This small NC State Park has 9 miles of hiking trails, a fitness trail that allows cyclists, several ponds, and three campsites as well as a rusticrental cabin. Their Downtown tasting room is a welcoming spot for visitors to come and try their special creations, as well as the delicious food coming out of their kitchen. The collection started with the acquisition of nearly 150 European and American paintings and sculptures. What's more, it's home to some of the tallest peaks in the eastern United States. 12 Best Small Towns in North Carolina for Southern Hospitality - Travel Cape Hatteras NS protects three islands Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke. Arguably Brevards biggest draw is exploring Pisgah National Forest (which is just a few minutes north of it) and Dupont State Recreational Forest (which is just a few minutes south of it). } Hickory. Or you can venture into Wilmingtons historic downtown. } Christmas at Biltmore is one of the most festive events in Asheville and we hope you can grab a ticket. 2022 Best Cities to Live in North Carolina - UpNest To reach the top of Chimney Rock, you can either climb 500 steps or ride the elevator up. But it's also the spirit of the place that has people flocking to western North Carolina to take a look at this art deco-bedecked city and maybe even stay awhile. padding-right: 10px; Approximately 11,000 gallons of water course down the rock each minute. Hickory also ranks 24th out of the 150 metro areas on the Best Places to Live list for its access to quality health care, based on data from the U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings. This powerhouse region is a magnet for tech and biotech companies, and explosive job growth is one reason why Raleigh, NC, is among the best places to live in the U.S. Raleigh has two nicknames that hint at the unparalleled quality of life here. La Farm Bakery, Bond Brothers Beer Company, and Taipei 101 are a few places that wed start with on any trip to Cary, but Ashworth Drugs is great for a look at an old-fashioned soda fountainand hot dogs, too! }); North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Chapel Hill. Affiliate links linking to products we love may be found in our articles. Boasting an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet, Andrews Bald is the highest grassy bald in the park. Spanning 8,000 acres, the French-Renaissance estate boasts 250 rooms, including 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie. As of the last estimate, Cary houses about 170,000 people and is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the US. [Read: The Best Tourist Attraction in Every U.S. READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Brevard NC & Transylvania County, 2 Everett St, Bryson City NC (828)488-7857 Official Website. Along with an impressive display of legendary cars, such as Jack Ingram's 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Wendell Scott's 1962 Chevrolet Impala, the hall of fame also boasts racing simulators and exhibits that allow visitors to see inside a race car engine through augmented reality. Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 46Metro Population: 666,216Median Home Price: $278,083Average Annual Salary: $47,480. Which Tar Heel State metro area meets your needs for cost of living, job market and quality of life? 681 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars. 8. The Tuckasegee River runs right through the heart of town. Asheville. 2023 Best Places to Live in North Carolina - Niche There are numerous entry points to the parkway (which is free to access) in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina, but if you want to admire some of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi River, you'll want to traverse the parkway near Asheville. Were particularly fond of Jeffs and the Kettle Diner, but our opinion changes according to the time of day. text-decoration: none After visiting North Carolina for the first time, Senior Writer Jonathon Engels and wife Emma spent 2 years exploring Western NC in search of a homestead property. Throughout the city, there are some interesting neighborhoods filled with awesome restaurants, breweries, and more. Many of these fun activities feature in our guide to free things to do in Raleigh, too! Weve also covered the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, which happens every year in Cary from November to January. A couple of hotspots in the Outer Banks ofNorth Carolina Jockeys Ridge State Park and Cape Hatteras National Seashore will appear further down on this list. High Point is known as the Furniture Capital of the World and there are some interesting places to explore there. 