Best bets for summer getaways: 3 Western NC small towns named adorable by Southern Living
Southern Living's recent analysis, "15 Most Adorable Small Towns for a Summer Getaway," contains even more praise for several Western North Carolina favorites.
Southern Living, established in 1966, aims to "celebrate the food, homes and places that define our region." The magazine regularly publishes pieces on Southern culture and traditions — and this isn't the first time WNC has caught its attention.
In this report, Southern Living Editor Tara Massouleh McCay chose towns for features including charming, walkable downtown areas, quaint features like old-fashioned ice cream parlors and strong communities of friendly locals.
From sunny beaches to mountain sanctuaries, here are Southern Living's choices, plus more on each WNC city chosen.
More: 5 best hikes near Asheville in Western NC: Waterfalls, swimming, high elevation
The 15 Most Adorable Small Towns for a Summer Getaway
Southern Living placed the following cities on its list:
Abingdon, Virginia
Brevard, North Carolina
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Oxford, Mississippi
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Fairhope, Alabama
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Dripping Springs, Texas
Beaufort, South Carolina
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Seaside, Florida
St. Michaels, Maryland
Ellijay, Georgia
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida
Boone, North Carolina
N.C. towns Brevard, Mount Airy, Black Mountain and Boone all made the cut, more than a quarter of 15 the entries. Here's what Southern Living praised about each of the WNC towns, and suggestions for exploring them.
More: Asheville restaurant named best place for breakfast tacos in North Carolina by Yelp
Best things to do in Brevard
Southern Living praised Brevard, nicknamed the "Land of Waterfalls," for the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains that surround the town. While Brevard is a popular area for children's summer camps, the magazine suggested it as an equally perfect location for adult getaways.
Here are Southern Living's suggestions for what to check out in Brevard:
Stay at a bed and breakfast like the Bromfield Inn.
Hiking and hunting down waterfalls.
Shopping, dining and live music in downtown Brevard - suggestions included regional hub Newfound Artisan, Wild Morel restaurant and the Brevard Music Center.
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Best things to do in Black Mountain
The magazine suggested Black Mountain for Asheville lovers who want a "quieter experience." The story praised the town's walkable downtown full of art galleries, breweries and ice cream shops, the hand-painted rocking chairs situated all over the town and more.
Here are some of their suggestions:
Saturday Tailgate Market, the Black Mountain farmers market.
Brunch at Open Oven Brunch & Bakery.
Live music at White Horse Black Mountain including this summer's Black Mountain Blues festival.
Recent reporting from the Black Mountain News also suggested some favorites from the town's 35 restaurants including Berliner Kindl German Restaurant, Black Mountain Bistro, My Father’s Pizza & Pasta, Cousins Cuban Cafe? and more.
More: Visiting Black Mountain? Here are 10 popular restaurants to check out
Best things to do in Boone
Southern Living called Boone a nostalgic destination with a mix of "old-school Appalachia intermingled with modernity." The article praised several of the town's notable locations including Mast General Store, The Horton Hotel and Doe Ridge Pottery.
More suggestions for exploring Boone include:
Catch music and dance performances, film festivals and classic-movie nights at the Appalachian Theatre.
Grab a brew at Lost Province Brewing Co. or put together a picnic with help from specialty-foods store Benchmark Provisions.
Take a hike at one of Boone's many outdoor areas including Howard Knob and the Appalachian State University Nature Preserve.
More: Site near Bryson City voted top 10 in two outdoor adventure categories: Why it's special
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Southern Living's Most Adorable Cities: Brevard, Boone, Black Mountain
