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Half Mile Farm
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200 Main
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Old Edwards Inn
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Old Edwards Inn
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Madison's
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Downtown Highlands
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Whitewater Falls
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Highlands Aerial Park
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Spa at Old Edwards Inn
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The Spa Café
Highlands, North Carolina
The story of Highlands, North Carolina, says that more than century ago, an 'X” was drawn on a map, its four termini touching New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, and Savannah, with its center pin-pointing the highest crest of the Western North Carolina plateau in the Southern Appalachians. That locale, at 4,100 feet, is where Highlands sits today. That lofty elevation contributes to the town's cool, comfortable summers and vibrant fall foliage, but it also creates a serene sensibility that's been attracting people since its founders marked their special spot in 1875. This mountain escape beckons visitors from near and far by offering plenty to see and do in one getaway package: high-end shopping, a diverse culinary scene, world-class accommodations, abundant outdoor activities, and awe-inspiring views.
STAY
When deciding where to lay your head in Highlands, consider one of the offerings of the Old Edwards Hospitality Group, which owns three accommodation options, including its flagship, the historic Old Edwards Inn and Spa, an elegant four-diamond property anchoring one corner of Main Street and known for its stellar service.
The casually chic 200 Main, also owned by the Old Edwards group, is a delightand a great deal. Recent renovations brought to the rooms wood flooring, all-marble bathrooms (with heated floors), original art on walls, and high-end linens.
The newest addition to the hospitality group's roster, Half-Mile Farm, is just minutes from town, but, cocooned in peace and quiet, this upscale country inn seems a world away. Refined, yet cozy, rooms, many with fireplaces, include in their rate a gourmet breakfast and complimentary happy hour with wine and appetizers, both prepared by the property's own chef, as well as access to Old Edwards Inn amenities, like its golf course and fitness center.
Insider Tip:
Each fall, Highlands celebrates its food and wine culture with the Culinary Weekend, and this year's, the 10th annual, takes place November 10-13, 2016. Wine dinners, sip-and-stroll events, and the Old Edwards Inn Farm Harvest Dinner and Barn Dance always make for a delicious few days in the mountains.
EAT
It's not hard to work up an appetite in Highlands, and the options for satiating it are many and varied, including a few fine-dining restaurants boasting Wine Spectator-awarded wine lists. One is Wolfgang's Restaurant & Wine Bistro on Main Street, which serves hearty but upscale American fare in an atmosphere of rustic sophistication. The braised beef short ribs are fork-tender and perfect partners for fluffy garlic mashed potatoes.
Lakeside Restaurant in a colorful little house cozied up to the banks of little Harris Lake is ideal for an intimate evening. The menu features a focus on seafood, usually including a few fresh trout dishes. Madison's, housed in Old Edwards Inn, is a standout due to its dishes highlighting ingredients fresh from its own farm, as well as items sourced from other area purveyors. They're all served in an environment that's luxuriouswithout being pretentious. The menu changes often, but every meal starts with a serving of house-made pimento cheese for smearing on delicate buttermilk crackers. Some version of the velvety sweet-onion chowder is almost always available and is a must-try.
In a candle-lit dining room with a literal wall of wine, Paoletti's Ristorante serves a little romance alongside its thoughtful interpretations of traditional Italian cuisine. Pair your pasta (try the creamy penne alla vodka) with a bottle from its Wine-Spectator-lauded list. Fuel up for outdoor excursions with lunch at Mountain Fresh Grocery on Main Street. The shop stocks basics but also houses a nice wine selection, espresso bar, deli, wood-fired pizza ovens, and bakery. Order some hefty sandwiches on house-made bread to take on a hike.
Or snag an outdoor table at Wild Thyme for a more leisurely mid-day meal, and munch on dishes that blend and balance Asian flavors with American classics to create popular menu items like wasabi-pea encrusted salmon and sesame chicken salad.
At the end of a packed day or evening (or just whenever), slake your thirst for fun with a visit to Ugly Dog Pub, a locals' favorite watering hole serving North Carolina brews on tap alongside familiar, but perfectly executed, pub grub.
DO
Highlands' stunning mountain scenery is a major part of its appeal, and exploring it should top your vacation to-do list. Surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest and classified as temperate rainforest, it's one of the most bio-diverse locations in the country. Start your nature immersion at The Highlands Botanical Gardens, where flat walking paths and boardwalks lead through 12 acres of shaded glens and wetland areas, with many of the more than 500 species of flora identified.
It takes a good bit more effort to hike the Whiteside trail, a two-mile, steep loop that leads to the summit of Whiteside Mountain, a peak with a sheer rock face (one of the highest in the Eastern United States) that tops out at 4,931 feet. But you'll quickly forget your sore calves when you exit the woods and gaze across the wide valley formed by the transition from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Piedmont of South Carolina. The jaw-dropping scene gets more majestic if you're lucky enough to have an eye-level sighting of the endangered peregrine falcons that nest on one section of the cliff and often float mere feet from some of the overlook spots.
The descent from the mountain's great heights means the area's many rivers, streams, and creeks tumble over boulders and cliffs, creating hundreds of waterfalls along the way, including several large cascades. A short, downhill hike leads to a glimpse of glittering Glenn Falls peeking through laurel branches. Keep going to see the full falls; just remember, what goes down must hike back up.
A picture-perfect view of Dry Falls is easier to achieveand don't let the name deter you. Dry Falls is anything but; torrents of white water are continually hurled over a jagged ledge. The name comes from the undercut outcrop, allowing you to walk behind the milky curtain without getting wet. The most magnificent waterfall in the area, and the highest east of the Rockies, is Whitewater Falls, roaring and rolling in a 411-foot plunge. A paved walkway leads to a good look, but if you're up for the long, and sometimes tricky, trip to the bottom of the falls, you can marvel at its size from a more humbling perspective.
Thanks to Highlands Aerial Park, you don't have to walk more than a few feet to get a bird's eye view of the area's scenic splendor. This zip-line features the highest zips in the Southeast, and expert guides will have you feeling safe and secure as you soar through and above old-growth forest. The longest zip, the Squealing Mare, combines dizzying height, intense speed, and unmatched views for an unforgettable ride. The Brave Indian zip course lets kids get in on the fun, too.
When you've gotten your fill of fresh mountain air, it's time to check out the town. Most everything can be found downtown, a quaint, compact area that's easily walkable, and a stroll along Main Street and its offshoots offers an array of shopping. You'll find antique dealers, art galleries, gift shops, and upscale ladies' and men's boutiques. Make sure to stop in Kilwin's, a confectionary full of sweets, like fresh-made fudge, as well as innovative treats, like dark chocolate squares sprinkled with ghost-chili infused sea salt.
If all the hiking and shopping makes your muscles ache, unwind at the Spa at Old Edwards Inn. This 25,000-square-foot tribute to tranquility consistently garners praise from guests and national media and embraces its surroundings, taking advantage of the area's rejuvenating powers with treatments like Sweet Mountain Metamorphosis, which uses locally grown herbs in a body scrub followed by a full-body massage.