These WNC locations are among the 25 best in NC: Here's what Travel + Leisure says
A list of 25 best places to visit in North Carolina from Travel + Leisure included several Western N.C. favorites including Asheville itself.
Travel media website Travel + Leisure publishes travel guides, lists of suggestions and more - and it's not the first time the website has praised WNC locations. A new list of 25 travel recommendations in the Tar Heel State ranges from entire cities to museums to national forests and beyond.
Here are the WNC locations that made it onto Travel + Leisure's list, plus the rest of its suggestions.
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Best places to visit in WNC
The locations included on the list located in WNC were:
No. 1 - Biltmore Estate
No. 4 - Pisgah National Forest
No. 5 - Asheville
No. 6 - Brevard
No. 13 - Blue Ridge Parkway
No. 14 - Linville Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains
No. 15 - Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains
No. 18 - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
No. 19 - Cherokee
No. 24 - Chimney Rock State Park
Here's what Travel + Leisure writers said about each.
Biltmore Estate
In first place on the list, the Biltmore Estate was called "one of the most beautiful and iconic homes in the country" by Travel + Leisure writers. The estate receives millions of visitors yearly, but writers said it's "worth braving the crowds."
Suggestions from the writers included:
Stroll the 8,000 acre grounds.
Tour the luxurious architecture of the home.
Visit nearby Antler Hill Village for dining, shopping, additional exhibits, and even a winery.
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Pisgah National Forest
The over 500,000 Pisgah National Forest was praised by Travel + Leisure writers for its rich history of conservation and culture. Writers also praised the area for:
America's first forestry school
The Cradle of Forestry
Natural waterslide and swimming hole Sliding Rock
Romantic cabin getaways at the Pisgah Highlands complex
Asheville
Writers had plenty to say on our very own Asheville. Their favorite things about the area included:
"Quirky, artistic vibe" and mountain views.
"Food hot spot" status, with chefs who embrace Appalachian traditions for their menus.
Thriving craft beer scene.
Historic architecture.
Galleries and working artists' studios across several art districts.
New Age shops and events.
"Lively scene" year-round.
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Brevard
Brevard's "Land of Waterfalls" title - and the 250 waterfalls within Transylvania County that come with it - wasn't the only thing Travel + Leisure appreciated about Brevard. Also included in the Brevard list entry were:
Glamping tents and cabins at resorts like Pilot Cove and DuPont Yurts.
River activities like kayaking and paddling.
Scenic hiking areas to top sites like Looking Glass Falls, Cove Creek Falls and Moore Cove Falls.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Though the parkway is about 600 miles in length, Travel + Leisure writers gave the area broader praise. The versatility of choices, from an hour drive to view the parkway's flora and fauna to a multiday road trip, the N.C. section of the parkway alone can be whatever travelers are looking for.
In particular, the list entry praised the Blue Ridge Music Center's celebration of regional folk music traditions through seasonal performances.
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Linville Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Writers appreciated the multi-tiered cascade that is Linville Falls for its five different vantage points for viewing with various skill levels required - the easiest being only a 20-minute walk from the parking area. The area's campground was also praised.
Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Beyond stunning scenery, Travel + Leisure writers were appreciative of the variety of options for what to do at Grandfather Mountain. Their suggestions included:
Wilson Center for Nature Discovery
Hugh Morton photo gallery
Wildlife habitat enclosure including animals like black bears and river otters
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
What list of NC destinations would be complete without the most-visited national park in the U.S.? Travel + Leisure authors praised the national park's miles of hiking trails, as well as these specifics:
Hiking options for sections of the East Coast-spanning Appalachian Trail including the 7.5-mile hike from Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome
The Deep Creek area, with an "enchanting" bevy of streams and waterfalls
Cherokee
Writers appreciated the capital of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation for the chance it provides for a "deeper connection and understanding of the state's Indigenous heritage." To make the most of this opportunity, Travel + Leisure suggested:
Buy a ticket for "Unto These Hills," an outdoor theater show put on by the Cherokee Historical Association
Enjoy natural beauty of the area with mountain bike trails, waterfall hikes, fishing and river tubing
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Chimney Rock State Park
Last but not least at No. 24 on the list, Travel + Leisure writers said that Chimney Rock State Park has some of the most beautiful views in WNC, with unique geological features and biodiversity to add to the draw. In particular, they praised:
The area's status as a filming location for several famous movies including "Last of the Mohicans"
The "namesake rock," a 315-foot perch accessible by elevator
Devil's Head, which writers called "another rock worth seeing"
Best places to visit in NC
As for the whole list, here's what Travel + Leisure writers deemed most worth of a visit in NC:
Biltmore Estate in Asheville
Shackleford Banks
Outer Banks
Pisgah National Forest
Asheville
Brevard
Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk
Raleigh
North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh
Chapel Hill
Charlotte
Levine Museum of the New South in Charlotte
Blue Ridge Parkway
Linville Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Winston-Salem
Winkler Bakery in Winston-Salem
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cherokee
Durham
Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham
Wilmington
International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro
Chimney Rock State Park
Merchants Millpond State Park
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Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 25 best places to visit in NC: 10 are in WNC, says Travel + Leisure