While Asheville and other Western North Carolina cities are just beginning to rebuild in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene , some lesser-hit North Carolina areas are ready to welcome back visitors.
In fact, some towns and cities are not only open to visitors but in need of the boost to their local economies. As fall foliage peaks across the state, mid-October to November may be an ideal time to visit and support less-storm damaged parts of North Carolina.
Here are the North Carolina towns that are currently welcoming visitors — and the ones that are still rebuilding that you should support from afar instead.
Which North Carolina towns are welcoming visitors?
Barring the western part of the state, several major North Carolina cities are currently welcoming visitors. You can click through Visit North Carolina's interactive map above to see which cities are welcoming tourists and which are still closed to visitors.
Within the currently open areas of the state, here are some of the best towns to visit for a fall getaway:
Highlands
Though it is nestled in Western North Carolina, the mountainous town fared "reasonably well" during the hurricane, and local businesses are eager to welcome visits, according to its chamber of commerce. Visit the city's website for more information about how to visit and how to help hurricane-relief organizations in Highlands.
Cashiers
The Jackson County town, which sees one of the longest fall foliage seasons in the country, is ready to welcome visitors. Cashiers encourages tourists to "visit thoughtfully," as parts of the state are still rebuilding, and you can visit the county website for more visitor information.
Bryson City
Located in far western North Carolina, among the Smoky Mountains, Bryson City is open for visitors. The town offers mountain views, hiking trails and a bustling downtown. You can visit the Explore Bryson City website for more post-hurricane visitor information.
Brevard
Known for its sprawling public lands and waterfalls, Brevard is now open for visitors. Find more visitor information for the Transylvania County town on the Explore Brevard website .
Boone
The picturesque town nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains is currently welcoming visitors. Make sure to check out the Explore Boone website for guidelines on how to best support Boone and visit responsibly in the hurricane aftermath.
More guidelines on North Carolina towns to visit:
Members of the NC Mountains Emergency Response Facebook group have also compiled a guide of North Carolina towns that currently need visitors and ones that are still closed. If you're unsure of whether an area is safe to visit, make sure to check the town's website or call the visitor center ahead of time to confirm they are ready to host tourists.
The leaves are now peaking in the mountains and countless people are still desperately hurting - please consider...
Posted by Scott Jensen on Tuesday, October 15, 2024
North Carolina road closure map
If you're planning to visit the state, you can follow storm-related road closures at drivenc.gov . Visitors should avoid all areas limited to essential travel only.
There may be closed roads not listed on DriveNC.gov as many areas are not able to report at this time, according to NCDOT.
More: Autumn and winter collide in the Great Smoky Mountains of Maggie Valley
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: These North Carolina towns are eager for visitors to boost local economy post-Helene
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