1. Its beautiful from the top! Greensboro is just a couple of hours drive from both the mountains and the coast, with interstates 40, 85 and 73 among some of the highways that can easily take you in and out of the metro area. This is the first of a few state parks near our cities in North Carolina. Part of America's Favorite Scenic Drive winds its way through North Carolina. "agent": "woocommerce-7.8.1-3.0.26" So, if you plan on exploring the park's 13-plus miles of trails, keep an eye on the forecast. Regardless of when you visit, check out all of these things to do in Wilmington (and around it) and you cant go wrong! READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in NC & VA, 1401 National Park Dr, Manteo NC (252)473-2111 Official Website. Thats a part of why this is the first of many places in this post that we included in our guides to day trips from Raleigh and also, from Durham. ), 60+ Interesting Facts About Boone that You Should Know (History and More! READ MORE: The 20 Best North Carolina Music Festivals, 89 Buck Forest Rd, Cedar Mountain NC (828) 877-6527. #right-sidebar { 52 on the overall Best Places to Live list, Hickory is also the fourth-most affordable place to live out of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S., and it's the most affordable in North Carolina. It's a rich suburb for middle age families. Along with its towering mountain, the park is known for experiencing the South's most severe weather. To make the most of your time, heed the advice of reviewers and pick just one or two activities to enjoy instead of trying your hand at all of the center's offerings. Located in Transylvania County, the Land of Waterfalls, Dupont State Recreational Forest has what many believe to be some of the most beautiful cascades in the country. 9. Morrisville. At this time the temperatures will be in the mid-80s Fahrenheit, making a trip to the beach an ideal way to spend an afternoon with the family. It is the most visited of all U.S. National Parks, with over 14 million visitors in 2021. Its also got a reputation for some of the states finest barbecue, which youll remember after visiting Bs or Parkers. /***Move Back to Top Button***/ 9 Best Places to Live In North Carolina - WorldAtlas Situated in northwestern North Carolina, about 70 miles northeast of Asheville, Grandfather Mountain State Park is a playground for adrenaline junkies. Additionally, many suggest upgrading your ticket to the "Exclusive Experience" to view areas of the home not featured in the basic tour (such as the guest and servant quarters), as well as have the opportunity to be led around the house by an expert guide. Despite the towns small size, there are lots of greatBryson City restaurants and tourist attractions, including the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and Nantahala Outdoor Center, plus tons of cool shops. Flickr / Clark Mackey. It has miles and miles of hiking, biking, and bridle trails, including a great trek up to the actual Hanging Rock, another of North Carolinas iconic geological formations. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com. The food scene on the Outer Banks is also stellar, especially the local breweries and seafood shacks serving up fresh catches from the Atlantic. If youre in town during baseball season, stop by L.P. Frans Stadium for a Hickory Crawdads game and soak up that Minor League atmosphere. Both are a couple of our favorite things to do with kids in Fayetteville. Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 48Metro Population: 454,351Median Home Price: $278,750Average Annual Salary: $44,830. Plan your next getaway to the beautiful state of North Carolina(Getty Images), A vacation in North Carolina promises a rare combination of exciting mountain adventures and lazy days spent at the beach. Blowing Rock is 10 miles from Boone, less than 20 miles from Banner Elk, and 5 minutes from Blue Ridge Parkway hotspots likeJulian Price Memorial Park andMoses H. Cone Memorial Park. If you're up for the challenge, there's also the more strenuous 2.6-mile out and back Mount Pisgah Trail, which features views of Cold Mountain from its 5,721-foot summit. Methodology. Plus, the park sits less than 5 miles south of Wright Brothers National Monument, meaning you can visit both of these top attractions in the same day. Living in Hickory, NC | U.S. News Its home to lots of cool stuff, including Venus flytraps, Sugarloaf Dune, and Orton Point (for testing tidal currents). The Pisgah Ranger District has a huge collection of incrediblewaterfalls, and its also home to the Cradle of Forestry, the nations first school of forestry. You can hike in the beautiful mountains that surround it, drive or cycle the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, or just eat your way through a weekend Downtown. Rent prices have also been trending higher but are in the range of the national average.. Property taxes are also reasonable, while North Carolina state taxes are roughly middle of the pack. Considering a home renovation project? Avoid a literal pain in the neck with these expert-approved travel pillows. READ MORE: The 15 Best Romantic Getaways in NC (Cabins, Inns & Resorts), 1194 Newfound Gap Rd, Cherokee NC (865)436-1200 Official Website. Weather in North Carolina - Sperling's BestPlaces .archive .content-area a { Discover the right pair for every type of adventure and terrain. If the weather doesnt cooperate, head to the Greensboro Science Center and Miriam P. Brenner Childrens Museum (formerly the Greensboro Childrens Museum) for the kids or even yourself. This nearly 3-mile-long loop trail takes hikers to two waterfalls. Did you know that America's largest privately owned home is located in North Carolina? .generate-back-to-top, This structure consists of five rock climbing walls ranging in height from 20 to 45 feet that are positioned over a deep pool of water. READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Bryson City NC & Swain County, 308 West Franklin St, Chapel Hill NC (888)968-2060 Official Website. You can observe this herd of more than 100 horses grazing in the grasslands or on the dunes. Its one of our favorites in all of North Carolina! Raleigh ranks No. State.]