9 Most Walkable Town Centers In North Carolina
An Atlantic coastal state in the southeastern US, North Carolina is a hotspot for vibrant, highly walkable towns where Southern hospitality rules. Framed by stunning scenery like the towering peaks of the southern Appalachian Mountains and lovely stretches of beachfront, many of these small towns are more than worth visiting. Stay in the heart of one of these town centers, and all within a compact area, a wide array of cultural influences can be found in the dining, local crafts for sale in charming storefronts, and historical sites, and all with no need to ever get in the car.
Boone
A homey college town a couple of hours from larger urban centers, Boone is located in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern part of North Carolina. This region of the state, among its section of the Appalachians, is known as the "High Country," due to its extreme elevation. Boone specifically sits at an epic elevation of over 3,300 feet, so it goes without saying that the town is surrounded by steep, rugged cliffs and breathtaking overlooks. With all the beautiful scenery around, it is surprising that downtown Boone is the real draw, but that is the truth! Centered around very walkable, lively King Street, the vibes here are a fun mix of mountain town friendliness and artsy college energy.
Beer lovers in both groups will be right at home in Boone, since there are several local breweries, with Lost Province Downtown Brewpub being a local favorite for its delicious beverages and wood-fired pizzas, plus fun location on King Street right in the heart of the action. Speaking of the bar scene, whether or not you spend the night at the historic Horton Hotel, which is directly across the street from Lost Province, it is highly suggested to visit the Horton's rooftop lounge. They offer curated cocktails alongside jaw-dropping views, including both sunsets over mountain ridges and people-watching on King Street. If you are in town to tour the Appalachian State University, a perfect attraction for you might be to visit the college's top-rated art gallery, which is open to the public, called the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. This gallery is only a five-minute walk from the Horton Hotel, not even two city blocks away.
Beaufort
One of the oldest towns in the state, the charming coastal town of Beaufort is home to only 5,000 permanent residents, but has many tourists passing through, especially in the summer. However, this town is in North Carolina's Inner Banks, rather than the more widely known Outer Banks, meaning it maintains a feeling of being off the beaten path. A few of the many things that make Beaufort worth a stop are its gorgeous preserved 18th-century architecture, the lovely seaside surroundings of the inlet where the town sits, and its compact, peaceful downtown, which can easily be explored on foot. Front Street, the central gathering point of the village, has direct access to the boardwalk, the working waterfront, and all of the cute shops and restaurants on the mature tree-lined streets.
The locally-owned Inlet Inn, which has hundreds of five-star ratings across the internet, is a great spot to stay, where you will be only a few minutes' walk to many varying entertainment options, all in Beaufort's gorgeous historic district. One of the many restaurants in old buildings is Clawson's 1905 Restaurant & Pub, a renowned locally-owned steakhouse which is packed full of antique decor and historical memorabilia from the town, some of which is beach-themed. It is not even a full block down Front Street if you are leaving from the Inlet Inn, so certainly no need for a car. Then, only a two-minute walk from Clawson's, down scenic waterfront Front Street, is a must-see place where Beaufort's lengthy maritime background can be more closely examined, the North Carolina Maritime Museum. This attraction has a bunch of interesting exhibits, a few of which are unique for showcasing the town's connection to Edward Teach, better known as the infamous pirate, Blackbeard.
Waynesville
West of the large city of Asheville, known to be a Great Smoky Mountains escape from busy city life, is the quaint mountain town of Waynesville. This town is widely considered to be a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where tourists come in droves to experience unique attractions. However, Waynesville also has a culturally diverse and growing downtown, with a very walkable Main Street that is truly thriving among visitors and residents alike.
