10 Picture-Perfect Towns in North Carolina
North Carolina’s most camera-ready scenes arrive with a zip code. In Brevard, 250 waterfalls tumble through Transylvania County, creating North America’s highest concentration of cascades and a constant rush of white noise along the trails. On Roanoke Island, Manteo rests beside Shallowbag Bay, close to the shoreline where English colonization first took root, an origin story echoed in gardens and waterfront walks.
Across the state, main streets lean into their landscapes, letting trailheads spill toward galleries and harbors glow beside porch lights, so a quick stop turns into a full roll of shots. These ten towns show you every facet of North Carolina, and each setting deserves its own trip.
Brevard
Few natural phenomena are more photogenic than waterfalls. Well, Brevard, aka "North Carolina's Land of Waterfalls'' has 250 of them (i.e. North America's highest concentration) within shouting, or rather, hiking distance. This seat of Transylvania County maintains an admirable amount of trails (over 1,000 miles, to be precise), through Gorges State Park, DuPont State Recreational Forest, and beyond, making the mission to get to these plunging rivers just as attractive. Brevard also compliments the soothing white noise around its perimeter by pumping out melodic tunes each night from its range of live music venues. Get those phones out and let the social media world know that real people performing real music will always have a place.
Corolla
It is tough to narrow down the prettiest places throughout North Carolina's Outer Banks, but Corolla (pronounced "Kuh-RAH-Luh") is popular for a reason. This upscale resort town sports blank, lengthy beaches (24 miles, to be exact) that nicely contrasts the opulent homes lining them. The two forces are separated by gentle sand dunes and wild grasses. Along with barefoot strolls, 4WD vehicles can have a go at covering some of the sandy marathon. Either way, you'll feel as free as the many wild horses that inhabit the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. Even though Corolla is a vacation destination, resist the temptation to sleep in, as those Atlantic Coast sunrises are a beautiful way to start any day.
Black Mountain
While Asheville remains to be North Carolina's go-to hub, it has thoroughly outgrown its small town status. But fear not, Black Mountain is only 15 miles to the East, equally beautiful, and ready to welcome all of Asheville's spillover traffic. This place is backdropped by the deep green of Pisgah National Forest and the three-dimensional textures of Blue Ridge Mountains. Black Mountain even dashes in some blue, with the Swannanoa River rolling right by the historic district, and Lake Tomahawk proving a quaint swimming hole on the West side of town. This Buncombe County community has also sculpted a pedestrian-friendly downtown, with thoughtful shops, captivating galleries, and even subtle accents like murals, painted rocking chairs, and gardens.
Waynesville
Waynesville provides another attractive alternative to Asheville. This time, head just 30 or so miles West. This Haywood County sits right off the Blue Ridge Parkway - one of America's favorite scenic drives. And speaking of seductive road trips, Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park (far and away the most popular national park in the country), is also just a good album's drive to the Northwest. But don't go too far, for Waynesville has lovely farm-to-table restaurants, colorful outdoor markets, and the blend of quirky/artisanal shops, craft breweries, and immaculate nature trails that are expected of the Tar Heel State.
Burnsville
On the North side of Asheville (about 35 miles to the Northeast), and the North side of the dense and undulating Pisgah National Forest, Burnsville is ready to turn some heads. Yancey County, where this small mountain town resides, is home to six of the ten tallest peaks on the East Coast. Get the unforgettable panoramic experience by attempting the summit of at least one. Don't worry, the Appalachians are more manageable than the West Coast ranges, but equally overwhelming in their beauty. All the natural allure has inspired Burnsville's artistic side - everything from a blown-glass gallery, to ceramics, photography, painting, and the always-popular Mount Mitchell Arts & Crafts Fair. Now that you've experienced the surrounding nature and the beauty within, it's time to be mesmerized by the cosmos. The Bare Dark Observatory at Mayland Community College has earned the international Dark Sky Park designation. So stay long enough for a cloud-free evening, and you'll be reminded of just how vast and wondrous the Milky Way is when it isn't obscured by city lights.
