North Carolina is home to a stunning and varied landscape that stretches from the Outer Banks chain of barrier islands in the Atlantic Ocean to the mountainous Blue Ridge region of the Appalachian Mountains.
North Carolina offers getaways to suit your tastes, whether your idea of a perfect small town is a seaside community or a hamlet nestled in the mountains.
Discover North Carolina’s 5 Coziest Towns
Begin your vacation planning with our list of the five coziest North Carolina towns.
Edenton
Situated along Albemarle Sound, Edenton was the site of North Carolina’s first successful English settlement in 1658.
The town, founded over 50 years later, gained historical significance with the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, mirroring the famous Boston Tea Party.
Edenton has admirably preserved its rich history, showcasing architectural gems like the 1767 courthouse as well as the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse in Edenton Bay.
You can take a stroll along the picturesque waterfront and historic downtown area, or you can take one of the town’s trolley tours.
Bath
From 1712 until 1722, Bath served as the colony’s first capital and, for a portion of that time, Blackbeard, the infamous pirate, called Bath home.
With structures restored to their original colonial-era appearance as well as walking tours that narrate the town’s colorful political and pirate history, a large portion of the town is now recognized as a state historic site under the name Historic Bath.
Ocracoke
Located on Ocracoke Island at the entrance to Pamlico Sound, the town of Ocracoke conveys a tranquil coziness that is simply absent from the busy beach towns of the Outer Banks further north.
Ocracoke Island is not connected by bridges, so travelers are forced to depend on the ferries that leave both from the north as well as the south.
Ocracoke moves more slowly and has preserved more of its unspoiled coastal beauty as a result of its isolation.
The National Park Service runs a campground along the beach in Ocracoke.
New Bern
History buffs are drawn to New Bern, which was once a significant port town and is situated where the Trent and Meuse Rivers converge.
If you have a more modern as well as commercial interest in history, you may visit the pharmacy in which Pepsi Cola was created in 1898.
Both the town’s waterfront area and charming, vintage-feeling downtown make for enjoyable walking tours in New Bern. Along with fantastic waterfront views, Union Point Park frequently hosts festivals and concerts.
Black Mountain
With a more comfortable setting in a town of about 8,000 people, Black Mountain shares many of the eclectic and independent spirit of Asheville.
With festivals like the Lake Eden Arts Festival and establishments such the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Black Mountain manages to have a thriving arts and culture scene for a small town.
There are also several historic districts in downtown Black Mountain, which make for excellent walking tours. One such district is the location of the old Black Mountain College.
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