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Small towns outside of asheville nc- Neighborhoods & Nearby Towns | Asheville, NC's Official Travel Site
When most people visit western North Carolina they are headed to Asheville or Boone — one of the larger towns on that side of the state. But what about the small towns near Asheville? There are so many quaint towns near Asheville that deserve to be explored! Each one of them offers a great jumping off spot for outdoor adventures. Need a place to stay while you explore the area? 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! There are lots of trails that pass through town and plenty of parks. Of course, they have all the usual lake activities — boat tours, kayaks, canoes, SUP. There is a beach — Lake Lure Beach — where you can lay out in the sun. A unique attraction here is the flowering bridge.
Flowers are planted all along this pedestrian bridge. You can have plenty of adventures off the lake as well. Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are right beside each other. This is a hopping little tourist spot. Just outside the state park there is a row of stores along the street where you could spend an hour or two shopping. Burntshirt Vineyard also has a second location here with an incredible bistro. I recommend heading to the park and spending the morning hiking then stopping by the winery and brewery.
Beware there is a charge to enter the park. Like my content? Join me on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , or Pinterest!
I even have a Facebook Group. There are plenty of specialty shops and boutiques downtown as well as restaurants, breweries, and bottle shops. When I think of Morganton, I think of a gateway to incredible hiking. They have a great buffet! Another town that is heavily influenced by local artists! Main street downtown has lots of quirky shops and incredible places to eat.
There are also plenty of events on the weekends in this small town. Make sure to check out the local brewery, Boojum Brewing too. This tiny town has a thriving downtown and visitors flock here in the summer. At Appalachian Driving Experience you can rent a Porsche sports car and take it for a spin.
Learn about the history of the Cherokee tribe at the Cherokee Historical Museum. Shop for locally made soaps and other body care products at Blue Moon Elise.
The secret has quickly gotten out about Brevard. There is so much to do here for outdoor enthusiasts and this college town will have you falling in love the first time you visit.
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