1. Buncombe County
(Asheville, Black Mountain)
Courtesy of Meredith Travel Marketing
The stunning Biltmore Estate is an Asheville attraction year-round.
Sitting along the famed Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounded by one million acres of protected wilderness, Asheville’s backyard in Buncombe County, North Carolina, has the highest mountain peaks east of the Mississippi, thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, and George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre playground at Biltmore Estate. Asheville is a dynamic downtown brimming with Art Deco architecture, food-centric hotels, James Beard chefs, craft breweries and a thriving art, music and theater scene.
“The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are what bring people to Asheville,” says Dodie Stephens, the director of communications for Explore Asheville. “But, when they get here, they discover a vibrant and free-spirited city filled with fascinating history and unique people doing what they love. Nature and culture play together here in a way that resonates with travelers.”
2. Transylvania County
(Brevard, Pisgah Forest)
Surrounded by national forests or parks as part of the home of 250 waterfalls in Transylvania County, the town of Brevard is a tiny Mecca for great art and music plus a base camp to grand adventure in the Blue Ridge. Visitors have long celebrated Brevard’s world-class cycling, acclaimed summer music festival and charming, historic downtown where every day feels ripe for exploration.
“We are truly blessed here in Brevard,” says Clark E. Lovelace, executive director of the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce. “There are so many opportunities for fun, from exploring over 100,000 acres of public land to shopping in our vibrant downtown to grabbing a brew at one of our four breweries, all in our friendly, quaint mountain town.”
3. Avery County
(Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Seven Devils)
Banner Elk, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils are all part of Avery County, a section of the High Country known for wintertime fun on some of the South’s largest ski slopes. The lively college town of Banner Elk blends a relaxed setting with the amenities of a larger city as well as offering theater and the arts.
“We have a large number of tourists and second home owners who enjoy eating out,” says Nancy Owen, tourism director for Banner Elk, North Carolina. “And that’s what drives the Banner Elk culinary scene and makes us the ‘Culinary Hot Spot of the North Carolina High Country.’”
4. Henderson County
(Hendersonville, Flat Rock)
Hendersonville and Henderson County blend mountain charm with arts, culture, outdoor adventure and locally crafted spirits. Whether you wander through an orchard picking apples, sip cider and wine made from freshly harvested fruit, hike through old-growth forests or paddle along one of the oldest rivers in the world, Hendersonville provides authentic experiences that create lasting memories.
“Hendersonville offers a wide array of activities for the whole family,” says Beth Carden, director of the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority. “The scenic beauty and the great outdoors of this area draw people to Hendersonville, along with the diversity of attractions, to keep you entertained.”
5. Ashe County
(West Jefferson, Lansing)
Ashe County’s location in the northwestern corner of North Carolina and its average elevation of 3,000 feet justify calling it “The Coolest Corner in North Carolina.” The area also boasts breathtaking scenery, a vibrant music and arts community, diverse small towns and genuine, hardworking people. Add to that the iconic New River, and you have the perfect place to create precious memories.
“The secret is out, and we are so glad to share all that Ashe County has to offer,” says Kitty Honeycutt, executive director of the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. “There are endless outdoor activities, a rich art and cultural community, a vibrant collection of musical offerings and venues, and numerous shopping and dining options.”
About This Story: Our coverage area—the mountain regions of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky—is home to more great places to visit than you could shake the proverbial stick at.
The process of finding the full list of all 35 destinations presented here began with U.S. Travel Association data (for West Virginia, a Dean Runyan Associates study) assessing the increase in travel spending—2017 over 2016—in all geographically relevant counties and cities in each state.
We then determined the top eight in that realm for each state, listed them alphabetically, and offered online voting for our readers, toward creating the top-five lists presented here. The data affirmed increased visitorship to each; the reader input—voting for up to three destinations per state—narrowed those lists to voters’ favorite/hope-to-visit destinations.
Reader-poll voting took place between February 20 and April 7, 2019. Our thanks to all who took part.
Destinations in each state are listed in order of vote totals. For more details on each destination – including our editors' picks for 175 can't miss attractions and reasons to visit – subscribe now to get the July/August 2019 issue as your first copy. Thank you!