12 Most Neighborly Towns In North Carolina

Beautiful scenery and memorable history, along with locals who are happy to introduce you to it, are waiting for you to discover in the most neighborly towns in North Carolina. Some towns offer multiple experiences that are each worth the drive. For example, in Beaufort, you can tour historic Civil War fortifications as well as visit the coastal Rachel Carson Reserve. Hillsborough, Blowing Rock, and others promote artistic creativity among the locals that visitors will appreciate. These are all places where communities are celebrated, the outdoors are protected and promoted, and you are welcome to become part of the story. So jump in the car and hit the road with us now to North Carolina!

Beaufort

Beaufort is a small town in North Carolina’s “Inner Bank” region, known for its scenic setting and welcoming character. The town's friendliness is on display at Fort Macon State Park, where visitors and locals can enjoy a mile-and-a-half stretch of Atlantic Ocean shoreline and tour a preserved American Civil War fortress. If that's not enough beachside scenery for you, you might also like to hike the long stretch of nearby Shackleford Banks, a barrier island that extends toward Cape Lookout. Best of all, nature lovers might spot wild horses and other wildlife thriving in the salt marshes and wetlands of the Rachel Carson Reserve, a coastal area made up of several distinct islands.

Boone

Boone sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers a mix of outdoor recreation and local history that reflects its mountain roots. Within Daniel Boone Park, visitors can explore the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, which showcase native plants in a peaceful setting, as well as the Hickory Ridge History Museum, a living-history site featuring reconstructed cabins, costumed interpreters, and hands-on demonstrations from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. For winter sports, Appalachian Ski Mountain provides groomed slopes for skiing and snowboarding just outside town. When the weather is warmer, Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park offers miles of trails for biking and hiking, along with scenic overlooks of the surrounding landscape.

Bryson City

Bryson City is a welcoming mountain town known for its easy access to some of western North Carolina’s most impressive natural scenery. Just outside town lies the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where visitors can explore vast forests, campgrounds, and trailheads connected to the Appalachian Trail. A popular way to experience the region is aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, which departs from Bryson City and offers scenic rides through river valleys and mountain terrain. Families may also enjoy a visit to the Tuckasegee Farm Animal Rescue and Petting Zoo, where goats, sheep, and other animals provide hands-on experiences in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.

Hendersonville

Hendersonville blends small-town charm with a strong sense of history. The Henderson County Heritage Museum features exhibits on local life, including American Civil War artifacts and a recreated early 1900s general store. Railroad enthusiasts may enjoy the Apple Valley Model Railroad Museum, which displays an HO-scale layout depicting Hendersonville and neighboring western North Carolina towns connected by rail. Aviation history is highlighted at the Western North Carolina Air Museum, home to restored and replica vintage aircraft. For a quieter outdoor break, the Park at Flat Rock offers picnic areas, a playground, and natural habitats that attract local birdlife.

Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock is a mountain town known for scenic overlooks and a strong connection to local art and history. The town takes its name from The Blowing Rock, a cliff formation that offers sweeping views of surrounding forests, peaks, and the Johns River Gorge below. At the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, visitors can explore regional artwork, photography, and exhibits that highlight both the town’s past and its creative present. Outdoor enthusiasts can tour the former estate at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, where miles of carriage trails wind through open fields and wooded areas. Nearby Julian Price Memorial Park adds lakes, picnic spots, and hiking opportunities in a peaceful mountain setting.

Banner Elk

Set high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Banner Elk is a small village that serves as a year-round hub for outdoor recreation. In winter, visitors flock to nearby Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Sugar Mountain also features the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, which winds through the mountains on more than 3,000 feet of track. Beech Mountain offers additional slopes as well as the Land of Oz theme park, a seasonal attraction inspired by The Wizard of Oz. Outside the ski season, the surrounding mountains offer cooler temperatures and scenic views that draw visitors year-round.

