Athens, Ohio. The beach here is wide, and the sand is soft. Based on U.S. Census data from 2005 to 2015, it also tops the 50 largest U.S. cities as the millennial hub. Nearby, Western North Carolina University more than doubles the population of this cute, North Carolina small town that has plenty to offer every time of the year. It is a calm, green place with large trees and stately homes. Homes dating from the 17th century are on beautiful tree-lined streets that entice you to stroll along and think about what life used to be like here over 200 years ago. The Culture Trip considers Kitty Hawk one of the ten most beautiful towns in North Carolina. The South's new divide: Blue cities and red states. Currently we live on the north shore of Long Island, NY near Oyster Bay, (Teddy Roosevelt's home and grave). Chief among its attractions are its beach towns. Tucked away from the mighty Pamlico River, Bath is one of the smallest towns in North Carolina, with a population of just over 200. You will need to follow the boardwalk just past the visitor center until the very end and then walk another 10 minutes to the base of the dunes. Corolla is an OBX beach town full of lively ambience. Population: 59,234Percent Democrat: 72.8%$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $165.45# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.96More on Chapel Hill:Photos |Data. This free event takes place the second week of October each year. Metro Population: 6,129,858. The craft beer capital of the east coast is a safe Uber drive away, and some great hiking and biking depart from downtown. Here, you'll find an extensive assortment of family restaurants, mini golf, a Children's Museum, and beach shops. In the 2016 presidential election, 50.1% of voters voted Democratic while 39.1% voted Republican. The local community loves their hometown, and the natural appreciation the inhabitants have for their surroundings shows in the small towns development. Learn how your comment data is processed. The town sits on the edge of the Haw River, close enough to major cities like Raleigh for ample accessible day trip opportunities. The town has plenty of dining and entertainment offers, so youll never get bored, and has held on to its Southern charm to make it feel like home. Pinehurst Pinehurst Pinehurst was recently named the "Best Place to Live in North Carolina," by Smart Travel Tips. The Corolla Adventure Park provides some fun outside of the water, and a plethora of local dining options include live music. Whatever youre seeking in a small town, North Carolina can likely deliver! This is a great place for families, with numerous things to do, including mini golf, family-friendly restaurants, and one of the best beaches in North Carolina. With low property taxes, low home prices, and a delectably high standard of living, this beachy paradise offers a little something for everyone. Asheville. Down at the dock areas there is always something to see or do, whether it's a fisherman showing off his catch or people catching up on an outdoor patio. Charlotte. 3. It begins at the City Pier. Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Ocracoke Island. The Great Smoky Mountain train line departs from the town center, and theres always plenty of action downtown after the sun sets. Some of the best hiking in NC can be found around Brevard. Trapped near two industrial college towns, Durham and Chapel Hill, Carrboro is the free-spirited little sister of its larger neighbors. Cameron grew up in Charlotte and spent his childhood traveling around this great region. Vendors set up nearby selling everything from homemade ice-cream to savory dishes. Here are some of the world's best beaches for partying. Located at the tail end of the Outer Banks on Hatteras Island, these twin towns sort of meld right into one another. Boiling Springs, North Carolina Gardner-Webb University The area has attracted thousands of summer campers every year thanks to the variety of outdoor activities available, with Brevard as a centerpiece. #15 Oak Island Beach, Oak Island, N.C. Shutterstock Oak Island, North Carolina, didn't just make this list because of its stellar views and clean sand. Very liberal Split evenly Very conservative South Carolina tends to be slightly republican based on voting results in recent elections. Asheville Source:Flickr.com With a population of less than 90,000, Asheville is just barely over a tenth the size of Charlotte and a fifth the size of Raleigh. Chasing Chains, LLC. Elizabeth Berry is a fact checker and writer with over three years of professional experience in the field. Its wide, sandy beach and aquamarine waters are a beachcombers dream, while the range of water sport opportunities on offer will leave no one disappointed. According to our people on the ground in the First State, trying to find a hippie town in Delaware is "a bit of trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.". With its romantic historic mansions; a thriving downtown with great shops, restaurants, and bars; a picturesque Riverwalk on the Cape Fear River; and a youthful vibe thanks to the local University of North Carolina campus, this magnet is also a quick drive to the sands of Wrightsville and Carolina beaches. What's not to love about Oriental, a town with more than three times as many boats as year-round inhabitants? Calabash-style seafood is lightly breaded right off the boat, and there are plenty of restaurants featuring the local fare. Camping is nearby at Carolina Beach State Park. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. Mix in a surf vibe on the Atlantic, a boating and SUP-centric world on Banks Channel, miles of broad beaches and a deep bench of old-fashioned Carolina beach cottages for sale and rent, and you've got a sense of the magic that makes Wrightsville Beach all-out fun. That may be so, but its not only the gray brigade who stand to benefit from its attractions. Just drive your car to the access road area, and walk the short distance to the beach. You can check the inventory and house features online and make bookings there as well. Not only is Asheville one of the coolest cities in the state, but it's also one of the most beautiful since it's in the middle . It's located at the northern end of town not far from Jockey's Ridge State Park. History is everywhere here, from the Old Brunswick County Jail Museum to the Maritime Museum, right through to the Fort Johnson-Southport Museum and Visitors Center. These places make ideal escapes from the heat and humidity of summer. 