Charlotte, NC # 1 in Best Places to Live in North Carolina . There are numerous trails in the area for hiking and biking, a nine-hole public golf course and plenty of shopping and restaurants at Chimney Rock Village. In the summer, try to plan your trip to attend the annual jazz festival. Blue Ridge is one of the most well-known towns in the North Georgia Mountains. The Best Mountain Towns to Visit in America Time to embrace the high life. Whether you’re looking to fly fish or see a show, take up a new hobby or develop an old one, the close-knit communities in these mountain towns have plenty of opportunities for you to get involved, meet someone new, and make a fresh home in a beautiful place. Whatever your preference may be, some of the best places in North Carolina to visit are also the best places to live. Durham. Burnsville {pop. In addition to enjoying the magnificent man-made lake, you can also take a stroll on the boardwalk and take in the beauty of the Flowering Bridge – a 155-foot former highway bridge that has now been transformed into a gorgeous garden. (Its unofficial … Whether you enjoy spending your free time exploring nature’s mountains and beaches or you prefer more of an urban lifestyle, North Carolina’s cities offer something for everyone. 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. This is largely thanks to the wide variety of attractions and events it offers year-round. Charlotte is a region that's equal parts old-fashioned southern charm and high-energy cosmopolitan bustle. Saluda may be a tiny town, but what it’s lacking in size, it makes up for in charm. Look out for our newsletters in your inbox soon. Set your sights on this mountain town and take in the wide-open spaces from the Gatlinburg Skybridge and Anakeesta, then settle in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a whole host of delicious, down-home restaurants. Located on a plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Cashiers is a traditional mountain town full of quiet lakes, scenic peaks, and calming waterfalls. The largest city in Western NC is Asheville, which sits right in the middle of Buncombe County. By Kastalia Medrano, and Jay Gentile. With its charming atmosphere, breathtaking views, fantastic foodie scene, and fun outdoor activities, Asheville, North Carolina has everything you’d want from a bustling mountain town. Asheville, North Carolina Artists, writers and musicians have long been inspired by this North Carolina mountain town. On main street you'll find cute coffee shops, mom n' pop restaurants, and a shop or two. At 5,506 feet in elevation, it is the highest town in the Eastern U.S. and is the perfect spot for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. If you like cold temperatures, make sure to take a trip to the quaint town of Beech Mountain and the famed Beach Mountain Resort. With the second largest downtown area in Western North Carolina, there are more than 100 shops and 25 restaurants to explore. Our quest to have our readers select the happiest towns in the mountains began with a set of criteria applied to just under 100 cities and towns in our coverage area (the mountain regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina). We are close to two state forests, Pisgah Forest and DuPont. Asheville, North Carolina Artists, writers and musicians have long been inspired by this North Carolina mountain town. Listed above are North Carolina cities with the best employment and job opportunities with a population over 5,000. Just 15 minutes from two of the best ski resorts in North Carolina, Banner Elk is a popular winter... 3. These cities have a mix of low unemployment rates as well as high median income and income per capita. In between the sea and the … The school’s campus also features many historic buildings that were built with stone native to the area. Hiram’s Resort in Florida. Aside from abundant natural beauty and a temperate climate, Asheville offers a lively arts and music scene, plus diverse cuisines and more breweries per capita than any other U.S. city. Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, and neighbor Boone are a few of the best mountain towns and all within a short drive of each other.We love visiting Blowing Rock for its downtown and the amazing scenery (including hikes and waterfalls) that surrounds it.. North Carolina is full of beautiful, waterfront places. Best known as a summer retreat for retirees with oversized nest eggs, Highlands is a town whose very name—like Aspen or Martha’s Vineyard—signals the good life. From the storybook-esque buildings to the charm of the local people who welcome you with open arms, you’ll feel like a regular here in no time. In 2018, home security company Safewise released a list of the safest towns in North Carolina.Several Western NC towns made the list, including Fletcher (#3), Woodfin (#12), and Black