Businesses on Front Street in downtown Beaufort, the third-oldest town in North Carolina. Image via Stephen B. Goodwin / Shutterstock
The writers deemed these North Carolina towns “destination-worthy in their own right,” and we couldn’t agree more.
The vibrancy of North Carolina’s big cities is well-known. Even ChatGPT, the popular artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, agrees.
But the charm and spirit of North Carolina’s small towns can’t be overlooked. That’s why we were stoked to see four of the state’s small towns included on Southern Living magazine’s list of the best small towns across the South, which came out this week. The writers deemed these “destination-worthy in their own right.”
No. 45: Boone
The Southern Living writers noted that Boone, which is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, is “known for its creative soul.” A college town, it’s one of our favorite places for chill vibes and beautiful scenery.
No. 12: Hendersonville
This western North Carolina town gets recognition for being an “all-seasons mountain escape,” Southern Living writes. And it is. But the next time we’re up that way, we’ll be getting fancy at A Southern Cup Fine Teas.
No. 11: Beaufort
Come to this coastal town for the “low-key allure,” as Southern Living notes, and stay for the local seafood and views and vibes that inspired inspired Nicholas Sparks’ “A Walk to Remember” and “The Choice.”
No. 5: Blowing Rock
You know about the iconic 4,000-foot cliff—it’s the first photo that pops up on Google when searching this village on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But, as Southern Living points out, “Blowing Rock is no one-hit wonder.”
Check out the full list of the best small towns in the South, according to Southern Living anyway, here.
READ MORE: Small Towns, Big Flavor: North Carolina’s Hidden Culinary Gems
Author
VIDEO: A Teacher Reacts to Mark Robinson’s Idea Remove Science From Grades K-5
In his 2022 memoir, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson wrote that if he was in charge of education policy in North Carolina, students wouldn’t learn science or...
Op-Ed: Studying the Holocaust remains vital to ensuring it never happens again
International Holocaust Day will be observed on January 27, 2024. This day commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the...
VIDEO: How Rural Broadband Is Coming to This North Carolina County
More than 1.1 million North Carolinians lack access to high-speed internet, a necessity of the modern economy. In Warren County, help is on the way,...
VIDEO: Sampson County puts Biden’s promise to boost rural infrastructure to the test
Locals in this rural NC county say their water and air is polluted by a PFAS-contaminated landfill, massive hog and poultry farms, and industrial...
