Exploring Highlands, North Carolina

 

A few weeks ago, we drove up to Highlands, North Carolina for a few days to celebrate my birthday. We had visited for our anniversary back in late December when we stayed at The Dillard House in Clayton, Georgia and knew we wanted to go back for a longer stay! Highlands is about 90 miles Northeast of our house near Gainesville, and a beautiful little escape from the Summer heat in Atlanta since it’s located in the Blue Ridge Mountains where it’s usually ten to fifteen degrees cooler!

(Disclosure: I have included a few affiliate links in this post. I try to incorporate links that my readers might find useful and helpful, and items I personally like and find useful! I might receive a small commission on any item you purchase from my links. All opinions are my own.)

We stopped along the way to take in the views and a lovely little roadside waterfall before checking into our hotel. We stayed at 200 Main, one of the Old Edwards Inn’s sister hotels. We would’ve stayed at The Old Edwards Inn, but I waited too late to make reservations, and Summer is a very popular time there. That being said, we loved 200 Main (it was beautiful and comfortable and a bit more casual/rustic-like us!) 

I loved the big elk over the stone fireplace, the rustic beams, and the big Persian rug. The shiplapped walls painted white with big farmhouse lighting and decor updated the lobby nicely and gave it a fresh feel! It had formerly been an old apartment complex/ motor lodge ( we can’t remember exactly what the guy at the front desk said, but the whole complex was renovated and updated when Old Edwards Inn bought it). Guests can buy bottles or glasses of wine or beer to enjoy around the firepit or in their rooms during their stay. 

The rooms were well-decorated and the bed was very comfortable. The marble floors in the bath were heated…Fancy!

One thing I noticed when searching for places to have dinner online a few days before was just about every place took reservations and they filled up quickly! There are so many great places to dine up in Highlands and I “over reserved” until we had decided on a few restaurants for the 2 nights we were up there. I had heard and read very good reviews online about Paoletti’s Italian Ristorante, so that was where we ate our first night. Paoletti’s is a “polished European-style venue offering refined Italian dishes & wine” complete with white tablecloths and their own sommelier who walks around recommending just the right wine for your meal. I think his name was Julio, and he was very welcoming and friendly. The whole ambiance feels like an old Italian family-run business, which is exactly what it is! 

The food was excellent! We shared a Caprese salad, then I had the snapper with shrimp risotto and kale and Mark had one of the steaks with roasted potatoes. For dessert, we had cheesecake with lemon curd topping and Tira Misu made with Kahlua. Everything was beyond perfection, and I don’t use that term lightly….it really was! (they ask you to not use your cell phones during the dining experience, but being the rebel that I am, I managed to sneak a few pics)

We had dinner early, so we just walked around Highlands afterwards. I took so many photos, but there is seriously so much inspiration in this area! Pretty old buildings, art/design inspiration, the nature that surrounds the city. Or maybe it’s the cooler air that feels so refreshing it just inspires you?

This is a little peek into the Wine Garden at Old Edwards Inn. Don’t you love the black & white cushions and copper awning!?

Let me digress here to say that if you visit Highlands in the Summer months, PACK LAYERS! My dear Mother taught me the beauty of layering clothes at a young age, and she did know best. A light sweater, caftan, or cotton throw is really nice to have in the evenings or cooler days up there. I usually wear one then end up tying it around my waist if it gets too warm. She also taught me the value of finding cute, but comfortable shoes, which you definitely need for a trip like this one. These Vionic sandals are so comfie! Like walking on memory foam, but still supportive. I’ve been meaning to order them in black, as well.

This pretty little church is The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.

And this one is First Presbyterian of Highlands. Love the beautiful flowers out front and hearing the church hymns chime every hour. Such a charming little town!!

