North Carolina Mountain Spot Is One Of ‘America’s Best Small Towns Of 2023’
When it comes to travel, big cities get most of the love. After all, they have the world-class restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. However, small towns have been getting some buzz lately, too. Travel + Leisure is celebrating a few of those less-populated places. The magazine has released its list of America’s Best Small Towns of 2023. The winners and runners-up are highlighted for their natural beauty and specific interests.
To come up with the list, the magazine asked colleagues, contributors, trusted travel advisors, and others in their network of experts to come up with nominations. To qualify, each town has to have a full-time population of less than 25,000 residents, and stand out in its category. Then, Travel + Leisure’s travel editors chose winners in seven different categories, including best beach, lake, and desert towns.
Related: South Carolina City Named One Of The Best Places For Retirement
One of the winners is right here in our own state. The idyllic spot of Highlands, North Carolina was named America’s Best Small Mountain Town of 2023. Aptly named, Highlands is literally one of the highest towns east of the Mississippi River, with an elevation at 4,118 feet. Many Charlotteans know that it’s a great place to escape the summer heat and humidity. It’s only about a three-and-a-half-hour-drive to the west. According to Travel + Leisure, Highlands also offers year-round hiking, waterfall spotting, art, music, as well as exceptional dining and hospitality options.
The list includes towns from New York to California, Minnesota to Florida, and states in between. You can see the full list of winners and runners-up HERE, or scroll through the travel editors’ top choices in the gallery below.
