13 Of The Most Welcoming Towns In North Carolina
Bluegrass. Barbecue. Basketball. North Carolina is home to these things and much more. The Tarheel State offers a mix of the natural and commercial, the antique and modern, the urban and rural. As North Carolina continues to be the fifth most visited state, it is a place known to welcome visitors with an abundance of attractions and experiences.
Maybe you want to spend a day listening to the calming ocean waves. Perhaps you are itching for adventure and want to hike a mountain trail. Whatever you decide, North Carolina is glad to have you. Here are some of the most welcoming towns in North Carolina ready to host you on your next trip.
Mount Airy
Mount Airy, the real-life inspiration for Andy Griffith’s fictional “Mayberry,” has become a symbol of small-town kindness. Locals here still greet you with a smile, and it’s common to strike up a conversation with a shop owner or diner waitress who’s lived here for generations. Main Street is filled with family-run stores, soda fountains, and old-fashioned barber shops that evoke a simpler time. Festivals like Mayberry Days and Autumn Leaves celebrate community spirit and hospitality at its best. In Mount Airy, friendliness isn’t nostalgia, it’s the way people genuinely live their lives every day.
Southport
Few towns capture the essence of coastal hospitality like Southport. Located where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic, this small port town invites visitors to stroll along its breezy waterfront and watch shrimp boats come in at sunset. Locals often stop to chat with visitors, offering restaurant recommendations or a story about the town’s seafaring past. The streets are lined with Victorian homes, charming boutiques, and seafood cafés that make everyone feel welcome. The quiet kindness of its residents and the calmness of the many waterfront views make Southport a place that feels like home the moment you arrive.
Beaufort
Beaufort, one of North Carolina’s oldest towns, is also one of its most charming and welcoming. With its historic harbor, 18th-century architecture, and relaxed coastal rhythm, it offers the perfect mix of small-town comfort and seaside adventure. Locals are proud of their maritime heritage and quick to share stories about pirates, sailors, and shipwrecks that shaped the town’s past. Pirate culture culminates at the annual Beaufort Pirate Invasion, a townwide event where live reenactments of pirate history put visitors back in time. In Beaufort, when there are no pirates battling over treasure, visitors are greeted with warmth at every turn. Whether you’re dining by the water, touring the Old Burying Ground, or chatting with residents at the farmers market, southern hospitality is as natural as the ocean breeze.
Hillsborough
Hillsborough is a town that feels like an open invitation. Its walkable downtown is a mix of history and creativity, brick-lined streets, local art galleries, cozy cafés, and bookshops where friendly conversations happen easily. The community takes pride in being supportive of its residents. The town hosts regular events like the “Last Fridays" that feature local artists and performers, and the Hillsborough Hog Day Festival, which brings people together out of a mutual love of barbecue. The nearby Eno River serves as a gathering place for hikers and picnicking families alike. Hillsborough’s homey feel lies not just in its natural and historical splendor, but in the people who take care of it and welcome others to join them.
Saluda
Saluda is a quiet mountain town that stands near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has an inviting vibe as cool and gentle as a mountain breeze. Its historic Main Street is lined with art galleries, antique shops, and family-owned restaurants, all exuding a relaxed, old-world feel. Locals welcome visitors like old friends, happy to share stories about the town’s railroad history or recommend a favorite hiking trail. Festivals such as the Coon Dog Day celebration and the Saluda Arts Festival bring everyone together in good cheer. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning guest, Saluda’s mountain hospitality makes it a place that always feels familiar.
Tryon
Tryon is a peaceful intersection of a town where art, music, and equestrian life all thrive in harmony. With a population of just a few thousand, it’s a town where friendliness is part of the fabric. Residents wave from front porches, and the local coffee shops feel like living rooms where strangers become friends. The town’s cultural scene includes the Tryon Fine Arts Center and numerous galleries showcasing local talent. Surrounded by rolling hills and horse farms, Tryon offers peaceful scenery and a welcoming atmosphere that has drawn artists, writers, and dreamers for decades. Its small-town heart beats strong and kind.
