The Best Small Towns in North Carolina to Chill Out
North Carolina is a lovable state where innovation first took flight and natural beauty still defines everyday life. From the windswept Outer Banks to the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, you will find a collection of the best small towns in North Carolina to chill out. Where calm, character, and authenticity radiate from these peaceful destinations, each small town invites visitors to chill out and savor traditions shaped by colonial legacies, Appalachian heritage, and generations of close-knit communities. No matter the season or reason for travel, the best small towns in North Carolina to chill out promise meaningful escapes filled with natural beauty, cultural depth, and an enduring sense of serenity.
Hendersonville
Hendersonville embraces all four seasons in a chill setting near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Earning a reputation as one of the best retreats and resorts in North Carolina, newcomers will have a grand time when traversing the Cheers! Trail, for which one can sample local craft beer, cider, wine, whiskey, and even mead while exploring the walkable downtown. Nature lovers gravitate toward The Park at Flat Rock, a reimagined green space where native plants, animals, and quiet walking paths offer a peaceful pause from daily life. Finally, for railroad enthusiasts, one can appreciate the detailed displays at the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club, while aviation fans can explore historic aircraft at the Western North Carolina Air Museum.
Highlands
At nearly 4,000 feet above sea level, Highlands is an elevated and refined mountain town wrapped in extraordinary biodiversity. Known as the “biological crown” of the southern Appalachians, the area’s flora and fauna richness is visible at Bridal Veil Falls and Sequoyah Falls, both easily accessible and still drawing visitors with their cascading beauty. To better understand the region’s ecological importance, the Highlands Biological Station and the adjacent Highlands Nature Center remain excellent, interactive places to learn about native denizens around Highlands.
Outdoor exploration expands dramatically within the surrounding Nantahala National Forest, where hiking trails and forest roads promise quiet immersion in nature. Balancing the outdoors, The Bascom: Center for the Visual Arts continues to showcase rotating exhibitions from regional and national artists.
Blowing Rock
High atop the Blue Ridge escarpment, Blowing Rock captivates all with sweeping views, mountain legends, and a chill alpine atmosphere. The iconic Blowing Rock Overlook remains the town’s namesake attraction, where powerful updrafts and panoramic vistas inspire romantic fables from the Cherokee and Catawba folklore. Nearby, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum stays active with thoughtfully curated exhibits exploring regional art, geology, and heritage. Just outside town, Moses H. Cone Memorial Park encourages untroubled and unhurried exploration along historic carriage trails that wind past lakes, meadows, and preserved manor grounds. Adventurers seeking higher elevations often venture into Grandfather Mountain State Park, which continues to offer challenging hikes and awe-inspiring scenery.
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill is one of the most chill and accommodating small towns in North Carolina. At the Ackland Art Museum, one can marvel at an impressive art collection that spans Asian masterpieces, European creations, and contemporary projects. Respite and rejuvenation can be attained at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, where native plant displays and woodland trails to venture across. Meanwhile, science and stargazing come alive at the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, still renowned for its immersive programs and historic ties to NASA astronaut training. The town’s welcoming spirit shines through events such as the Carolina Jazz Festival in February and several other seasonal community celebrations that continue to draw visitors and locals together.
Banner Elk
Banner Elk soothes and winnows one’s worries away with several amazing attractions and landmarks to adore. During winter months, Sugar Mountain Resort remains a premier destination for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Families and animal lovers will delight in Apple Hill Farm, which continues to offer hands-on encounters with friendly alpacas, llamas, and goats in a pastoral setting. For quieter and chiller moments, Wildcat Lake provides peaceful opportunities for laidback sensations. Meanwhile, thrill-seekers enjoy the twists and turns of the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, an all-season attraction that blends excitement with scenic views.
Edenton
Gracefully positioned along the calm waters of Edenton Bay, the eponymous town of Edenton stands as one of North Carolina’s most historically significant and serene towns. Visitors can step back in time at the Historic Edenton State Historic Site, where preserved homes and landmarks reveal the town’s role as the state’s first colonial capital. On the other hand, Edenton Cotton Mill Museum of History remains a rare and well-preserved example of an intact mill village, illustrating the town’s industrial heritage. Along the waterfront, the restored Roanoke River Lighthouse continues to give unspoiled and picturesque views and insight into maritime life.
New Bern
Situated at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, New Bern entreats all to colonial elegance with intricate American history. The stately Tryon Palace provides immersive tours of restored gardens, homes, and exhibits tied to North Carolina’s early governance. American Civil War history unfolds at New Bern Battlefield Park, where interpretive trails detail the pivotal 1862 conflict. Just downtown, the Birthplace of Pepsi continues to attract curious visitors eager to learn how the iconic beverage was first created in 1898. Best of all, outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the proximity of Croatan National Forest, where quiet trails and pine forests provide an easy escape into nature.
Brevard
Famed for its abundance of waterfalls, Brevard is a haven for travelers seeking serenity in nature. Among the magnificent waterfalls that one can gawk at is the Looking Glass Falls, one of North Carolina’s most photographed cascades, admired for its accessibility and dramatic beauty. Each spring, the community celebrates its most unusual residents during White Squirrel Weekend, a lively yet charming festival honoring Brevard’s rare albino squirrels. The nearby DuPont State Recreational Forest continues to draw hikers with its well-maintained trails and cinematic waterfalls, many of which appeared in major films like The Hunger Games. Finally, history and culture are on display at the Transylvania Heritage Museum, where local stories are preserved with care and depth.
Cherokee
Set within the ancestral lands of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, the chill town of Cherokee is a notable gateway to the culture and traditions of North Carolina. The Oconaluftee Indian Village remains an immersive, living-history attraction where visitors witness traditional crafts, dwellings, and daily life from the 18th century. Nearby, the Museum of the Cherokee People continues to present powerful exhibits that chronicle Cherokee history, language, and culture. During warmer months, the outdoor drama Unto These Hills still captivates audiences with its moving portrayal of Cherokee history and endurance. Most importantly, outdoor areas like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the southern reaches of Nantahala National Forest both ensure you have a grand and chill experience in one of the most chill small towns in North Carolina.
Boone
As one of the best small towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone thrives with youthful energy paired with an appreciative respect for Appalachian heritage. From the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, one can learn of the engaging and inspiring frontier lifestyle that prevailed throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. Meanwhile, the adjacent Daniel Boone Native Gardens offers a tranquil stroll through carefully curated native plant displays. Each fall, the Antlers & Acorns Songwriters Festival continues to celebrate regional music and storytelling, drawing artists and audiences together. Best of all, sublime and unbothered overlooks and vistas along the Blue Ridge Parkway provide easy access to some of the area’s most breathtaking and photogenic landscapes in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Chill Out In Some of North Carolina's Best Small Towns
The best small towns in North Carolina to chill out embody all that is pristine and perennial in the Tar Heel State. Where travelers will find a surplus of waterfalls in towns like Brevard or savor the bracing mountain air from high-altitude villages like Highlands, these destinations maintain an air of amicability and amazement for all. You will learn much from historic dwelling places such as Cherokee and Blowing Rock, and you will not forget your visits to beloved homesteads like New Bern and Edenton.