1/13. Most weekends, youll find the main street of this town blocked off and plenty of pedestrians strolling through art shops and shacks set up for the occasion. If you prefer a hotel room, there are a few places just south of town in Buxton. Very liberal Split evenly Very conservative North Carolina tends to be a political battleground based on voting results in recent elections. Stay in a home on the sound side for a great view of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. A farmers market takes place throughout the summer, from the middle of May to the end of September on Monday's beginning at 8am. Pull off the Blue Ridge Parkway right into Blowing Rock for an upscale dining and vacation experience. Wrightsville Beach is just a short drive from Wilmington, so getting here is easy and quick; parking is in well-marked lots, and you can pay by the hour and recharge your time via your phone. Tarboro is located near the western edge of North Carolinas coastal plain. You'll know you are in the right spot when you see the colorful kites of the kiteboarders just offshore. The main gathering spot is at Crystal Pier. In addition to her fact checking background, she also has over six years experience of reporting, writing, and copy editing articles for digital magazines including Woman's Day and The Knot. Named by Southern Living as one of the best beach towns in Northern Carolina, Emerald Isle is a small, charging community that makes the perfect home for families, singles, and professionals alike. Raleigh and Durham. Whether you stay a week, a year, or an entire lifetime, youre unlikely to regret your decision. Right along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort has created a wonderful Carolinian destination that showcases the sea that has given the area life. Looking for: Most liberal beach towns in north carolina Those who need a beach in their life will find tiny Town Beach a quick fix, and the broad strands of Atlantic Beach aren't far away. Pay your dollar and wander out onto the pier. Median Home Price: $247,112. Specifically, we wanted to know which cities have the highest number of liberal voters in the Tar Heel State? This little, eight-mile-long barrier island on North Carolina's southernmost stretch of coast is a laid-back escape that families love, and a $15 million beach replenishment project in 2017 doubled down on its sandy gifts. Population: 7,033Percent Democrat: 72.8%$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $122.5# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 1.29More on Hillsborough:Photos |Data. These are the best towns in North Carolina where LGBT individuals and families can find a warm community: Asheville Raleigh Durham Charlotte Winston-Salem Wilmington Greensboro 1. One of the best seafood meals can be had here at Provision Company. Straight south of town is the Bodie Island Lighthouse, and just a few miles north is the Wright Memorial National Monument. One of the highlights of a visit to Beaufort is a stop at the North Carolina Maritime Museum, where treasures from Blackbeard's sunken pirate ship discovered just offshore are on display. Working as a vice president at a Fortune 500 . 13. 20 BEST Restaurants in Bluffton, SC You Need to Try. Central North Carolinas finest offerings come together in this small, humble town. The town itself is equally noteworthy, with every kind of amenity youll need and enough housing options to please all tastes and budgets. The experience begins while traveling to the quirky village, as there is no road leading onto the island. It is the county seat of Edgecombe County. With Rodanthe as a base camp, you can head either north or south along the Outer Banks and find a great way to spend the afternoon. Wrightsville Beach. While the channel is no longer in use, the town has erected a museum and accompanying trail that allows you to glimpse the areas industrial beginnings. 3. 2,546) Royal Pines (Pop. Its title as 'America's Coolest Small Town' seems to be down to a combination of 300-years of history - complete with small historic district . For an interesting free show, stop in for lunch at Good Winds, located upstairs in the Kitty Hawk Kites complex, where you can sit on the patio and watch the crazy kiters zip across the waves and perform aerial tricks. The town springs to life in the summer, and you can expect special events and remarkable sunsets every weekend from spring through fall. This was actually the first place I saw the ocean after moving to the US from Germany as a child! 6. Park your car and remember where you put the keys; you wont need them for a while. An ideal way to begin your tours is to view a 15-minute video at the tourist information office at the top end of South Broad Street. In the first of a new series exploring cool US towns and cities, Emma John soaks up the sporting fanaticism, liberal traditions, food and music of a university town where the 'individual streak . Because North Carolina has 3,000 miles of coastline (including more than 300 miles of barrier beaches alone), there are many wonderful beach towns and harbors that are just a short boat ride away from the sand. Its proximity to the big city hasnt impacted this small towns development. Washington, NC, USA 2. Quiet, calm, and as peaceful as a summer breeze, its the perfect place to experience the simple pleasures in life. Hickory. Getting to the ocean via 4WD vehicles is easy through multiple beach access roads, allowing you to access some of the finest beaches in the Outer Banks. Despite lying only two miles off the North Carolina coast and due south of Wilmington, this three-by-one-mile barrier island feels like a secret hideout from a Robert Louis Stevenson story. Chapel Hill is a town in Orange and Durham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. If you want a luxurious vacation experience, you can find it all in peaceful