North Carolina
On Lake James, at the base of Linville Gorge.
Nebo is Lake James country. The lake carries more than 150 miles of shoreline and sits right at the base of Linville Gorge, which is an unusual combination: flat water for the day, serious mountains behind it.
The Forest Service runs the Grandfather Ranger District from an office here, which tells you how much public land is on the doorstep.
Nearby

More than 150 miles of shoreline, with swimming, boating and fishing. Day use is free.
Official site

193,000 acres of Pisgah National Forest, administered from an office in Nebo.
Official site

The highest point east of the Mississippi, a drive west along the Parkway.
Official site
Over 500,000 acres of waterfalls and ridgelines, the forest the Grandfather district belongs to.
Official site