This small town in North Carolina ranks among nation’s best places to visit. Here’s why
A North Carolina mountain destination is one of the nation’s top small towns to visit, new rankings show.
Banner Elk earned a spot on a list of places offering the best entertainment, natural settings and other qualities that attract tourists to more intimate locations, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
“Our picks for the 15 best small towns to visit this year all have a population of 25,000 or under, a high density of cultural offerings and natural beauty, and a compelling reason to visit in 2022,” the magazine said in a report published Friday, June 3.
Of the destinations across the country that received recognition, Banner Elk was the only place in North Carolina to make the list. The town of about 1,000 people lies in the western part of the state, near the tourist hotspot of Grandfather Mountain and roughly 75 miles northeast of Asheville.
In the report, the town earned nods for its proximity to mountain attractions, including hiking trails and ski resorts. The town — which calls itself the “ski capital of the South” — also has attractions for those who don’t want to hit the slopes.
“The town’s Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster has provided endless fun since its 2020 debut, with gravity driving each two-person car along its twisting and turning 2,390-foot track at speeds of up to 27 miles per hour,” the magazine said in its report. “For an adventure that’s a little more low-key, enjoy a tour of the family-owned Apple Hill Farm, a working alpaca farm.”
Banner Elk was also recognized for its “quirky” Woolly Worm Festival, which highlights the black and red caterpillars each October. If you work up an appetite, the magazine also suggests visiting the region’s wineries and acclaimed restaurants.
It’s not the first time Banner Elk has earned national attention. In May, a treehouse in the town was named the nation’s most desired place to stay on Airbnb.
This time around, the magazine said it narrowed down the top small towns after considering submissions from state tourism boards and receiving help from Esri, a geographic information system company.
Other places that ranked among the most attractive for travelers were: Cambria, California; Winslow, Arizona; Africatown, Alabama; Chatham, Massachusetts; Everglades City, Florida; Cañon City, Colorado; Bemidji, Minnesota; Gallup, New Mexico; Chillicothe, Ohio; Newport, Rhode Island; Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; Cape May, New Jersey; Livingston, Montana; and Cartersville, Georgia.
This story was originally published June 6, 2022 at 2:33 PM with the headline "This small town in North Carolina ranks among nation’s best places to visit. Here’s why."