. It has the feeling of a college town, with all the hip cultural offerings youd expect. There are also tons of lighter food options, as we covered in our guide to Charlotte eats. The water temperature is brisk (between 50 and 60 degrees), which is why this natural attraction is particularly popular during the summer months. When you're not riding the rapids, explore the center's variety of other activities, including its Deep Water Solo complex. Best Places To Live In North Carolina In 2022 | Bankrate document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Carl and Christina started NC Tripping. You'll also want to look for fulgurites, or glass tubes formed when lightning strikes the sand. Of course, youll find plenty more amazing restaurants in Greenville when you visit! Fayetteville If you can't get enough of the spectacular setting, consider booking a stay at one of the on-site accommodations, including the Inn on Biltmore Estate. height: 100%; One of the top things to do in the Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches for more than 70 miles from the borders of the Oregon Inlet to the edge of the Ocracoke Inlet. Popular activities at this state parkon the NC coast include hang gliding, kiteboarding, windsurfing, and sandboarding down the massive dunes. Best Place to Live in US 2022: Raleigh, NC #14 | Livability Or, grab a fishing rod and set up camp in Hatteras, which is a premier fishing destination. This is the highest point in Caldwell and Watauga Counties, and the tallest peak on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thanks to low supply and consistent demand, the D.C. metro is poised to remain one of the nations strongest housing markets. Its just out of reach of big cities, and just off the Atlantic Coast. Read More: The Mayton in Cary (+ 7 Things We Love About Staying Here!). Popular stops along the parkway include Craggy Gardens (known for its 360-degree views and abundance of rhododendrons), Mount Mitchell (the highest peak in the eastern United States) and Linville Falls (a three-tiered waterfall that cascades into the Linville Gorge). 15 Best Places to Retire in South Carolina - Yahoo Finance The latter is one of our favorite outdoor attractions in the city and one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in North Carolina. Overall Score 6.5 /10 #29 in Best Places to Live . At 404 feet, it's one of the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. After you've gotten your feet wet at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, why not test your rafting skills on some of the state's rivers? So, instead of wearing traditional climbing equipment, you'll climb without harnesses or ropes and fall into the pool. 5 on a list of destinations offering jobs, affordability and other . At the time of its commissioning in 1941, the ship was considered "the world's greatest sea weapon." Located along North Carolina's Crystal Coast in the southern Outer Banks, Cape Lookout offers 56 miles of undeveloped beachfront. Flickr / Leo Suarez. Spirits lovers should head to Waltons Distillery for a tasting and a tour. Best Places to Live in North Carolina - Sperling's BestPlaces Youll also find tons of outdoor fun in Charlotte, with spots like the US National Whitewater Center and its amazing parks wildly popular during the warmer months. Of course, you have to stroll through both the US Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. By Devon Thorsby | Nov. 9, 2021, at 2:26 p.m.. In my opinion, the best cities to visit in North Carolina Asheville, Charlotte, and the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) rival those found anywhere on the East Coast. The 20 Worst Places to Live in North Carolina - Money Inc Eating at Ashley Christensens Beasleys Chicken + Honey is another reason why Raleigh is one of the best cities in North Carolina. Other fun things to do at Carolina Beach State Park include boating, fishing, and paddling, plus a visitor center with educational exhibits. Home inspectors thoroughly examine homes from top to bottom, but some of the things they really pride themselves in finding may surprise you. The Best Places to Live in North Carolina - U.S. News Real Estate Asheville, North Carolina. Other must-sees include the parks wonderful collection of waterfalls, rock-climbing walls, and a mountain cave. Its also a great place for watching migrating birds in North Carolina and wildlife, including sea turtles (especially loggerhead and green), which nest on the area beaches. Whether you prefer a hoppy India pale ale or a fruit-forward sour, you'll find it in Asheville. Its possible to take a long day hike that encompasses 5 marquee waterfalls in the forest, includingHooker Falls, Triple Falls (my personal favorite), High Falls, Grassy Creek Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. The other cool feature at Stone Mountain State Park is the Hutchinson Homestead, a refurbished mid-1800s farm with all the historic buildings. And for a spectacular 360-degree view of the state's southernmost barrier island, climb the 108 steps to the top of the Bald Head Lighthouse