com. Map Of Western north Carolina Counties Map Of north Carolina Cities north Carolina Road Map North Carolina is a give access in the southeastern region of the united States. Learn more at www.mainstreetsylva.org, Photograph Courtesy of Hot Springs Tourism Association. In addition to that, there is a major financial and banking center in the middle of the state with Charlotte. If you’re new to the area, we highly recommend an exploratory visit or two. Nestled along the banks of the French Broad River, Marshall, NC is an old mill town with several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Blowing Rock’s cool breezes and guest rooms started drawing visitors in the 1880s, and it’s still among the East’s premier places to savor summer. 1379x784 / 644 Kb Go to Map. Shopping options include home accouterments at A Touch of Cass and 5,000 square feet of art and antiques at Menagerie Mercantile, while the list of restaurants ranges from pancake breakfasts and pulled-pork lunches at Pig & Grits to pub fare and pints at the local watering hole, Snap Dragon. To truly soak up the town, try the 100-acre Hot Springs Resort & Spa. North Carolina Mountains Map: The mountains of North Carolina are located across the western end of the state and extend from the Georgia and South Carolina borders to the Tennessee and Virginia lines. Asheville also has an airport that allows for easy access for residents to travel and visit family in other parts of the country and for visitors to come in. 2326x955 / 759 Kb Go to Map. Montreat is home to a college, a conference center, and the town itself, and all share the same name. North Carolina is a welcome in the southeastern region of the allied States. Its quaint, walkable downtown is bursting with activity and only 10 minutes from Asheville. It’s almost impossible to write an article about Western North Carolina without talking about the weather. 919x809 / 351 Kb Go to Map. Flanked by Beech and Sugar mountains, home to the state’s two biggest snow resorts, Banner Elk is the region’s quintessential ski town and much more. We’d love to discuss these areas with you and give you some direction as you learn which areas best fit your lifestyle and budget. Adding to that buzz, Franklin has several noteworthy restaurants, including Caffé REL (an unassuming option due to its location adjacent the Hot Spot gas station) and The Bowery, with chic décor and modern cuisine that are more akin to something found in New York City’s rags-to-riches Bowery District than a small mountain town. Cities in Western South Carolina. And with outdoors retailer Mountain Outfitters in town, West Jefferson makes a great base from which to explore the New River. Brevard is often called “Land of Waterfalls,” as it is surrounded by Pisgah National Forest, and is home to approximately 250 waterfalls! 13 Best Small Towns in Western North Carolina. Asheville Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina. Located in McDowell County (west of Asheville), Marion is a growing town with still relatively affordable real estate, lower elevation (1400 feet), and easy access to Lake James. Learn more at www.greatsmokies.com. The creative spirit can also be found at Bohemia, a gallery, coffee shop, and community gathering hot spot. Some of the area’s best pies are made at Blue Mountain Pizza, and other nearby standouts include Creperie Café, Glass Onion, Main Street Grill, Soba Sushi & Noodles, and Twisted Laurel. The average price for a single-family home in the Asheville region (as of May 2019) is $313,000, while the average price per square foot is $159. Biltmore Estate, built by George Vanderbilt in 1895 as a retreat after he acquired the land, is another great place to visit. Map of Eastern Western Carolina. The mountains of Western NC offer incredible hiking and mountain biking with spectacular views! Here are a few of those markets to consider: Of course, there are many other towns and several other counties in Western North Carolina to consider. The Cliffs at Keowee Falls 2019 America's Best Neighborhoods Western South Carolina Learn More. The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina For 2021. For on-the-go fare, the Filling Station Deli & Sub Shop makes sandwiches that would cause even a big city resident’s stomach to growl. Brevard is another quintessential mountain town with a cute downtown, offering a variety of restaurants and shopping. Shops put out bowls of water and offer treats for dogs, and several breweries have outdoor areas where dogs are allowed. Chris Kolmar , RoadSnacks January 5, 2021 - 562,592 views . Western North Carolina is no longer a well-kept secret. With the second largest downtown area in Western North Carolina, there are more than 100 shops and 25 restaurants to explore. Its restaurants offer just enough variety to keep the locals happy and attract culinary visitors. Every July, the town is ground zero for a most-unusual festival: Coon Dog Day, which began as a fund-raiser for the local Coon Club and now draws nearly 10,000 people for live music, crafts, a parade, 5K race, and even a barking contest. There are lots of big chain stores to go to and plenty of restaurants to eat at. A number of shops (like adorable Reign by RB clothing and gift boutique), a public park, and a greenway attract visitors and residents alike, though the historical and cultural attractions are truly what set this town apart. What’s more, Franklin has three distinct museums within walking distance. M.A. Must-see attractions in Asheville include the Western North Carolina Nature Center, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and the beautiful 434-acre North Carolina Arboretum.The surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains provide