Set against a backdrop of the Seven Sisters mountain range, Black Mountain has a walkable downtown filled with locally run boutiques and art galleries.

Visitors can experience year-round outdoor recreation, from hiking the “earn-your-view” trails in nearby Montreat to walking the scenic paths around Lake Tomahawk.

A sophisticated culinary scene, artisanal breweries, and a rich arts heritage make this quiet enclave a refined, small-town alternative to the hustle and bustle of nearby Asheville.

On any given morning in Black Mountain, you’ll find locals strolling around Lake Tomahawk Park with coffees in hand, the peaks of the Seven Sisters mountains rising above the horizon in the distance.…