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Here are the best places to stay in the North Carolina mountains! Disclaimer: This post ma y contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Thanks for keeping Stuck On The Go going! This is absolutely one of my favorite small towns near Asheville. Black Mountain is in the shadows of the Seven Sisters mountain range. Get ice cream at The Hop — locally made!!
The Black Mountain restaurants are second to none. We stay here often and I usually choose to eat in town instead of driving into Asheville. Make sure to swing by Black Mountain Brewing and Lookout Brewing for great beer and a chill atmosphere. Nearby at Montreat College there are some great hiking opportunities like Lookout Mountain.
There are so many fun things to do in Black Mountain that you can easily spend a few days in town. Home to the Nantahala Outdoor Center! There are two restaurants and an Outfitters Store here as well. You can get any outdoor equipment that you may need.
There is plenty to do here to occupy an entire day but head into the town of Bryson City as well. They also have a train museum!
This cute little mountain town is full of surprises. This little town is only a few minutes north of Asheville on I and the perfect place to grab lunch and explore for an afternoon. Highway intersects I here and you can follow it north into the Linville Gorge Wilderness.
I highly recommend both. Sierra Nevada is a destination in itself. You can tour the brewery, eat at their on-site restaurant, or shop in their retail store. At Burning Blush, the interior is open with high ceilings and long picnic tables are set up for plenty of seating.
Friendly doggos are welcome. They also typically have a food truck in the back patio. This is a great jumping off point if you want to explore the DuPont State Forest area. There are tons of hiking opportunities here. This charming lake town is most commonly known as a retreat for Methodist churches. Anyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery though.
There are also boat tours that are offered at the lake. There is also a golf course by the lake if you like to play golf. If you are looking for an active lake day then head here. Sylva is another small town near Asheville that has a picturesque downtown area. They have weekly concerts in the summer called Concerts on the Creek!
Dangerous, I know. The Tuckasegee River also offers whitewater for the adventurous type. I will be the first to admit that I have not explored Hendersonville nearly enough. Downtown Hendersonville is actually pretty lively and they have lots of events going on especially on weekends.
There are lots of shops, restaurants, and breweries here as well. But did you know that there are also some great local wineries in the area? Another great one is Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards. Hendersonville is also known for all the apple orchards surrounding it! It has its own bakery and is very kid friendly. This little town is close to the corner where the borders of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia meet.
Lots of great shopping, incredible restaurants, and an upscale downtown area. If you can swing it make sure to stay at the Old Edwards Inn and Spa. The town of Cashiers is only 10 miles from Highlands. There are lots of boutiques along the highway but you may need to do some investigating to find them. Whiteside Brewing is a popular spot to grab a drink and hang out. There are also multiple events and concerts held here throughout the year. Tyler and I thought it was fantastic. You really can soak in the hot springs in Hot Springs, NC.
You can stay at a primitive tent site, an RV site, or they have cabins and vacation rentals. While you are here soak in one of their famous mineral baths. Another great spot nearby is at Max Patch. Take a picnic and enjoy the sunset here. Another town close to some great hikes! Burnsville is close to Mount Mitchell — the tallest peak east of the Mississippi. Another cool attraction is the Bare Dark Sky Observatory where you can look through one of the largest telescopes available to the public.
Located right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Little Switzerland offers amazing mountain views in a little resort community. If you want to stay a while then book a room at the Little Switzerland Inn. Emerald Gem Mine is also near Little Switzerland.
The Switzerland Inn Chalet Restaurant is a full service restaurant with gorgeous views. Rutherfordton is an up and coming town in western North Carolina with adorable places to stay and plenty of options for local food.
They even have lots of international cuisine options! Shown below in no particular order are 12 of our favorites. We are a year-round property and closed only in January for our yearly maintenance. All four seasons are beautiful on Elk Mountain with fall being the most popular time to visit. Our luxurious room includes wood-burning fireplaces, private balconies, and spa-like baths with mountain views.
Check out our room choices here and our brreakfast and dining menus here. Our innkeepers are always available to be your conceirge and help plan your daily adventures around the Blue Ridge Mountains and visiting some of our favorite 12 Best Small Mountain Towns around Asheville.
See Our Reviews ». Check Availability. Picturesque Main Street has many local shops, restaurants, galleries, breweries, and museums. Not to be missed is O. Hendersonville 33 miles, 50 minutes from the inn -The largest downtown in western North Carolina outside of Asheville is filled with historic buildings and outdoor eateries.
Wonderful shops and galleries line the six-block stretch of Main Street. Black Mountain 24 miles, 38 minutes from the inn – This quaint town is close to the inn, and we especially love the Swannanoa Valley Museum and exploring the shops along Cherry Street. If there is a knitter in your group check out Black Mountain Yarn , and if you are craving a juicy hamburger, stop by Black Mountain Butcher Bar and Kitchen.
Street art in Waynesville Waynesville 39 miles, 53 minutes from the inn – Home to our very favorite Bakery- Well-Bred Bakery , the downtown is filled with quaint old buildings, brick sidewalks, galleries, and a general store to take you back to a more leisurely time. If you have a 4 legged pet at home there is a wonderful pet bakery here too. Each summer, Folkmoot U.
