7 Cutest Small Towns in NC: How many are in the Asheville, Western NC area? What to know.

WorldAtlas has released a list of seven Cutest Small Towns in North Carolina – and it may come as no surprise to Asheville residents that many of its choices were located in Western North Carolina.

WorldAtlas, founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife Chris Woolwine-Moen, publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics and travel.

Writers mentioned that, while N.C. has 11 million residents, the state receives over 43 million tourists yearly. Their list of quaint small towns mentioned the broad range of features present in N.C. towns from mountain waterfalls to waterfront restaurants to historic inns.

Read about the WNC cities that made the list below.

What are the cutest small towns in North Carolina?

WorldAtlas named these seven towns:

1. Banner Elk
2. New Bern
3. Sylva
4. Blowing Rock
5. Saluda
6. Southport
7. Edenton

Banner Elk, Sylva, Blowing Rock and Saluda, over half the cities on the list, are all located in Western North Carolina.

Read on for info on the WorldAtlas suggestions for what to do in each of these WNC towns – and what makes them each so special.

Things to do in Banner Elk

A previous WorldAtlas article called Banner Elk a "mecca for outdoors enthusiasts." On this list, it named plenty of options for exploring, indoor and outdoor alike. WorldAtlas' suggestions:

• Ziplines such as Hawksnest and Sky Valley.
• Artisanal farm-to-table restaurant
• Bella's Breakfast and Lunch; The list praised their breakfast options in particular.

Banner Elk also received praise for cozy lodging options.

Things to do in Sylva

Sylva was also featured on a previous WorldAtlas list. Both times, the town earned its spot for more than just the natural beauty of the nearby Smoky Mountains. Here are the WorldAtlas suggestions for exploring Sylva:

• Main Street, which is lined with shops, galleries, bookshops, breweries and restaurants, as well as the historic Jackson County Courthouse.
• Lulu’s on Main restaurant
• Events such as Concerts on the Creek, Greening Up The Mountains Festival and the Hook, Line & Drinker Festival.

Things to do in Blowing Rock

WorldAtlas suggested Blowing Rock as a location for a romantic getaway, girls' trip or family vacation. The list praised the many parks, trails and forests in and around the town that make it a perfect spot for a broad range of outdoor activities. Its list suggestions for fun in Blowing Rock include:

• Trails including the Appalachian Trail and the Glen Burney Trail, descending into John’s River Gorge.
• Another trail with the added bonus of art installations, the Blowing Rock Art and Sculpture Trail.
• Lodging options including the historic Bob Timberlake Inn.

Things to do in Saluda

Last but not least of the WNC towns that made the cut is Saluda, which WorldAtlas named a "hidden gem." The writers offered the following suggestions for a visit to Saluda:

• Pearson's Falls, including the botanical preserve and 90-foot waterfall.
• Dupont State Forest with even more waterfalls plus horseback riding, mountain biking and fishing options.
• Saluda Visitor Center, particularly for its educational information on the history of Saluda.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.