6 of the ‘most picturesque small towns’ in the US are here in NC, new survey says
Some of our state’s towns have been named among the most picturesque small towns in America.
Out of the lengthy list of small towns across the country, six are in North Carolina. One’s even in the Triangle.
“Our team conducted a study to find the 120 most picturesque small towns in America that are an absolute must-see and that one shouldn’t miss out on this summer,” wrote North Carolina Travel Guides, which conducted the non-scientific survey.
“For this study, the team of travel experts at North Carolina Travel Guides compared 500 small towns. To determine which are the most picturesque, we looked at the following categories: search trends, popularity with photographers, and popularity for photography with the general public.”
The top spot went to Fredericksburg, Texas, which NC Travel Guides called “a paradise for those that want to admire stunning historic architecture and mesmerizing nature.”
Second and third place went, respectively, to Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and Orange Beach, Alabama.
For the full list of picturesque towns and their rankings, visit northcarolinatravelguides.com/most-picturesque-small-towns-in-america.
Here’s how NC’s small towns ranked.
Most picturesque small towns in North Carolina, new study says
• Beaufort: This coastal town ranked #50 on the list. It’s a nearly three-hour drive from Raleigh.
Beaufort is home to the NC Maritime Museum, which houses artifacts from the wreckage of Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, found in the Beaufort Inlet. You can also visit the two-acre Beaufort Historic Site and, on Saturdays, the Olde Beaufort Farmers Market.
For more visitor information, head to beaufortnc.org/community/page/visit-beaufort.
• Hillsborough: This Triangle town ranked #54 on the list. It’s a 45-minute drive from Raleigh.
Attend Last Fridays & the Art Walk, a monthly town-wide celebration of art and community, put on by the Hillsborough Art Council on the last Friday of every month. Hillsborough has a number of art galleries and walking tours.
For more visitor information, head to visithillsboroughnc.com/things-to-do-in-hillsborough.
• Blowing Rock: This mountain town ranked #73 on the list. It’s a three-hour drive from Raleigh.
Popular attractions include the Blowing Rock Attraction, the Appalachian Ski Mountain and Doc’s Rocks Gem Mine.
For more visitor information, head to blowingrock.com.
• Cashiers: This western town ranked #90 on the list. It’s a five-hour drive from Raleigh.
Visit Village Green, a 12-acre park with outdoor sculptures, boardwalks and gardens. Their calendar of events includes live music, farmers markets, educational lectures and design showcases.
For more visitors information, visit villagegreencashiersnc.com.
• Washington: This riverside town ranked #110 on the list. It’s under two hours from Raleigh by car.
Washington is home to the world’s first Estuarium, an interactive center that explores estuaries, the area where freshwater and saltwater environments mx. There are over 200 exhibits, as Washington has more estuarine waters than anywhere else on the East Coast.
For more visitor information, head to visitwashingtonnc.com.
• Bryson City: This western town ranked #115 on the list. It’s nearly a five-hour drive from Raleigh.
Known as the outdoor adventure capital of the Great Smoky Mountains, NC’s Bryson City offers abundant hiking trails, whitewater rafting, boating, biking, gem mining, zip lining, horseback riding, fishing and much more.
For more visitor information, head to explorebrysoncity.com.
This story was originally published August 10, 2023 at 9:23 AM with the headline "6 of the ‘most picturesque small towns’ in the US are here in NC, new survey says."