the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina. fbq( 'track', 'PageView', { n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; The park's namesake stands tall at nearly 6,000 feet, making it the highest peak in the Blue Ridge mountain range. Burnsville NC. Lake Fontana is just a short drive away. padding-right: 10px !important; Thanks to the park's year-round prevailing winds, this is an ideal location to try your hand at kite and model plane flying, as well as hang gliding. Best Places To Live In North Carolina 2023 Nearby Areas With A High Livability Score Cary, NC City Population: 155,822 I guess I can say that Cary is a nice place to live if you don't care about character or charm to a city. And dont forget about the awesome burgers at Als Burger Shack and on Rosemary, the amazing Southern eats at Mama Dips! Theres such an abundance of great places to visit in North Carolina, visitors may find themselves wanting to stop every few miles down the road. It's a small but growing city with the beauty of nature spread throughout even its most urban areas. We encourage anyone who loves the Blue Ridge region to learn about theLeave No Traceprinciples ofresponsible environmental stewardship. More popular hikes include Table Rock Mountain and Hawksbill Mountain. Plus, the aviary houses more than 100 exotic birds and 3,000 tropical plants. In addition to the highly rated Chetola Resort & Spa, there are lots of Blowing Rock Cabin Rentals if youre looking for a place to stay in town. Real Estate. The area also features the Wright Brothers Monument, which sits atop Big Kill Devil Hill, where the brothers first tested their gliding experiments. Visiting the state park, which is known for towering sand dunes and strong winds, will give you a better idea of why the Wright Brothers chose the Outer Banks when searching for optimal conditions for their flying experiments. The best time to visit North Carolina's coastal towns is in the summer months of June, July, and August. Were huge fans of these cities in North Carolina and cant wait to keep revisiting these fun places. I hike here regularly and visit the homestead a couple of times a month, since its just right down the road from our property near Elkin NC. Greenville is one of the biggest cities in North Carolina, thanks to East Carolina University. The Best Mountain Towns to Visit in the U.S. Land of Waterfalls), Brevard NC is beloved as a comfortable Blue Ridge mountain townwith a primo location. Among the major points of interest in North Carolina is Clingmans Dome, the highest mountain in the Smoky Mountains, as well as several mountains over 6,000 feet (the tallest summits on the AT). Updated: Jul 6, 2023 / 07:06 PM EDT. And of course theNorth Carolina mountainsare home to an exceptional array ofcharming mountain towns, many of which are connected via the world-renowned Blue Ridge Parkway. } The 1.5-mile round-trip Hawksbill Mountain hike requires an elevation gain of about 700 feet, but the views of the gorge, the river and, on a clear day, the Charlotte skyline are worth the effort. Though some of the biggest names in craft brewing, such as Sierra Nevada and New Belgium, do have outposts here, Asheville is home to an impressive collection of local producers. 20 Best Tourist Destinations in North Carolina - Landmark Vacation Rentals Perhaps the most popular is the hike to Linville Falls, believed to be the most photographed waterfall in North Carolina. 10 BEST Places to Visit in North Carolina - Tripadvisor Neighborhood in Charlotte, NC,. Its one of the many great places to visit near Raleigh NC. Due to its currents, shoals, and unpredictable weather, the area is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic.. Charlotte. Before deciding to live here, enjoy yourself with a room at The Cardinal Hotel or another one of Winston-Salems awesome historic hotels, and dont forget to dig into the citys delicious restaurants and innovative breweries. Despite the population boom to over 360,000 inhabitants, the city retains a small-town atmosphere with big-city amenities and envious . .inside-footer-widgets a { Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Bodie Island Lighthouse are both open seasonally for lighthouse climbs, a popular (though slightly strenuous) activity that yields spectacular views of Bodie Island, the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound. Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 52Metro Population: 366,678Median Home Price: $161,000Average Annual Salary: $41,840. On the self-guided tour, visitors can explore nine levels of the ship, including the mess decks, berthing areas, engine room and bridge, among other must-sees. Make the most of the town's elevation with a hike up Whiteside Mountain appropriately named for its sheer white cliffs. Speaking of the latter, Foothills Brewing makes some of our favorite NC beer. Located in Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of Art has a unique origin story. } READ MORE: The 35 Best Things to Do in Asheville NC, 132 Park Ave, Blowing Rock NC (828)295-4636 Official Website. Mount Airy, a.k.a. From musical acts to magic shows, explore the top picks in the entertainment hub of the Ozarks. Types of homes that make good flips often include foreclosures, pre .

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