- Adventure
- Tips and Advice
Adventure Town: Lenoir, North Carolina
Plan a long weekend getaway with our Lenoir adventure guide, featuring great outdoor escapes, where to stay, and where to eat.
Pop. 18,952
GPS: 35°54'N 81°31'W
Leave it to Google to find this hidden gem: The company's hub is here in the forested Blue Ridge foothills. Downtown revitalizations are under way, and weekly farmers' markets with live bluegrass (www.thebluegrassmarket.com) will make the new arrivals feel at home. Even without a dot-com salary, you can land a four-bedroom on three acres (1.2 hectares) with mountain views for $299,000—for now.
PLAY
Head to the Wilson Creek Wilderness Area where the rugged trails are prime for avid hikers (www.friendsofwilsoncreek.org). The creek became a part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 2000, and with rapids ranging from Class I to V, it’s no small trickle; a great spot for kayakers who want to experience rapids in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
EAT
Hannah's Bar-B-Q will sate your hickory-smoked pork craving with tangy BBQ sauce and throw some hushpuppies on the side (www.hannahsbbqsouth.com).
- Nat Geo Expeditions
SLEEP
Right in town, try the Irish Rose B&B. The two-story brick Colonial Revival features a breezy front porch, a library with a fireplace, and big, comfy beds where you can rest up before waking to a full breakfast (doubles $125; www.irishrosebb.com). Camping options in Pisgah National Forest include Mortimer Campground or the primitive Boone Fork Campground, both situated on Wilson Creek (https://freecampsites.net/).
