The best places to unplug in North Carolina
North Carolina has two good ways to get away. In the west you've got the Blue Ridge and the Smokies, with waterfalls, cold creeks and small mountain towns. In the east there's the Outer Banks, a long string of sand with the ocean on one side and the sound on the other.
Every place here is rated highly by guests and sits close to trails or water. These are the ones we'd send a friend to, sorted by the part of the state they're in.
The High Country: Boone, Blowing Rock and Valle Crucis
This is the northwest corner of the state, up along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Boone is the college town, Blowing Rock is the pretty one, and Valle Crucis is a little valley between them with not much more than a store and a river.
It's high enough to get real winters, and there are a few ski areas around Banner Elk. In summer it stays cooler than the rest of the state, which is why people from Charlotte come up.
A small bed and breakfast in Valle Crucis with mountain views. Some rooms have balconies, and there's a hot tub and an outdoor fireplace for the evenings. The original Mast General Store is close by.
Highlands, Cashiers and the lakes
South of Asheville the mountains run down toward the Georgia and South Carolina lines, and this part is mostly waterfalls and lakes. Highlands and Cashiers are small towns that fill up in summer and go quiet the rest of the year.
Gorges State Park and Panthertown Valley are both close, and Whitewater Falls, one of the tallest in the East, is a short drive south of Cashiers.
A lakeside inn on Lake Toxaway with a restaurant, a spa and a pool open in season. You can get out on the lake in a canoe, and they'll pack you a lunch if you're heading out to hike.
The Smokies side: Bryson City, Robbinsville and Murphy
The far western tip of the state is the most remote part of it. Bryson City sits on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Nantahala River nearby is known for rafting.
Past that, Robbinsville is the way to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, one of the few stands of old growth left in the East, and the Cherohala Skyway. Murphy is about as far west as North Carolina goes.
The Outer Banks
The Outer Banks are barrier islands, and the farther south you go, the emptier they get. The northern beach towns are busy in summer. Roanoke Island is calmer, and Hatteras Island is mostly national seashore and wildlife refuge.
Come in spring or fall if you can. The water's still fine, the houses are cheaper and you'll have more beach to yourself.
An adults-only bed and breakfast in the middle of Manteo, with a garden and free bikes. Breakfast is a real one, and some rooms have a spa tub. You can walk to the waterfront.
Before you go
- Download your maps before you go. Cell service gets spotty in the mountain hollows and in parts of the far west.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway closes in sections for weather and repairs. Check the park service site before you plan a drive on it.
- Highway 12 on the Outer Banks can close after storms. If you're headed to Hatteras, keep an eye on it.
- Stay at least two nights. Most of these places are a long drive, and one night goes by fast.
All our stays in North Carolina
Crumpler, NC
Hiking trailsKayak & canoeFishing
Usually from $223/nightFirst look
New places we find and the odd guide to somewhere quiet. A few emails a year, that's it.