One downtown place to stay, located on East Street, only a brief minute's walk away from Main Street, is the Historic Herren House, an affordable but clean and relaxing bed and breakfast which was built in the late 1890s, and has been fully restored to now being a peaceful mountain town retreat. For nearby dinner, you can try a modern take on traditional Southern comfort classics at the top-rated local favorite, Sweet Onion Restaurant, which is just a two-block, five-minute walk away on Miller Street. If you are interested in drinks more than food, you are in luck, because independent craft beverage stop on Main Street, Boojum Brewery Taproom, offers both, and it is right in the middle of the first two spots, so you can grab a beer on your way back to your room for the night... or maybe even a few, since you would not have to drive!
New Bern
A peaceful town sitting at the intersection of two rivers, the Neuse and the Trent, New Bern is a very old town, founded in the early 1700s by Swiss immigrants and named after the city of Bern in Switzerland. Before that, the land the town was eventually incorporated upon was part of the ancestral territory of the Tuscarora and Neusiok Indigenous Nations, the latter of whom inspired the Neuse River's name. Between this and being the birthplace of Pepsi, New Bern obviously has a ton of history, with over 150 sites locally that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mostly centered around the intersection of Middle and Pollock Streets, the highly accessible downtown is congregated within a few block radius of Tryon Palace, a massive reconstruction of an 18th-century Georgian mansion which has served throughout the centuries as a governor's home, a base for the state capital, and now, a living museum and site of the North Carolina History Center. You cannot spend the night at Tryon Palace, of course, but only a block away is the highly recommended Aerie Bed and Breakfast, a lovely boutique hotel that was built in the 1880s. Another three minutes of walking in the other direction, toward Middle Street, you will find the Birthplace of Pepsi Cola, a soda shop which also serves up various popcorn flavors and even history lessons! It is a fun and vintage stop with furniture and decor that takes you back to the early 1900s, and they sell a cool selection of souvenirs as well. Being able to explore all of this without ever getting into your car is a truly unique experience.
Blowing Rock
The Blowing Rock formation, a unique geological feature in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains that is positioned in a way that causes northwest winds to blow upward, is a must-see in this state due to its one-of-a-kind appearance. The attraction also inspired the name of the town beneath it, Blowing Rock, a tiny village of only 1,300 residents, which features awesome natural surroundings and storybook mountainside downtown, complete with a perfectly walkable Main Street. Downtown, you can stay at the ski lodge-style Hemlock Inn, which is within walking distance of the village center with cute shops, cafes, and parks.
These include popular selections like sports bar staple The Town Tavern, which is not even two minutes' walking distance from the Hemlock. They frequently show live music and have many TVs for any and all sporting events, plus a massive patio to be enjoyed in North Carolina's warm summers. Top-rated gift shop The Last Straw, where you are sure to find a unique locally-crafted item for anyone on your list, is only five minutes further if you walk down bustling parkfront Main Street, and if you turn left on Main Street from the hotel instead of right, and walk only four minutes, you will find yet another great attraction to appreciate local crafts. This one is the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, displaying contemporary American art, much of which is from Appalachian artists.
Hillsborough
In North Carolina's lowlands of the Piedmont Region, the town of Hillsborough is a few hours from the busy coastal region and a few hours from the rugged mountain ranges, making it a more relaxing, hidden gem type of town. It sits along the Eno River and has an extremely well-maintained waterfront walking path called the Eno Riverwalk, which is three miles long and made of wooden planks, winding along the water and through several neighborhoods in the town, creating a very unique sort of walkability.
Hillsborough has a charming downtown, with many 18th-century buildings intact, including the Colonial Inn, a boutique hotel originally built in the 1750s, which is still a popular lodging spot today. It is only a five-minute walking distance from River Park, where one of the many entrances to the Riverwalk sits. The historic downtown is centered around Churton and King Streets, with local icons like the Colonial Inn and the Wooden Nickel Pub, a favorite neighborhood watering hole, operating for decades. Walking, it is only three minutes away from the Colonial, still on West King Street. The shopping around the hotel is great too, with local vendors selling their handcrafted wares in places like the Hillsborough Arts Council Gallery and Gift Shop, which sells all sorts of consignments, from paintings to jewelry to handmade clothing, and is also only a three-minute walk down King Street.
