>> Deborah: THE DAILY GRIND OF MODERN LIFE CAN LEAVE ANYBODY
FEELING STRESSED AND EAGER FOR AN ESCAPE.
SOMETIMES, A WEEKEND IN A SMALL SCENIC TOWN IS JUST THE BREATHER
WE NEED.
WELL, THERE'S A LITTLE MOUNTAIN TOWN IN POLK COUNTY THAT CALLS
ITSELF THE FRIENDLIEST TOWN IN THE SOUTH.
AS BRYAN MIMS SHOWS US, TRYON MIGHT BE SMALL, BUT THE MENU OF
THINGS TO DO IS ANYTHING BUT.
>> Reporter: TRYON IS SUCH A LITTLE TOWN, POPULATION LESS
THAN 2,000, LAND AREA LESS THAN 2 SQUARE MILES.
YET, ITS SMALLNESS IS WHAT MAKES IT SO GREAT.
UNLESS YOUR SENSES ARE DULL, IT'S HARD TO DRIVE ALONG TRADE
STREET WITHOUT YIELDING TO THE URGE TO STOP AND LOOK AND TASTE
AND BREATHE.
IT'S AN ARTSY TOWN, A BOOKISH TOWN, AN OUTDOORSY TOWN.
IT'S A FOOTHILLS TOWN THAT SNUGGLES RIGHT UP TO THE BLUE
RIDGE MOUNTAINS.
HERE'S THE REAL BEAUTY OF TRYON.
YOU WON'T FEEL OVERWHELMED BY SO MUCH TO TAKE IN.
YOU WON'T BE JOCKEYING FOR A PARKING SPOT OR JOSTLING AMONG
CROWDS.
>> LIKE, WHILE IT'S SMALL, THERE'S -- THERE'S ALWAYS PLENTY
TO DO.
>> Reporter: GO AHEAD, SHUFFLE ON IN TO THE BOOK SHELF,
WHERE YOU CAN BROWSE BOOKS BY LOCAL AUTHORS AND BOOKS OF LOCAL
INTEREST.
AND AROUND HERE, INTEREST IN HORSES, WHAT WITH ALL THE
EQUESTRIAN FARMS, IS IN FULL GAIT.
JUDY LANIER HAS BEEN A LOCAL HERE HERSELF SINCE 1993.
SHE'D HAD HER FILL OF FLORIDA.
>> I WENT TO SEVERAL OTHER PLACES, AND THIS -- THIS HAD ME.
AND I DO LIKE THE MOUNTAINS, BUT I ALSO JUST LIKE THE QUIET.
IT'S A -- IT'S A SWEET, QUIET LITTLE TOWN.
BUT IT'S ALSO A VERY ACTIVE LITTLE TOWN.
>> Reporter: FOR A SMALL TOWN, TRYON HAS SOME TONY RESTAURANTS
WITH WONDERFUL WINE LISTS, LIKE THE LAVENDER BISTRO.
IT HAS LAID-BACK SOUTHERN-THEMED DINING, LIKE THE HUCKLEBERRY
RESTAURANT, WHERE YOU CAN DRINK IN THE SUN AT ITS OUTDOOR
TABLES.
A POPULAR THING TO DO IN TRYON IS TO DO WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT
NOW -- WALK THE STREETS.
THERE'S EVEN AN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR WITH INFO
ABOUT HISTORIC HOUSES AND PLACES TO STAY AND ART.
A LOT OF ART.
TRYON ABOUNDS IN ART GALLERIES AND ART SHOPS.
STEP INSIDE THE TRYON FINE ARTS CENTER.
THE PLACE EXUDES THE SOPHISTICATION OF AN URBAN ART
MUSEUM WITH ITS GALLERY OF MODERNISTIC PIECES, AN
AUDITORIUM AWAITING THE NEXT DANCE ENSEMBLE OR BROADWAY
PERFORMER OR CONCERT.
ACROSS THE STREET IS THE MELROSE INN, A BED AND BREAKFAST
BRIMMING WITH ARTWORK COLLECTED OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
>> BUT I'M THRILLED.
I'VE DONE A 25-YEAR DREAM IN ABOUT 5 1/2, 6 YEARS, AND IT
FEELS GOOD.
IT FEELS GREAT.
>> Reporter: MARILYN DOHENY, A MASTERFUL MAKER OF QUILTS,
MOVED TO TRYON FROM SEATTLE IN 2009, BUYING THEN WHAT WAS AN
ABANDONED HOUSE THREATENED TO BE TORN DOWN FOR A PARKING LOT.
>> I SAID I'M GOING TO BRING YOU BACK TO LIFE.
THERE WAS NOTHING IN THIS BUILDING WHEN I BOUGHT IT EXCEPT
RED DINING ROOM CHAIRS.
>> Reporter: NOW, THIS HOUSE, THIS GRAND OLD HOUSE WITH 19
BEDROOMS AND 26 BATHROOMS, IS IN FULL FLOWER.
>> I OFFER A GOURMET THREE-COURSE BREAKFAST ANYTIME
YOU'D LIKE.
I'M PET-FRIENDLY.
AND I HAVE COMPLIMENTARY BEER AND WINE 24 HOURS A DAY.
>> Reporter: A PLAYFUL LITTLE TOWN, TRYON.
THE VERY SYMBOL OF TOWN IS A WOODEN HORSE STANDING GUARD
ALONG TRADE STREET.
IT REPRESENTS THE FAMOUS HANDCRAFTED MINIATURE HORSE ON
WHEELS DESIGNED BY THE TRYON TOY-MAKERS AND WOOD-CARVERS.
THEIR HISTORY GOES BACK TO 1915, WHEN TWO WOMEN BOUGHT A COTTAGE
TO TEACH BOYS AND GIRLS HOW TO MAKE TOP-NOTCH WOODEN TOYS.
THE TOY HOUSE IS NOW A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.
FROM PLAY THINGS TO PLAYS, THAT ARTISTIC VIBE HAS LONG FLOWED
THROUGH THIS TOWN WITH THE VIGOR OF A MOUNTAIN STREAM.
MAYOR ALAN PEOPLES SAYS THE FIRST SPLASH CAME WHEN ACTOR
AND PLAYWRIGHT WILLIAM GILLETTE, CHARMED BY THE SCENERY, BUILT A
HOME HERE IN 1891.
TRYON, TOO, IS KNOWN AS A PLACE WHERE THE MOUNTAINS MAKE THEIR
FIRST SPLASH FOR INTERSTATE TRAVELERS ARRIVING FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA.
DRIVE A LITTLE WAYS OUTSIDE TOWN, AND YOU CAN TAKE A SHORT
HIKE TO PEARSON'S FALLS.
HERE IS THE REAL BEAUTY OF TRYON.
YOU CAN WALK IN THE WOODS OR WANDER AMONG WORKS OF ART.
WHEN IT COMES TO A SMALL TOWN, TRYON IS A MASTERPIECE.
FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND," I'M BRYAN MIMS.