We went into The Old Edwards Inn to The Hummingbird Lounge and ordered a few Moscow Mules. Beautiful Persian rugs and period antiques and artwork adorn the Lounge, as a piano artist played elegant tunes in the background. It’s got the feel of a big, old European library or study with the rich paneled mahogany walls, They serve appetizers, craft beer, wine, and hand-crafted cocktails. The ginger beer in our Mules was the best I’ve ever had with a peppery bite to it! 

The bartender told us we could go up to the Rooftop Bar, so we did. We were the only ones up there and it was a beautiful evening so we had our drinks and watched the sunset.

All the container and landscape plants are so lush and beautiful up here! Guess it’s just the right mix of cooler temps, rain, and sunshine because they were gorgeous.

A few shots from the outside of The Hummingbird Lounge after dark……

There was hardly a car to be seen later on a Sunday night except for a few police cars. Truly reminded me of Mayberry, USA! We talked to one of the police who was walking around and it was like back in the day when you felt so safe and knew everyone in town. Such a sweet little place!

We walked back to our hotel and changed into more casual clothes then explored the grounds. 200 Main has very nice amenities with a large game room with sofas and tvs, as well as a kitchen. There was also a big conference room or two and a workout area with multiple treadmills, ellipticals, and weight machines. There are rooms with fireplaces and balconies available, as well. Ours was on the ground level, which was nice to have our car parked right near us, but the second night I did hear the people above us walking loudly across the floor a few times… Once the a/c was on it was hardly noticeable, but something to consider if you stay there!

We ended the night sitting around the firepit chatting with another couple from Knoxville, TN so that was fun! 

The next morning, we sat by the pool for about an hour before heading out. 

We then got ready for the day and headed to Cashiers, North Carolina.  (I’m writing a separate post on that because I knew this post would be entirely too long with our trip to Cashiers!) We knew we had alot to pack into our 2 night, 3 day trip, so we made the most of our time. 

Later, after we got back from Cashiers, we had some time to walk around Highlands again and I wanted to check out The Park on Main, a dog friendly hotel. 

Note dog bowls and statues at front entrance. Love that!

The lobby walls are filled with dog paintings by an artist named Richard, who was commissioned by the designer for this canine-friendly Inn. The mascot is a black Scottish terrier named Mr. Pickles, who greets his visitors on occasion. This hotel also works with the local Humane Society to feature adoptable dogs (there was a 2 year old beagle behind the front desk on a plush dog bed the day we visited. ) There are Mackenzie Childs dog bowls in each room and Orvis dog beds. It’s a beautiful and welcoming place! We hope to visit again with our dogs because there are so many great hiking spots and waterfalls in the area. 

As I mentioned earlier, we had spent a day up in Highlands back in late December for our anniversary, but didn’t really explore much or eat at any of the restaurants up there on that trip. We did walk around The Old Edwards Inn with all the Christmas decorations still up, and it was such a special and beautiful place.

It’s got Old-World charm and beauty, but a relaxed and comfortable feel and the staff is so down-to-Earth and gracious! 

This collected style of decor is my favorite with the Persian rugs, mahogany wood, stone fireplaces and walls, and Southern accents. The rooms are all beautifully decorated, as we peeked in a few rooms and also saw on their website. There’s a Spa onsite, as well as a large workout facility, conference rooms, and a Wine Garden, the Hummingbird Lounge, and Madison’s restaurant, where we celebrated my birthday. 

For dinner at Madison’s, we dressed Resort Casual, but Business Casual is fine, too. I didn’t see anyone dressed too formal, as Old Edwards Inn is a casual, Old Southern resort, but I’d recommend guys wearing khakis and a golf polo, like Mark did, or khakis and a button-down shirt. I wore capri length black skinny jeans and a flowy hankerchief hem black top that I dressed up with global jewelry. My earrings are so fun from Amazon! They go with alot of Summer dresses and outfits. The necklace is one I found in a shop in Chattanooga when shopping with my Mom, and I always wear a stack of bangle bracelets in different combinations. I wore Sam Edelman snake skin sandals that were comfortable enough to walk around in for a few hours. I’m tall, so I mostly wear flats, and some of the old sidewalks in Highlands are uneven, so I factored that in! 