Blowing Rock. It has many historical churches, some dating from the early 19th century. One of the most unique features of Kitty Hawk is the large maritime forest in Sandy Run Park. Not to be confused with the replica courthouse, this original structure looks out over a large green space and faces out onto the sound with cannons at the water's edge. With history running through its veins (including pre-Civil War Fort Macon), the oldest town on Bogue Bankswith its back to Bogue Sound and facing the Atlantic Ocean to the southis also home to the nostalgic (and 1,000-foot-long) Oceanana Fishing Pier, plus a steady swell for surfing. The beach itself is wide, sandy, fringed by turquoise waters everything, in fact, youd want a beach to be. Durham County was even more lopsided - Clinton won 78-18. Over the past several decades there have been significant changes in the population of the world. Orange County, NC went for Clinton over Trump by 50 points (72 to 22). Liberal voters: 42% Thrift store rank: 2nd Vegan rank: 11th Waynesville might be considered a little hippie town just west of Asheville. The main things to see and do are easily reached by foot, and if you find yourself tired out by the adventure, stop in at one of the restaurants and recharge with a fine seafood meal. This two-bedroom condo is listed at just under $200,000 in a high-rise with bay and ocean views. The small town in NC is the home of the unique vinegar concoction that defines the state. If you have any business with the mayor of this small town, you can find him in the local tavern. Ashevilles laid-back nature doesnt want any attention, but it has plenty to offer. From here, you can catch the trolley for a tour of the town, take a boat tour on Albemarle Sound, or stop in at the historic Cupola House. The area has several good campgrounds for tenters or RVs. Depending on the type of vacation you're after, you can find small towns lining the Atlantic Coast or along the sounds. Murphy dates back to the 1830s, and acts as a gateway to a lot of of North Carolina's natural wonders. (Chapel Hill is in both counties). The main public gathering place in town is at the Avon Pier. If you are a foodie and like charming small towns, Calabash should be number one on your destination list. There's a reason people come to Beaufort and almost immediately plan a return trip. You have everything from sleeping seaside towns in the Outer Banks to artistic mountain havens like Boone and Brevard. Oriental Flickr / Zach Frailey Oriental is home to 898 people and thousands of boats. Natasha moved to North Carolina for college years ago (but she's not trying to age herself here). We used science and data to determine which cities in North Carolina probably voted for Obama. Durham Source: Public domain Overall SnackAbility 7.5 /10 Population: 257,232 Percent Democrat: 77.7% $ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $53.76 # Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.36 More on Durham: Photos | Data Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. That left us with 132 cities and towns. This is an escape complete with pirate lore; long stretches of pristine sands all protected by the National Park Service; a fishing village with summer pleasures like ice cream, seafood, and boat charters; and its own bright white, picturesque lighthouse. Named by PlanetWare as one of the best coastal towns in North Carolina, Edenton is a peaceful, charming town thats the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life. The community is friendly, close-knit, and just as welcoming as you could wish for. This small mountain town in North Carolina has grown up naturally. Avon is a great place to stop and park yourself. This is one of the top fishing destinations on the Outer Banks. Best yet, Columbia's cost of living averages about 7% less than average. Duck is unique from many of the towns in the Outer Banks. The main street, also known as Highway 12, has an assortment of unique shops, restaurants, and hotels spread along its length. In the summer, there are fireworks every Thursday night and live music concerts featuring a variety of musicians across the musical spectrum. Nearby, the Rachel Carson Reserve has wild horses, birdlife, and turtles among other wildlife. By pparrothead. Bodie Island Lighthouse on the Outer Banks. If you'd like to learn more visit the about us page. We love the Carolinas and think they are one of the most special areas in the world. Local establishments serve high-quality coffee and cuisine without trying to do anything different. The areas economic center has packed in microbreweries and homestyle meals to give you plenty of activity once youre off the water. Trinity Overall SnackAbility 5 /10 Population: 6,610 Percent Republican: 76.5% $ Republican Amount Per Capita: $17.56 # Republican Contributions Per Capita: 0.07 More on Trinity: Data Trinity is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. It is just across the Intracoastal Waterway from the small beach town of Indiatlantic and several miles north of the Sebastian Inlet, widely recognized as one of the best surfing beaches on the East Coast and one of the state's most popular beaches. 13 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in North Carolina, 20 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Charlotte, NC, 16 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Wilmington, NC, 13 Top-Rated Mountain Towns in North Carolina, 12 Top-Rated Mountain Resorts in North Carolina, 12 Top-Rated Waterfalls in North Carolina, 3 Top Places for Deep Sea Fishing in North Carolina, 17 Top Cheap Ski Holidays in North America, 2023, 11 Top-Rated Romantic Getaways in North Carolina, 10 Top-Rated Campgrounds in the Outer Banks, NC, 5 Top-Rated Ski Resorts in North Carolina, 2023, North Carolina in Pictures: 15 Beautiful Places to Photograph, 14 Top-Rated Small Towns in North Carolina, 11 Top-Rated Rivers for Trout Fishing in North Carolina, 12 Top-Rated Things to Do on the Isle of Arran, 22 Best Places to Visit in the United States, 21 Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, some of the best places to camp in the Outer Banks. 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