New Bern
New Bern is one of North Carolina’s oldest and most hospitable towns. Founded in 1710, it’s known for its downtown waterfront views, colonial architecture, and strong community pride. Residents love sharing the town’s stories, from its role as the first state capital to being the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. The walkable downtown is filled with welcoming shops, friendly faces, and outdoor cafés overlooking the Neuse and Trent Rivers. Festivals like MumFest and ArtWalk draw crowds and feature the best natural and cultural offerings of the town, but it’s the locals’ love of their town and eagerness to share it with others that keeps visitors coming back year after year.
Boone
Boone is perched high in the Blue Ridge Mountains and emits mountain hospitality with a lively, youthful twist. As the home of Appalachian State University, the town buzzes with energy while maintaining a down-to-earth, community-centered feel. Locals are quick to offer hiking tips, directions, or a friendly conversation over coffee. Boone’s farmers' markets, outdoor music events, and family-run businesses create an atmosphere where everyone feels they belong. Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and genuine people, Boone is home to some of the best outdoor adventures in the state and signature Appalachian warmth. It is a place where kindness feels as natural as the fresh mountain air.
Bryson City
Bryson City sits on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the town's welcoming temperament is just as beautiful as its scenery. The town’s small population gives it a neighborly feel, and visitors are often surprised by how quickly locals make them feel at home. Downtown shops, local diners, and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad bring people together in true community fashion. Outdoor enthusiasts love the area for rafting, hiking, and fishing, and locals are always eager to share their favorite spots. Bryson City’s blend of natural adventure and small town take on living make it the epitome of western North Carolina hospitality.
Little Switzerland
Little Switzerland feels like a fairy tale high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This tiny community along the Blue Ridge Parkway welcomes travelers with snug inns, homemade meals, and the kind of human-made and natural beauty that compels you to slow down and take it in. Locals are famously friendly, often chatting with visitors about nearby trails or scenic overlooks. The Switzerland Café and General Store and local craft shops make it easy to connect with the town’s artistic soul. Whether you come for the views or the quiet, you’ll leave Little Switzerland feeling refreshed and touched by its simple, heartfelt hospitality.
Swansboro
Swansboro, affectionately known as the “Friendly City by the Sea,” lives up to its nickname with oceanfront southern hospitality. Near Emerald Isle, this historic beach town has a walkable downtown filled with boutiques, restaurants, and lively festivals like Arts by the Sea and Swansboro by Candlelight. The town has a deep love of the arts and fresh seafood. Locals love to welcome visitors, sharing stories of the town’s maritime history or recommending the best spot to catch the sunset over the White Oak River. Whether you arrive by boat or car, Swansboro’s hospitality is unmistakable, a blend of salt air, small-town friendliness, and a pace of life that instantly puts you at ease.
Blowing Rock
The town of Blowing Rock neighbors the famed Blue Ridge Parkway and has long been known for its warm hospitality and mountain grandeur. Visitors are greeted by friendly faces in the town’s boutiques, restaurants, and bed-and-breakfasts. It blends the love of the great outdoors with appreciation for the fine arts, and locals take pride in sharing their community with travelers. From the stunning Blowing Rock formation to the downtown’s festivals like Blowing Rock Art in the Park and Blowing Rock WinterFest, the town’s residents share close bonds that they extend to every visitor, making it one of western North Carolina’s most inviting destinations.
Pittsboro
Pittsboro is a town of around 5,000 people located in Chatham County, about 30 minutes away from Raleigh. Even though it is experiencing growth like many other parts of North Carolina, it still has the heart and soul of a small town. You can appreciate and sip community “spirits” at Starrlight Mead Fest and dance the day away to local music at the Pittsboro Street Fair. Pittsboro is home to artists, farmers, and entrepreneurs, and it values connection and kindness. Take a day trip and venture through the local farmers' market where everyone seems to know each other’s names. Pittsboro’s historic courthouse square and community events also create a welcoming atmosphere that feels authentic and heartfelt, making it a standout stop in central North Carolina.
Need to Feel at Home? You Need North Carolina
To the artists, the square dancers, the hikers, and the BBQ enthusiasts alike, North Carolina has a place for you. The state has a fierce passion for college basketball, but an even fiercer passion for welcoming visitors. The arts festivals, outdoor concerts, and other local celebrations that the towns in this list host are about bringing people together in a place they love. So whether you love to wiggle your toes in the coastal shores, walk barefoot on grassy mountain foothills, or sing along with your favorite folk band, North Carolina welcomes your love. North Carolina welcomes you.
