My favorites are in the Wilson Creek Wilderness area. Lots of day hikes to back country waterfalls. Mt Rogers in VA is worth the drive, as is Graveyard Fields off the BRP.
I was at kings mountain two weeks ago. It was a nice hike through the woods, but as far as things to look at/photograph, not much (a few civil war plaks). IMO I think kings mountain was more fun, but a lot more work