Last month I had the pleasure of taking a short trip to Highlands, NC with two of my favorite people, to explore the small mountain town and enjoy nature a bit. After a hectic few months of work and moving stress, this was a welcomed getaway where we could unplug, catch up, and get outside to scout waterfalls.
The three of us have travelled often together and couldn’t wait to meet up again and experience some of the best of what Western North Carolina has to offer. This was my first trip to Highlands but, I had been hearing such good things from friends and seeing others sharing on Instagram so, our expectations were set high.
I hope you enjoy the visual story of our trip. All of my recommendations for staying, eating, shopping, and exploring are linked at the end.
Let me know if you try any out or if I missed a favorite of yours in the comments. I will definitely be going back!
Stay
- The Vineyards at 37 High Holly : We stayed in the Barrel Room cottage + it was perfect for our needs. The little cottage even overlooks the vineyard! There are multiple options on the property and all are nicely appointed with great personality and design. This location is about 15 mins outside of Highlands Main St area.
- Old Edwards Inn: A gorgeous property right on Main St in Highlands. We had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful lunch at Madison’s overlooking their wine garden and felt very “ladies who lunch” energy. The Inn has a great upscale vibe while not being pretentious. She even has a spa!
- Highlander Mountain House: This property is gives a great English country house/hunting lodge aesthetic perfect for the mountain setting and is in town. It’s beautifully curated + offers guests great amenities like bicycles, fly fishing rods, and wellies for exploring the mountains! The tavern on-site will even prepare a picnic basket for you.
Eat
- Midpoint Highlands: A Charming rooftop Main St location was the perfect setting for an amazing meal. We had excellent service + food. Specifically, the desserts were so unique and delightful. Perfect for watching a sunset!
- Four65 Bistro: Located on the same block as the Old Edwards Inn, this was our first dinner in town and it did not disappoint! We enjoyed excellent pizza and salads with a wood fired touch. A must do while in town.
- Madison’s: Very “ladies who lunch” vibe happening here and we were so excited for it! Upscale without being stuffy, we had a special lunch with impeccable service in a historic setting. The roasted corn soup is a chef’s kiss
- Mountain Fresh Grocery: Such a great little market in the mountains. We popped in here to grab lunch one day and were pleasantly surprised at the offerings. It feels very California market – offering wine, cheese, delicious bakery items and made to order casual meals. Such a gem in the heart of town! We went multiple times.
Explore
- Julep Farm: In Dillard, GA (just down the mountain) this cute farm was such a modern farmhouse aesthetic and so fun. We enjoyed a wonderful brunch and spent time exploring the farm and grabbing everything from their shop! Beware – this county does not allow alcohol sales on Sunday prior to 12:30pm – we learned the hard way.
- Whitewater Falls: a quick drive to Cashiers, NC this is a MUST see waterfall. Plenty of parking and a short walk and you will be able to see the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies!
- Silver Run Falls: located on the return from Whitewater Falls, this one is easy to miss from the road. A small parking situation doesn’t help, but a short flat walk leads you to a great waterfall where there is room to sit awhile or enjoy a dip into the pool.
- Dry Falls: My favorite of the few we visited! There are plenty to stairs to get to the falls but definitely worth it. You can even walk under/behind the waterfall and get great photos if that’s your thing.
- Shopping – There is an abundance of small shops both in Highlands and Cashiers. I will likely dedicated an entire post to my favorites. For now, I will leave you with these – Dutchman’s, Bardo’s and Spartina449 all on Main St in Highlands
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