many outdoor adventures for the active traveler. Large Detailed Tourist Map of North Carolina With Cities and Towns Click to see large. North Carolina highway map. Many families head to the mountains of western North Carolina for summertime fun, but it turns out there’s plenty to do when the temperatures reach their icy lows, too. Several Western NC towns made the list, including Fletcher (#3), Woodfin (#12), and Black Mountain (#20). Nestled in the vast woodlands of Transylvania County in western North Carolina is the small town of Brevard. For finer dining, Cork & Bean Bistro is among the ready options, and the owners recently opened The Everett Hotel in the same former bank building that houses the restaurant, featuring boutique-style lodging and a primo rooftop deck on which to wind down. Many of their works can be found at The Design Gallery or at the Toe River Arts Council in downtown. We used data and science to identify the most dangerous cities in the Tar Heel State for 2021. Those that are within two hours were included in our guide to day trips from Asheville. The map below, a North Carolina Mountains Map, is interactive and you may click on any city to go to the Visitor Guide for that NC city. Contact us to find the best place to live in the greatest part of North Carolina! Fall is what Western North Carolina is known for, with some of the most spectacular fall colors anywhere in North America, and the days are still warm enough for outside activities and dining alfresco. Home to Pinehurst, one of the country’s most beloved golf courses, Seagrove, the handmade-pottery capital of the U.S., and Biltmore, America’s largest home, North Carolina has a … Art enthusiasts should visit Miya Gallery and Mangum Pottery and catch the annual Art in Autumn festival as well as the biannual Weaverville Art Safari. Asheville is the de facto capital of Western North Carolina. To the northeast are the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains. One of the earliest attractions was The Blowing Rock, with awesome vistas of Grandfather Mountain. In the Tar Heel State, there are so many great small towns—far too many to count—so choosing our favorites is a monumentally challenging task. Prettiest Small Town in America by TripAdvisor, list of the safest towns in North Carolina. Though if you want to explore more in depth, embark on TRAC’s biannual Studio Tour, held every June and December. Lake James is not far away, and there are great amenities in a town like Catawba Meadows Park. Western North Carolina, or “WNC,” consists of the mountainous areas west of Charlotte, NC all the way west to the Tennessee state line, as far north as the border with Virginia, and as far south as the South Carolina state line. 713} Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. North Carolina is the 28th most extensive and the 9th most populous of the U.S. states. Appalachian Outfitters is an anchor for outdoorsmen of every ilk, especially fishermen. The nights could still be cool enough to warrant a light jacket while walking around a downtown area like Asheville, Black Mountain, or Brevard. Map Of Western north Carolina Cities Map Of north Carolina Cities north Carolina Road Map. In 2018, home security company Safewise released a list of the safest towns in North Carolina. Surrounded by mountains, Bryson City is right next to the Tuckasegee River in western North Carolina. In the historic downtown, La Bouteille wine and beer shop provides a wide variety of craft libations and features weekly tastings. The movie Dirty Dancing helped put it on the map, but the incredible golfing, hiking, and boating keep tourists and real estate buyers coming back. Population: 467,000 people. Apex is on the rise to becoming a more popular area with lots of new buildings (stores, apartments, etc.) Mitchell Scenic Byway, which meanders through the lovely Toe River Valley. And Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church is one of Ashe County’s two renowned churches open to visitors featuring fresco paintings by internationally noted Asheville artist Ben Long. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. There are a total of 760 towns and cities in the state of North Carolina. Pace General Store. And the stone structures on campus are historic landmarks that are increasingly appreciated on walking tours offered through the Civil War-era Banner House Museum. Nearby Penland School of Crafts has certainly played a role in establishing the Burnsville area as a haven for high-caliber artisans. Visitors flock to this area all throughout the year, and many of them come here with the hope of finding real estate to buy. Alphabetical list of North Carolina Cities . These two towns are located very close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making them a popular vacation area in the summer. Or it might include a luxurious day of pampering at the award-winning spa at Old Edwards Inn. Your email address will not be published. Book a room at one of these great accommodations: Main Street Inn, a boutique hotel in a beautifully renovated farmhouse (www.mainstreet-inn.com), The Park On Main, a dog-friendly luxury hotel (www.theparkonmain.com), or Old Edwards Inn & Spa, a European-style resort and spa (www.oldedwardsinn.com). The Saluda Grade Cafe serves up a wide variety of bistro classics bent toward Southern fare, and the Purple Onion is a consummate host of live music while offering one of the region’s more diverse menus. The regional steeplechase horse race dates back to 1929, and the freshly opened Tryon International Equestrian Center is catapulting the area’s equine legacy to a new level, hosting world champions in a state-of-the-art facility that also boasts restaurants and lodging. Montreat, NC may be the most unique town in this list. Greenville. Learn more at www.exploreburnsville.com. Downtown is also home to antique shops and Heartwood Gallery, which features a carefully curated spread of locally made creations. Learn more at www.hotspringsnc.org. But it’s not just the national forests that will make your pup feel welcome. There are also several breweries, including one of our new favorites, Brevard Brewing Company. There's no better place to experience this geographic icon than along South Carolina's western lake coast. Learn more at www.visitcherokeecountync.com. The evening could be capped with fine dining at a posh restaurant like Paoletti’s or On The Verandah. Real Estate Taxes: 0.020%. 