Sometimes on Friday nights during the summer you can enjoy seeing the Mountain Street Dancers. Local breakfast and lunch spot Flat Rock 39 miles, 54 minutes from the inn This quaint and very small and historic village is located three miles south of Hendersonville.
17 Terrific Cities & Towns Near Asheville, NC To Visit | Uncorked Asheville.Top 40 Coolest NC Mountain Towns
Here you will find picturesque, old fashion and historic downtowns, friendly shops owners, old fashion general stores, farm-to-table restaurants, breweries, art galleries, and artisan shops. Each town has its own vibe and many unique outdoorsy things to do. Live like a local and experience a leisurely day of exploration. Shown below in no particular order are 12 of our favorites.
We are a year-round property and closed only in January for our yearly maintenance. All four seasons are beautiful on Elk Mountain with fall being the most popular time to visit. Our luxurious room includes wood-burning fireplaces, private balconies, and spa-like baths with mountain views. Check out our room choices here and our brreakfast and dining menus here. Our innkeepers are always available to be your conceirge and help plan your daily adventures around the Blue Ridge Mountains and visiting some of our favorite 12 Best Small Mountain Towns around Asheville.
See Our Reviews ». Check Availability. Picturesque Main Street has many local shops, restaurants, galleries, breweries, and museums. Not to be missed is O. Hendersonville 33 miles, 50 minutes from the inn -The largest downtown in western North Carolina outside of Asheville is filled with historic buildings and outdoor eateries. Wonderful shops and galleries line the six-block stretch of Main Street. Black Mountain 24 miles, 38 minutes from the inn – This quaint town is close to the inn, and we especially love the Swannanoa Valley Museum and exploring the shops along Cherry Street.
If there is a knitter in your group check out Black Mountain Yarn , and if you are craving a juicy hamburger, stop by Black Mountain Butcher Bar and Kitchen.
Street art in Waynesville Waynesville 39 miles, 53 minutes from the inn – Home to our very favorite Bakery- Well-Bred Bakery , the downtown is filled with quaint old buildings, brick sidewalks, galleries, and a general store to take you back to a more leisurely time. If you have a 4 legged pet at home there is a wonderful pet bakery here too. The town is a vibrant mix of tourists and locals, with many of the latter having roots multi-generations deep.
And of course, Blowing Rock and its environs are a veritable wonderland of outdoor activities. A top Blue Ridge Parkway site, Moses Cone Park, has miles of white pine-shaded trails for walking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. Photograph by Caitlin Ragan 8. 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.
A luxury hotel and spa is slated to open in In the historic downtown, La Bouteille wine and beer shop provides a wide variety of craft libations and features weekly tastings. Around the corner, the Village Bookstore has been offering a wide range of reads for nearly 20 years.
Visit Parker-Binns Vineyard on a day when the delightful retired restaurateurs-turned-vineyarders have their wood-fired pizza oven sparked up to bake some Neapolitan-style pies. Tucked in the far west corner of the state, Murphy can be summed up in four simple words: mountains, lakes, rivers, and streams. Since the area is rich in these natural resources, the town has much to offer as a home base for wild wanderings. Appalachian Outfitters is an anchor for outdoorsmen of every ilk, especially fishermen.
And anyone can enjoy a stroll along the Murphy Riverwalk and Canoe Trail, a two-mile path that follows the Valley and Hiwassee rivers that surround the town. Downtown is comprised of just a few blocks, offering ample opportunities to rub shoulders with friendly locals. Locals and visitors arrive early for coffee, stay for lunch, and return later for beer, wine, and live music most nights.
Craft brew enthusiasts can earn rewards by joining the Beervangilists, a beer club that encourages exploration. And with John C. Campbell Folk School a quick jaunt down the road, the area is rife with creative types. Stick around for a class and you might feel so inclined to become one yourself. Photograph by Christopher Shane In addition to what is perhaps its most popular attraction, the Ashe County Cheese factory and store—where you can watch the process and purchase cheeses, jams, and preserves—West Jefferson holds a surprising number of arts offerings.
The Florence Thomas Art School is here, offering workshops in a variety of artistic mediums to all ages. The creative spirit can also be found at Bohemia, a gallery, coffee shop, and community gathering hot spot. For those who enjoy the outdoors, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area sits to the west and offers hiking trails—including a kid-friendly trail—along with picnic areas and nice views over the town.
The Bowie-Seagraves Municipal Park keeps families active with tennis and basketball courts, a playground, baseball field, and walking trail. And with outdoors retailer Mountain Outfitters in town, West Jefferson makes a great base from which to explore the New River. Photograph by Rob Mangum Its quaint, walkable downtown is bursting with activity and only 10 minutes from Asheville.
Its restaurants offer just enough variety to keep the locals happy and attract culinary visitors. The town also offers outdoor amenities. 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. Bryson City feels like a place in a pleasant state of perpetual motion. 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.
Photograph Courtesy of the Highlander. 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. 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.
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. Or it might include a luxurious day of pampering at the award-winning spa at Old Edwards Inn. 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.
The good thing is that for a town that takes up a mere 6. Check In! Book a room at one of these great accommodations: Main Street Inn, a boutique hotel in a beautifully renovated farmhouse www.
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– Neighborhoods & Nearby Towns | Asheville, NC’s Official Travel Site
Home to the Nantahala Outdoor Center! Check Availability.
