One of my favorites is Flat Laurel Creek. With an elevation over 5000 ft, and 6000+ peaks, its cool and beautiful. In fall the meadows are full of wildflowers and butterflies on sunny days!
If you like to get primitive, there are tons of areas in Pisgah National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains that you can hit up. One of my recent favorite areas has been the Max Patch area. The hike from Lemon Gap to Max Patch is super easy, but ends with the best view on the east coast...
Stone Mountain State Park, Linville Falls, and Hanging Rock are my 3 favorites. If Stone Mountain State Park campground is full, Doughton National Campground is about a half hour away, and I've never seen them full.