3524x3585 / 5,33 Mb Go to Map. Map of Eastern North Carolina. Learn more at www.saluda.com. Few towns can claim that their primary access is via an official scenic route, yet for Highlands, the winding drive through the Cullasaja River Gorge along Mountain Waters Scenic Byway is only part of the allure. At the end of some of these trails are rock climbing and bouldering sites! Montreat’s incredible hiking trail system is open to the public and is also home to the famous Mt. Winters are mostly mild, except in the higher elevations. It’s little wonder authors Jan Karon and Tom Robbins hail from here—a tiny but inspiring town that calls itself “The Crown of the Blue Ridge.”. For the less literary-minded, Sylva offers fun eats at Mad Batter Food and Film, which shows free movies while you dine, and finer fare at the lauded Lulu’s on Main, to name just two of the town’s popular restaurants. An hour away from Asheville, it is conveniently located for those in search of a quick trip away from city life. Just what is it that makes a small town great? MOUNTAIN LIVING IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. And Sylva boasts not one but two microbreweries: Innovation Brewing and Heinzelmännchen Brewery. A gem of a Jackson County town, small but bustling Sylva is home to dozens of independent shops, eateries, and places to raise a glass. The mix of great shopping, impeccable restaurants (many of which boast Wine Spectator awards of excellence), and cultural and outdoor offerings keeps locals and visitors satiated year round. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a2f96be585b6d7403e7bfcd683283928" );document.getElementById("a69035bc7b").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. Top 10 biggest cities by population are Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, Wilmington, High Point, and Concord. We found out by exploring 13 in Western North Carolina that share some characteristics—a population under 5,000, a pedestrian-friendly downtown, ample food and nightlife options—but possess unique attributes as well. You can climb as high as 6,684 feet elevation at Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the Eastern United States! In a couple hours of strolling, you can take in the Swain County Heritage Museum (a treasure trove of mountain history), the town’s Island Park (a shaded retreat tucked, like Bryson City itself, on the shores of the Tuckasegee River), and dozens of shops, bakeries, cafés, and art galleries. Stick around for a class and you might feel so inclined to become one yourself. Since the area is rich in these natural resources, the town has much to offer as a home base for wild wanderings. Photograph by Caitlin Ragan. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. More Information. Weaverville’s Main Street is the epitome of small-town charm. Photograph by Jackson County Tourism Development Authority. Just a few steps away is Iron Horse Station, a combination inn, restaurant, tavern, and shops. Among the many studios and galleries is the recently expanded Tryon Fine Arts Center, which hosts art exhibitions as well as concerts, community theater presentations, TEDx talks, classic films, and the Tryon Little Theater for children. Featured Community. This is a list of smaller local towns that surround Western Carolina University. Find many spots for outdoor dining and a big variety of quality shops and galleries along a six-block stretch of Main Street. It’s no secret that real estate in Asheville, NC has taken off! And why wouldn’t it? North Carolina coast map with beaches . A Beer Lover’s Paradise: The Best Brewery Tours of Asheville, NC, The Best Restaurants in Asheville: A Local’s Top Picks, Discover Things To Do in Black Mountain, NC, 3 Home-Buying Calculators for Your NC Property, Accolades for Asheville and Black Mountain. The Nikwasi Mound, a remnant of a once-thriving Cherokee village, could nearly be mistaken for a hill were it not for the surrounding fence and historical marker. And if you talk to a builder, there’s a good chance they can’t start a new project for several months. Hordes of visitors and like-minded locals attend, among them students from Lees-McRae College. Going south towards South Carolina will take you right through Hendersonville, North Carolina. —Tim W. Jackson, Photograph courtesy of the Bryson City/Swain County Chamber of Commerce. It borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west, Virginia to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Winter activities in the area may require lots of extra layers—the average low temperature of the state’s western mountainous region drops to 20F in January, the […] It also has the Cataloochee Ski Area, a winter favorite among locals due to its easy access, especially from Asheville. You can take a rhododendron-sheltered path to The Village Café and have a gourmet brunch or sip Bloody Marys outside with locals beneath towering trees. This place is famous for the outdoor activities offered in its general