If you love this bronze hunting dog lamp as much as I do, I found a few for you here and here. 

Madison’s was so special! They asked if we were celebrating any special occasion when we made our reservations, and I just said it was my birthday at requested a private booth for Mark and me. When we were seated, there were candles, fresh flowers, and rose petals scattered on the tabletop. 

We enjoyed a delicious meal, then they brought out a birthday dessert for us. The ambiance and atmosphere at Madison’s is so romantic in the evening. There was a mix of families and couples, and the seating was a mix of antique chairs and tables and upholstered banquette booths with flowy curtains and soft lighting. 

The following morning, we packed up and checked out of our hotel and went to Mountain Fresh Grocery to eat lunch. The couple from Knoxville had been to Highlands several times, and told us this place had amazing breakfast and lunch options. Mountain Fresh is a combination coffee house/ bakery/ pizzaria/grocery, that also sells a large selection of wines and cheeses, has a hot/cold bar, and a butcher shop, as well. We had the lunch buffet and sat outside. It was a brisk 68-70 degree day, so it felt so good! Lots of dogs sitting outside while their people ate. Highlands is a very dog-friendly town, which we love. 

After lunch, we walked around and visited more shops. 

Citizen Wilder was a pretty shop with lovely botanical arrangements and candles. 

I talked to the artisan that created Stick Candles and he explained the process using real tree branches as his inspiration. He creates molds to pour wax and create these amazing candlesticks. He originally created them for his Mother and started his business up in New York. Don’t they look incredible en masse on that painted chippy dresser?!

Acorns was another shop I went in. Furniture, gifts, artwork, and a clothing boutique. Loved this German Shorthaired Pointer and German Shepherd painting. I’m a sucker for classic dog paintings!

Dutchman’s Designs was a 2-story store with lots of beautiful furniture, lighting, home decor, linens, and gifts. Loved this statement mirror and the rattan lampshades below. 

J. Elliott’s is another furniture and home decor with a design center on site. Highlands and Cashier’s have a TON of design resources! We must’ve passed 3-4 trucks from various design shops, not to mention the actual brick and mortar shops. It’s like Designer’s Heaven…..

This little King Charles Cavalier took right to Mark in one of the gift shops. I think Mark really missed our 2 pups even for just being away 3 days. Either that or he’s secretly dreaming of a dog breed that isn’t as high maintenance as ours. To say ours are active is an understatement, but they keep us in shape!

The Ugly Dog Pub is a fun place to have a drink or appetizers while you watch a game. We did that back in December, but didn’t have time this trip. 

We had ice cream at Kilwin’s 2 days in a row…So good and so worth it. 

We saw lots of this Appalachian-style stair railing, fences, furniture, and basketry. I think it’s so unique and attractive for mountain homes! 

I wanted to drive by and see Old Edwards Inn’s other sister hotels, Half Mile Farm before we headed home. It’s a charming old farmhouse that was built in the 1800’s and was renovated into a luxury inn. ( Loved the espaliered apple trees!) It’s located on 14 acres and has a pool, bar/ private chef for breakfast/appetizers/ light bites, hiking trails and has a lake that you can kayak, canoe, or go fishing. As with 200 Main, anyone staying at Old Edwards Inn’s sister hotels can enjoy dining and other accommodations at The Old Edwards Inn in town! Guests must be 18 or older to stay at Half Mile Farm. Funny, but I sort of love that idea now that we’re Empty Nesters!!

I hope you enjoyed a tour of Highlands and some of the things we did during our little visit. I highly recommend a weekend for 2 or with friends up to this enchanting area in the mountains of North Carolina! Here are a few resourceful books here and here, if you plan on exploring more of the Western Carolinas! The link to my Cashiers, NC post is here. Lots of good resources to Pin, so be sure and check that out!

Thanks for stopping by!

XO