Edenton
On the Edenton Bay at the mouth of the Albemarle Sound is the bay's namesake town of Edenton, which also sits alongside the Chowan River, offering endless water views in nearly every direction. It was North Carolina's first colonial capital, having been settled in the late 1600s, and still today is seen as a more discreet Inner Banks alternative to some of the more populated beach towns, with just 5,000 residents who call it home full-time.
With its slower-paced atmosphere and friendly, walkable downtown formed around Broad Street, Edenton is the perfect place to eat some fresh seafood, shop at local specialty stores, and enjoy the historic waterfront at lovely spaces like Queen Anne Park, on Water Street, just a block from the main drag of Broad Street. You can learn all about the town's history along the Edenton Museum Tour, which hits on actual museums like the Penelope Barker House, which commemorates the Barker family who were pioneers in the fight against British taxation, and scenic landmarks like the Roanoke River Lighthouse. All of these are, of course, within walking distance, along accessible paths, and only five minutes apart from each other.
Brevard
The iconic Pisgah National Forest is a huge draw for western North Carolina, known as the "land of waterfalls" for its over 250 cascades of varying heights, endless hiking trails across 500,000 acres, and for being one of the first national forests in the eastern coastal states. One of the most well-known gateway towns to Pisgah is Brevard, an adorable mountain town famous for its population of unique white squirrels, and even being home to a White Squirrel Weekend festival every May. The town oozes quaint mountain charm, with distinctive seasons, outdoor recreation abounds, and a cute, walkable downtown with a variety of entertainment options along King Street.
Once named one of "America's Coolest Small Towns," Brevard has an eclectic selection of stores and a variety of cafes and dinner spots, plus a popular live music venue, 185 King Street, right in the heart of the village. They show many local and regional musical acts, staying booked and busy, plus they serve food and locally made beer for you to enjoy while you are watching the concerts. Just a block away, Morning Social is a popular choice for brunch if you are more of an early riser, serving farm-to-table selections for daytime meals and great coffee, and it is not even a full city block from 185 King Street. If you want to be able to walk to these attractions and more, staying at the Campbell House, a pretty clapboard bed and breakfast with great reviews for being in a perfect location, might be your best bet.
Waxhaw
A suburb of the greater Charlotte metropolitan area, the small town of Waxhaw offers a more condensed downtown area than its nearby bigger cities, and the downtown area is even listed as a whole on the National Register of Historic Places. Main Street has been described as favoring the paintings of Norman Rockwell, combining small, old-town charm with newly restored businesses and modern amenities. It is family-friendly, with fun attractions like the annual Waxhaw Tree Lighting, which occurs every November and has over 500,000 light displays in addition to other kid-oriented Christmas activities. This takes place starting in Waxhaw Downtown Park, only a couple of blocks from Main Street, where most of the action is centered on a daily basis.
Lots of great shopping can be found in the vicinity, and Waxhaw is specifically known as a destination for lovers of antiques. The Waxhaw General Store, a beautifully restored historic storefront, offers a nostalgic selection of unique gifts, locally made goods, and fresh produce from farmers outside of town, all right on Main Street. Just a block away is the Waxhaw Antique Mart, the oldest antique shop in town, with a wide array of wares on display in another lovely brick building from the 1800s.
A perfect state for finding mountain towns like Waynesville and Brevard, beach towns like Beaufort and Edenton, and hidden gems like deeply historical New Bern, or Hillsborough in the Piedmont hills. All of these towns are home to the ideal mix of indoor and outdoor recreation, and you can find it all within walking distance of your lodging, whether that be a historic boutique hotel like the Horton in Boone or a traditional ski lodge like Hemlock Inn in Blowing Rock. Every new experience you desire can be found here, just steps away!