surroundings. Brevard is also home to many summer camps, and that’s one reason so many families from the southeast know the area and vacation there. Winter is an atmospheric time to indulge an après-ski piqued appetite at restaurants and pubs, with specialties like steak, sushi, Italian, Cajun, and tapas. Scott and Lisa founded Freestone Properties in 2016. Locals and visitors arrive early for coffee, stay for lunch, and return later for beer, wine, and live music most nights. Asheville is consistently ranked as a top destination for beer drinkers, and its booming brewing industry is now a major provider of area jobs. All Good Coffee serves as the town’s coffee shop, while next door is Maggie B’s, a wine and specialty foods shop that offers wine tastings every Friday night. And since so many of our towns have walkable downtown areas, it really helps create a sense of community. Bryson City, North Carolina. Their history and more is as close as a visit to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. If you’re a visitor to this adorable hamlet, an ideal day might include a morning taking in the views of downtown from Sunset Rock and an afternoon trolling the dozens of boutiques along Main Street. Source: flickr. The largest city in Western NC is Asheville, which sits right in the middle of Buncombe County. The northern counties in Western North Carolina are commonly known as the state's High Country. There are so many wonderful small towns to explore. Join RoadSnacks Share on Facebook. If all that moving makes you hungry, Bryson City’s many eateries are ready to satisfy. Hibriten Mountain, located just east of the city limits, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountains range. A resident of the Asheville area since 2003, Scott has been an active real estate broker since 2006. Also known as the “Front Porch of Western North Carolina,” Black Mountain has a very walkable downtown full of shops, restaurants, art galleries, and breweries. Tucked in the far west corner of the state, Murphy can be summed up in four simple words: mountains, lakes, rivers, and streams. “The town motto is ‘Just BE,’ and that sums up our small-town life.” It’s also one of the state’s northernmost climates. Burnsville Town Square. The Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum, housed in the old 1850s jail, holds one of the largest collections of gems, minerals, fossils, and artifacts in the Southeast. A top Blue Ridge Parkway site, Moses Cone Park, has miles of white pine-shaded trails for walking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. You might think that all of these small towns in North Carolina’s west are near Asheville, but more than a few of them are at least a couple of hours away. Living in North Carolina puts you in prime adventure territory. Mitchell Challenge, a 40-mile trail race that attracts runners from all over the United States. He has consistently been ranked in the top 2% of sales production in the Asheville market, and has produced over $100 million in career volume. After dark, don’t miss the string of restaurants and bars along Depot Street, from Nantahala Brewing’s tap room, featuring local beer and live music, to the swank cocktail bar Derailed, and more. Below please see all North Carolina cities and towns which are listed in alphabetical order. Ski season usually runs from December to March. Just what is it that makes a small town great? The entire downtown is essentially considered the arts district, containing public artworks and 18 craft shops and galleries, including Originals Only, The Ashe Arts Council, and The Artists’ Theatre, which also sells antiques. On Main Street, you’ll find the M.A. A look at real estate prices in Weaverville indicates that this once sleepy little town is quickly becoming a hot commodity. Hendersonville is a medium-sized town by Western NC standards (population 14,000 in 2017), but still offers a lot of amenities and a rather large downtown area. There are also literally thousands of miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, and many are also suitable for equestrian use. Opportunities for skiing and snowboarding are abundant at WNC’s local ski resorts. This tiny town has a rich history, but today it’s primarily known as an outdoors paradise and, as its name implies, for its natural hot springs. Small Towns in Western North Carolina. The town is the hub of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which offers a range of regular runs on the rails, along with the stellar Smoky Mountain Trains Museum. Summer offers ideal weather for outdoor recreation, with highs rarely exceeding 90 degrees. being built, but throughout my experience here in Apex, I have not had one bit of trouble. Lake Louise Park, with its walking trail, playgrounds, and picnic facilities, is great for fair weather days, and Main Street Nature Park is a lovely wooded hideaway in the middle of town. There are also countless other high peaks in the area, such as Max Patch, a wide-open grassy bald at 4,600 feet with 360-degree views, Black Balsam along the Blue Ridge Parkway (6,214 feet), and Grandfather Mountain (5,946 feet) near Linville, NC. Tennessee heads up the western border of North Carolina, while Virginia takes the north. The 15 Best Small Towns in North Carolina. In addition to gear, the shop offers shipping and shuttle services along with a grocery section packed with trail food. With so much public land around, it’s no wonder Western NC is known for being dog-friendly. Inside this guide to places to visit in Western North Carolina, we’re counting towns, cities, standalone waterfalls and hikes, Blue Ridge Parkway stops, and state or national parks.

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