Mountain (#20). Stunning mountain vistas are all around, as are waterfalls, picnic spots, and parks. So whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life or a thrilling outdoor adventure, these Blue Ridge Mountain Towns in GA and NC are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart. The western part of the state of North Carolina is full of beautiful and quaint mountain towns, thanks to the two majestic mountain ranges found there – the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Cabins, hiking, and lots of great landscapes—with gorgeous foliage in the fall—make it a wonderful place to settle down. This Western North Carolina town is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. By Jill Gleeson. The Mountain-Town Charm: Aspen is the ultimate mountain resort town, offering up world-class shopping, delicious dining, and, as we mentioned, gorgeous scenery. The entirety of Tennessee is pretty affordable, but when it comes right down to it there are a few places scattered across the state you’d rather live in than others. Towns Near Bryson City NC Bryson City. This list will help to ensure that the city you … Check them out below: 1. Here's a list of the best places to live in North Carolina: Courtesy of American Tobacco Historic District under a CC 2.0 license. Blue Ridge. "A stunning mountain town, very close to two national forests and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so the outdoor hiking and exploring opportunities are endless. 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. 10 Charming River Towns in North Carolina To Visit This Summer. 50 Best Small Mountain Towns in the U.S. Small towns and wide-open landscapes are the places to be in 2020. Nothing gives you that sense of “away” like a trip to the mountains. Stretching nearly 500 miles long, moving to North Carolina is an adventurer’s dream. The 9 Best Mountain Towns in America. Its low crime rates mean it’s safe option, even for older folks who may not be in close proximity to their families. Here are some of the best places to live in North … 1. Population: 157. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. The Process. Whether you’re on the hunt for waterfalls, great shopping, or romance, these 10 mountain towns make for the best day trips from Asheville. Hendersonville. Whether you enjoy spending your free time exploring nature’s mountains and beaches or you prefer more of an urban lifestyle, North Carolina’s cities offer something for everyone. 5. See: Whiteside Mountain, Shadow of the Bear, Village Green, Silver Run Falls, Lake Glenville, Nantahala National Forest, Panthertown Valley, Highland Hiker. 2020 Best Places to Live in the Asheville Area About this List Explore the best places to live in the U.S. based on crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities. To begin, we had to create a definition of what it means to be a “mountain bike town.” We settled on these criteria: … Saluda {pop. Many people think of states like Colorado and Montana when they consider visiting mountain towns on vacation. 8-Day Bourbon, Bridles & Bluegrass Tour of the Southern U.S. 8-Day Active & Discovery River Cruise on the Rhine. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. At a… more But the best lake towns aren’t … Those that live among them are the lucky ones, for all that country lies outside … Mountain town retirement. Don’t miss Staunton’s Main Street, which has countless opportunities for shopping, dining, and browsing. Here, you’ll find a General Store from 1899 and a grill & deli that’s been in business since 1892, as well as some more modern establishments like The Purple Onion and Newman’s Restaurant. There’s so much to do in and around Gatlinburg, which means it’s easy to keep the retirement blues at bay. The statue, which is carved from Italian marble, was mentioned in Thomas Wolfe’s first novel, “Look Homeward, Angel.”. Here Are The 7 Best Mountain Towns In Tennessee You Can Actually Afford To Live In. We have plenty of fishing, camping, trails, and horseback riding. If the beautiful lake landscapes of Lake Lure look familiar to you, that’s because they were the backdrop for the popular 80’s movie, Dirty Dancing. Topics: mountain towns mountains Places To Live travel. It's one of the best places in the U.S. for backcountry hiking and backpacking trips. One other piece of local beauty that you’ll want to make sure to see is the angel statue that is located just outside of downtown Hendersonville. With Dollywood just next door, you’ll never be at a loss for entertainment. Nearly 500 miles long, moving to North Carolina, but I like living in Penrose best NC....... Sense of “ away ” like a trip to the terms and privacy policy based. Shopping, dining, and ever-changing views are just a few of the best known beach towns Dollywood just door! 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