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These WNC locations are among the 25 best in NC: Here’s what Travel + Leisure says

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These WNC locations are among the 25 best in NC: Here’s what Travel + Leisure says

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A list of 25 best places to visit in North Carolina from Travel + Leisure included several Western N.C. favorites including Asheville itself.

Travel media website Travel + Leisure publishes travel guides, lists of suggestions and more – and it’s not the first time the website has praised WNC locations. A new list of 25 travel recommendations in the Tar Heel State ranges from entire cities to museums to national forests and beyond.

Here are the WNC locations that made it onto Travel + Leisure’s list, plus the rest of its suggestions.

More: 5 best ‘crowd-free’ fall leaf hikes in US: Western NC waterfall trail picked by Backpacker

Best places to visit in WNC

The locations included on the list located in WNC were:

  • No. 1 – Biltmore Estate
  • No. 4 – Pisgah National Forest
  • No. 5 – Asheville
  • No. 6 – Brevard
  • No. 13 – Blue Ridge Parkway
  • No. 14 – Linville Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains
  • No. 15 – Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains
  • No. 18 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • No. 19 – Cherokee
  • No. 24 – Chimney Rock State Park

Here’s what Travel + Leisure writers said about each.

Biltmore Estate

In first place on the list, the Biltmore Estate was called “one of the most beautiful and iconic homes in the country” by Travel + Leisure writers. The estate receives millions of visitors yearly, but writers said it’s “worth braving the crowds.”

Suggestions from the writers included:

  • Stroll the 8,000 acre grounds.
  • Tour the luxurious architecture of the home.
  • Visit nearby Antler Hill Village for dining, shopping, additional exhibits, and even a winery.

More: Forbes names 4 Western NC companies among best employers in 2024: Check out the NC list

Pisgah National Forest

The over 500,000 Pisgah National Forest was praised by Travel + Leisure writers for its rich history of conservation and culture. Writers also praised the area for:

  • America’s first forestry school
  • The Cradle of Forestry
  • Natural waterslide and swimming hole Sliding Rock
  • Romantic cabin getaways at the Pisgah Highlands complex

Asheville

Writers had plenty to say on our very own Asheville. Their favorite things about the area included:

  • “Quirky, artistic vibe” and mountain views.
  • “Food hot spot” status, with chefs who embrace Appalachian traditions for their menus.
  • Thriving craft beer scene.
  • Historic architecture.
  • Galleries and working artists’ studios across several art districts.
  • New Age shops and events.
  • “Lively scene” year-round.

More: This Western NC apple orchard was voted top 10 in the country: What to know, full rankings

Brevard

Brevard’s “Land of Waterfalls” title – and the 250 waterfalls within Transylvania County that come with it – wasn’t the only thing Travel + Leisure appreciated about Brevard. Also included in the Brevard list entry were:

  • Glamping tents and cabins at resorts like Pilot Cove and DuPont Yurts.
  • River activities like kayaking and paddling.
  • Scenic hiking areas to top sites like Looking Glass Falls, Cove Creek Falls and Moore Cove Falls.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Though the parkway is about 600 miles in length, Travel + Leisure writers gave the area broader praise. The versatility of choices, from an hour drive to view the parkway’s flora and fauna to a multiday road trip, the N.C. section of the parkway alone can be whatever travelers are looking for.

In particular, the list entry praised the Blue Ridge Music Center’s celebration of regional folk music traditions through seasonal performances.

More: Raw gems: How many WNC locations are among a list of best ‘undiscovered’ towns in NC

Linville Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Writers appreciated the multi-tiered cascade that is Linville Falls for its five different vantage points for viewing with various skill levels required – the easiest being only a 20-minute walk from the parking area. The area’s campground was also praised.

Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Beyond stunning scenery, Travel + Leisure writers were appreciative of the variety of options for what to do at Grandfather Mountain. Their suggestions included:

  • Wilson Center for Nature Discovery
  • Hugh Morton photo gallery
  • Wildlife habitat enclosure including animals like black bears and river otters

More: 7 unique traditions in North Carolina include 3 in WNC: See the list and make your plans

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

What list of NC destinations would be complete without the most-visited national park in the U.S.? Travel + Leisure authors praised the national park’s miles of hiking trails, as well as these specifics:

  • Hiking options for sections of the East Coast-spanning Appalachian Trail including the 7.5-mile hike from Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome
  • The Deep Creek area, with an “enchanting” bevy of streams and waterfalls

Cherokee

Writers appreciated the capital of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation for the chance it provides for a “deeper connection and understanding of the state’s Indigenous heritage.” To make the most of this opportunity, Travel + Leisure suggested:

  • Buy a ticket for “Unto These Hills,” an outdoor theater show put on by the Cherokee Historical Association
  • Enjoy natural beauty of the area with mountain bike trails, waterfall hikes, fishing and river tubing

More: These 4 Western NC places made Southern Living’s Best Fall Trips in the South: See all 20

Chimney Rock State Park

Last but not least at No. 24 on the list, Travel + Leisure writers said that Chimney Rock State Park has some of the most beautiful views in WNC, with unique geological features and biodiversity to add to the draw. In particular, they praised:

  • The area’s status as a filming location for several famous movies including “Last of the Mohicans”
  • The “namesake rock,” a 315-foot perch accessible by elevator
  • Devil’s Head, which writers called “another rock worth seeing”

Best places to visit in NC

As for the whole list, here’s what Travel + Leisure writers deemed most worth of a visit in NC:

  1. Biltmore Estate in Asheville
  2. Shackleford Banks
  3. Outer Banks
  4. Pisgah National Forest
  5. Asheville
  6. Brevard
  7. Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk
  8. Raleigh
  9. North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh
  10. Chapel Hill
  11. Charlotte
  12. Levine Museum of the New South in Charlotte
  13. Blue Ridge Parkway
  14. Linville Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains
  15. Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains
  16. Winston-Salem
  17. Winkler Bakery in Winston-Salem
  18. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  19. Cherokee
  20. Durham
  21. Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham
  22. Wilmington
  23. International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro
  24. Chimney Rock State Park
  25. Merchants Millpond State Park

More: 5 WNC hotels named among 12 best for fall stays by Southern Living: No. 1 is in Waynesville

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

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