Ocracoke
Another gem along the Outer Banks is Ocracoke. This unincorporated community sits on the Southwest side of a small, narrow island by the same name. Engulfed by a combination of Pamlico Sound, to the North/Northwest, and the North Atlantic Ocean everywhere else, there is no shortage of blue to capture in the frame (hint: try to get the tall, white, historic Ocracoke Lighthouse in the shot to add some perspective). Ocracoke is graced with 16 miles of wild, undeveloped coastline that is predominantly free of crowds. Cars are also a rarity out here. Boats, bikes, golf carts, horseback riding, and good old-fashioned, serenity-preserving walking are the preferred modes of transportation.
Manteo
The Outer Banks is so pretty that we have to make one more stop. Manteo more or less splits the distance between Corolla and Ocracoke. This Dare County town, which is the focal point of the 8-mile-long, 2-mile-wide Roanoke Island, also seems to split the difference, developmentally, between the fancy beach houses in the North and the wild coastline to the South - striking a Goldilocks zone of charming seafood restaurants (and ice cream parlors), cozy lodgings, and cute shops. Manteo is sheltered from the brunt of the Atlantic by Shallowbag Bay, Roanoke Sound and Nags Head (to the East), and faces Croatan Sound on its West side. It is here that English colonization began. This event is memorialized in several respects, but one of the more photogenic manifestations is the Elizabethan Garden on the North side of town/the island.
Edenton
Edenton continues its water theme, this time further inland where Pembroke Creek and Little Creek meet Edenton Bay. This bay connects to the large Chowan River before it flows into Albemarle Sound. As North Carolina's first Colonial capital, this Inner Banks town boasts many 18th-century homes and historic landmarks, including some of the oldest churches in the state, the oldest-operating Colonial Courthouse in the country, a harbor once part of the Maritime Underground Railroad, and numerous sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A great way to experience the area's history and relaxed beauty is by taking the trolley tour.
Boone
Let's return to the Appalachians, this time exploring North Carolina's Northwest corner, where the charming high-country town of Boone invites visitors. Experience a section of the nearly East Coast-wide Appalachian Trail, climb ladders along the Grandfather and Daniel Boone Scout trails for stunning views over deep valleys, or venture into Linville Gorge Wilderness to explore the wild canyon. For photography enthusiasts willing to put in the effort, there are plenty of photo opportunities. The Blue Ridge Parkway also offers panoramic vistas perfect for a restful day. Additionally, enjoying the Boone Area Wine Trail, which passes through the region's highest elevation vineyards, is another rewarding way to take in the area's scenery.
New Bern
New Bern was originally considered the capital of North Carolina due to its easy inland access via the Neuse River at the confluence with the Trent River. Although the capital has since moved to Raleigh, New Bern still exudes charming elegance. It’s also notable as the birthplace of Pepsi Cola, adding to its cool factor. Beyond these bragging rights, this small harbor town offers opportunities to enjoy the water and is part of the East Coast Greenway—a network of trails, bike paths, and roads highlighting public parks, gardens, hiking trails, and the wild forests of pine, oak, and hickory that stretch across the state, specifically through the Croatan National Forest near New Bern. The town lies along the Complimentary Route, a scenic route that stays close to the coast and incorporates ferries and bridges for its extensive trail. A key attraction in town is Tryon Palace & NC History Museum, a grand red-brick estate surrounded by 16 acres of lush gardens. This elegant style also influences the downtown area, where many shops and restaurants feature beautiful facades.
North Carolina paints with calming earthy tones. The deep green of the Appalachian highlands and the primordial blue of the Atlantic Ocean never gets old. Plus, this foundation is perfectly punctuated by the soft white sands of the Outer Banks and that angelic glow of an East Coast sunrise. The small towns across this Southwestern state also play their part in adding to the picture-perfect beauty - sprinkling fresh personality onto the timeless environments they are blessed to be in.
