List ranks the 'coolest NC towns.' Most are in western NC

A new list of the “coolest NC towns” from WorldAtlas named eight North Carolina towns known for cool temperatures and eclectic options for summer travel; over half of the list was made up of locations in the western portion of the state.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

What to do in Highlands, NC

Standing at 4,118 feet on the Eastern Continental Divide, WorldAtlas noted that Highlands is “one of the highest incorporated towns east of the Mississippi,” with summer temperatures that “rarely climb past the high 70s” and a high yearly average for rainfall.

During a visit to Highlands, WorldAtlas writers suggested:

The Bascom, a visual arts center in a converted barn which offers rotating exhibitions, studio workshops and a sculpture trail
The Whiteside Mountain Trail, a 2-mile loop, which crosses ancient exposed rock and delivers 700-foot cliff views
Wild Thyme Gourmet, a Highlands restaurant known for serving regional trout and local produce inside a restored Main Street storefront
The Highlands Biological Station, operated by Western Carolina University, which features a botanical garden, a research lab and programming on native Southern Appalachian ecosystems

What to do in Bryson City, NC

Bryson City was praised by WorldAtlas for being “one of the few towns in the country bordered by a national park, a national forest, and a designated Wild and Scenic River.”

During a visit to Bryson City, WorldAtlas writers suggested:

The Appalachian Trail, which crosses the state-line ridge nearby at Kuwohi, the park’s highest point and the peak known as Clingmans Dome before its renaming
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which operates heritage diesel and steam excursions from the town depot, including the seasonal Raft and Rail trip that combines a train ride with a Nantahala River float
The Deep Creek area of the national park, three miles from downtown, offering hiking and tubing past Tom Branch, Indian Creek and Juney Whank Falls
The High Test Deli and Sweet Shop, known for hot sandwiches and house-made lemon bars
The Swain County Heritage Museum, in the restored 1908 courthouse, which documents logging railroads, Cherokee history and early tourism

What to do in Boone, NC

Rising above 3,300 feet, Boone is another high-elevation town known for cool temperatures year round. WorldAtlas also praised the town for the presence of Appalachian State University, whose presence “has long supported the arts, environmental research, and low-impact tourism.”

During a visit to Boone, WorldAtlas writers suggested:

The Appalachian Summer Festival, offering music, dance and visual-arts events to the university’s Schaefer Center through July
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, off the Blue Ridge Parkway, which “laces carriage trails through preserved meadows and white pine groves”
Melanie’s Food Fantasy on King Street, praised by WorldAtlas for its sourdough pancakes and local eggs
The Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, a cluster of 18th-century cabins beside the Daniel Boone Amphitheater, where costumed interpreters demonstrate blacksmithing, weaving and cider pressing

What to do in Blowing Rock, NC

Taking its name from a rock formation where wind from the Johns River Gorge blows straight up, Blowing Rock measures at about 3,500 feet in elevation, described as having “one of the state’s steadier summer climates” by WorldAtlas.

During a visit to Blowing Rock, WorldAtlas writers suggested:

Art in the Park, a juried outdoor show one Saturday a month from May through October, which lines Park Avenue with work by regional painters, potters and metalsmiths
The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, known as BRAHM, which offers exhibitions on Appalachian textiles, Cherokee crafts and Southern portraiture
The Glen Burney Trail, reachable from downtown, which drops 800 feet into a gorge past three waterfalls including Glen Marie Falls
The Speckled Trout, which serves rainbow trout and seasonal vegetables with house-made preserves and local ciders

What to do in Brevard, NC

Described as “one of the few places in the world where white squirrels roam free,” WorldAtlas notes that the rare species’ presence “sets the tone for a town built on odd details and deliberate preservation” in Brevard, which is located at the edge of Pisgah National Forest.

During a visit to Brevard, WorldAtlas writers suggested:

The Brevard Music Center, a 180-acre campus known for hosting more than 80 public concerts each summer, from orchestral works to contemporary ensembles and beyond
Looking Glass Falls, a roadside cascade with a plunge pool shallow enough to wade into a short drive from town
Highland Books, an independent bookstore in town known for its “deep regional-history section and curated new releases”
The Velvet Cup Coffee Truck, parked near Brevard College, which serves cold brew and biscuit sandwiches with locally sourced ingredients