Melanie & Darren

Asheville Regional Airpot is about 58 miles (1 hour and 30 minute drive) from Highlands, NC. Flights into Asheville are limited and often connect through Atlanta so we recommend booking early. There are many rental car options in Asheville's airport.  

Allegiant Air has direct flights to Asheville from Palm Beach International and Ft. Lauderdale International Airports. 

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is located about 138 miles (2 hours and 30 minutes) from Highlands, NC. Also many options for rental cars.

NOTE: Traffic out of Atlanta begins around 2-3pm and can add 1-2 hours on your car ride up the mountain. If traveling on Friday, we recommend flights that land before or around 12pm. 

Cellular service outside the town of Highlands is somewhat limited, therefore, car services such as Uber and Lyft do not operate in the Highlands area.  Transportation services will be provided for all events, however, if you would like the option to explore the area outside of the town of Highlands, we recommend that you have a car.

If you choose to stay in town, wonderful restaurants, cafes, shopping, and nightlife are all easily accessed on foot. 

Located inside Old Edwards Inn on Main Street, Madison's is a fine dining experience, great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. New American, farm-to-table cuisine. Indoor and outdoor seating.

European-style venue offering refined Italian dishes and wine...extensive wine selection! Celebrating its 35th year in Highlands, this is one of our favorites for dinner. 

Recommended for dinner. Indoor seating. Full menu served at the bar. 

A lively specialty food and wine shop in downtown Highlands. Also has an amazing casual deli and pizza restaurant inside. 

A MUST SEE! SweeTreats began in 1989 as a craft ice cream shop located in the mountains of Highlands next to the babbling Mill Creek. For 30 years it has been a gathering place for families and a must-do destination for visitors to the Town of Highlands. Upon moving to our current Main Street location, SweeTreats incorporated the Highlands Deli into its operations.

Cozy, classic tavern with elevated pub food, great regional beer selection, and live music. A casual and fun environment, great for lunch, dinner, bar snacks, and brews!

Tug's Proper is a mountain modern restaurant located in the heart of Highlands, NC. Serving a wide variety of lunch and dinner options, they strive for delicious food at a great value in the most attractive venue around. 

Casual cafe for breakfast and lunch.

Four65 Bistro handcrafts wood-fired pizzas, cast-iron sandwiches, and fresh salads using ingredients from their own gardens, local growers and purveyors. Enjoy the full menu, craft cocktails and rosé on tap from the lighted onyx bar, or dine alfresco on the Terrazza. Go feel the lively social vibe on Main Street in downtown Highlands.

Located in the heart of downtown Highlands, NC, Wild Thyme Gourmet offers a touch of American cuisine with an Asian influence! Specialty dishes include Spicy Stir Fry Waterfall Beef Tenderloin, Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with a honey lavender balsamic gastrique sauce. Other favorite dishes include a Wasabi Pea Encrusted Wild Salmon with Javanese Sauce and popular appetizers such as Crab meat Fillo purses and beer battered Fried Calamari.

Lunch or Dinner; indoor and outdoor seating

Located at 454 Carolina Way, this brewery is a product of the passion project of Dale Heinlein, a Highlands native. They are open for brews at 12pm daily.

2 miles (round trip); this moderate loop trail offers spectacular views from a high ridge top, 2,100' above the valley floor. Whiteside Mt. (4900') has the highest sheer cliffs in the Eastern US. One of my favorites! Some of the best views around. Only 6.6 miles from downtown highlands (15 minute drive).

1.4 miles (one way; 15 min. to first falls). Trail head: Glen Falls parking lot. Three cascading waterfalls and a beautiful stream. One of the advantages of this trail is that you can return after seeing the first or second waterfall, and still have an enjoyable walk. Located 3.2 miles (10 minute drive) from downtown Highlands. 

1.2 miles (round trip). This is by far a favorite for the view; the hike itself is more of just a long gravel road. Features: A rock outcropping overlooking the town of Highlands and Horse Cove. Trail head: Horse Cove Rd., across from the Highlands Nature Center downtown. 

This 75-ft. tall waterfall in the Nantahala National Forest flows over a cliff, allowing you to walk behind the falls. A highly recommended experience. It is just a short walk down some stairs to view the falls. (Not much hiking involved). Located 3.5 miles from downtown Highlands (8 minute drive).