Edenton

Edenton is a quiet waterfront town with deep colonial roots and a strong sense of preserved history. Founded in 1660, it was the first permanent settlement in colonial North Carolina, a story told through exhibits at the Historic Edenton State Historic Site. The town’s industrial past can be explored at the Edenton Cotton Mill Museum of History, which preserves one of the state’s most intact mill villages. Along the water, the Roanoke River Lighthouse stands as the last remaining screw-pile lighthouse in North Carolina, offering views of Albemarle Sound and the Chowan River. Each fall, the Chowan County Regional Fair brings agricultural exhibits, rides, and seasonal entertainment to the area.

Pinehurst

Pinehurst is best known as a golf destination, offering a relaxed atmosphere centered around the sport. Courses such as Pinewild Country Club of Pinehurst and Southern Pines Golf Club attract players of all skill levels, with the latter designed by golf architect Donald Ross in 1906. Visitors who are not interested in golf can enjoy other activities, including bowling at the Sandhills Bowling Center. Nature lovers may prefer a walk through the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, which feature formal gardens and a wide variety of plant life. The nearby Walthour-Moss Foundation offers open land for hiking and wildlife viewing, with opportunities to see horses and native animals.

Mount Airy

Mount Airy is closely associated with the history of classic television and Appalachian culture. The town was Andy Griffith's hometown and served as the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show. Fans can visit Andy Griffith’s Homeplace and explore memorabilia at the Andy Griffith Museum. Beyond television history, the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History highlights the area’s Native American heritage, the influence of the world’s largest open-face granite quarry, and traditional music through exhibits featuring local instrument makers. Just outside town, Hanging Rock State Park offers hiking trails, rock formations, and camping areas set among dramatic cliffs and ridgelines.

New Bern

Situated along the Neuse River, New Bern blends early American history with a lively small-town atmosphere. As North Carolina’s first state capital, the town preserves much of its past at the North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace, where exhibits explore colonial governance and daily life. New Bern is also known as the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, a story told through displays at the Birthplace of Pepsi. Local history is further explored at the New Bern Firemen’s Museum, which focuses on the Great Fire of 1922. Nearby, the Croatan National Forest offers a change of scenery with estuaries, forests, and bogs that support diverse wildlife.

Brevard

Brevard serves as a gateway to some of western North Carolina’s most popular outdoor destinations. Just outside town, DuPont State Recreational Forest features waterfalls, lakes, and hiking trails spread across a large protected area near the South Carolina border. Another highlight is Looking Glass Falls, accessed via the Looking Glass Rock Trailhead and known for its striking appearance and easy roadside access. Within Brevard, the Transylvania Heritage Museum provides insight into the county’s past through exhibits featuring photographs, artifacts, and genealogical records that reflect generations of local history.

Hillsborough

Hillsborough combines preserved architecture, art, and outdoor recreation in a compact historic setting. Visitors can explore the Occaneechi Village Replica Site, a reconstructed 17th-century village located along the Eno River near the site of an original Occaneechi settlement. Ayr Mount, a well-preserved Federal-period home, showcases detailed woodwork and plasterwork that highlight early American design. Art lovers may enjoy the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, which features works by established regional artists. For time outdoors, Eno River State Park offers wooded trails, river access, and scenic areas ideal for hiking and nature walks.

Friendly Southern Towns

Something that really stands out when you visit these towns is how they really do feel like cohesive communities with a sense of their own identity, not just random collections of people. At the same time, each also has unique attractions that make it unforgettable for visitors. If you like the outdoors, places like Brevard have forests and waterfalls; Bryson City has mountains; and Beaufort offers myriad ways of encountering the boundaries between sea and land. There's a lot of history in North Carolina, from the TV. shows you grew up with in Mt. Airy, all the way back to Civil War and colonial history in Edenton and others. A North Carolina trip through some of these neighborly towns will make you feel like you've been places, but also that somehow you you always felt right at home.