Explore Highlands, NC

Highlands is a charming town known for its outdoor adventures, dining scene, and unique shopping options. Whatever you choose to explore, Highlands offers something for everyone. To get you started on your adventures, we’ve listed a few of our personal favorites. But don’t be afraid to venture beyond these recommendations as there are miles and miles of trails and numerous other fantastic shops and restaurants for you to discover.

Outdoor Adventures

Whiteside Mountain Trail

2 miles, moderate

This loop trail features stunning panoramic views and dramatic cliffs that rise over 750 feet, making it a favorite among hikers.

Sunset Rock

1 mile, easy

A quick, rewarding hike to a rock outcrop with breathtaking sunset views over Highlands.

Dry Falls

0.4 miles, easy

A short, accessible trail that allows visitors to walk behind a spectacular 75-foot waterfall without getting wet.

Fly Fishing with Brookings Anglers

Brookings offers guided fly fishing trips on some of the best trout streams in the region, making it a must-try for fishing enthusiasts of all levels. Be sure to check out their Fly Fishing shop as well.

Highlands Biological Station

Enjoy a leisurely stroll through their gardens or along one of their 6 short trails, observing the incredible biodiversity of the Highlands plateau.

Highlands Aerial Park

Here you’ll find mountaintop zipline tours, an adventure course, guided UTV tours, a giant mountain swing, and more. Reservations strongly encouraged. Highlands Aerial Park is about a 20 minute drive away.

Horseback Riding at The Dillard House Stables

Enjoy guided horseback rides through picturesque mountain trails for a unique way to experience the landscape. Dillard House Stables is about a 30 minute drive away.

White Water Rafting with Nantahala Outdoor Center

Experience thrilling whitewater rafting adventures on the Nantahala River, perfect for adrenaline seekers and outdoor lovers alike. Nantahala Outdoor Center is about a 1.5 hours drive away.

Cafes & Dining

Calder’s Coffee

Delicious coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries. Enter through their back entrance on Oak Street and grab a latte before heading into town.

Ristorante Paoletti

A Highlands favorite since 1984, this fine-dining Italian restaurant has an extensive wine list and serves amazing pastas alongside classic dishes like veal scallopini

Madison’s Restaurant & Wine Garden

A refined dining experience at Old Edwards Inn, featuring farm-to-table dishes with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

The Ugly Dog

A lively gastropub featuring craft beers, inventive bar food, and live music, making it a fun spot for a casual meal.

Wild Thyme Gourmet

American cuisine with Asian and Southern influences, on a sunny day we recommend enjoying lunch outside on their patio.

Highlands Smokehouse

This roadside BBQ joint is a must visit. You’ll enjoy delicious pit smoked meats, fresh sides and drinks from their full bar.

Blue Bike Café

A laid-back breakfast spot serving up fresh coffee and classics like fluffy pancakes, omelets, and biscuits & gravy.

Mountain Fresh Grocery

A charming gourmet market with specialty goods, many hot food options, sandwiches, a coffee bar, and a large selection of wines & charcuterie. It’s a favorite spot for both locals and visitors.

Shopping

Highland Hiker

Gifts, outdoor apparel and footwear for backpacking, fly fishing, camping, hiking and other mountain adventures. Be sure to check out both their locations at 601 Main Street and 561 Main Street.

Rosenthal’s Boutique

A Highlands staple known for its upscale women’s clothing and timeless fashion selections.

M&Co

Also known as Marlene & Company, M&Co is a charming antiques and furniture shop, offering a curated selection of timeless pieces. Owner Marlene Scudder carries on a family legacy of fine furnishings, inspired by her father, Al Scudder, who once operated Scudder’s Gallery & Auction House, on the ground floor of Oak Over Main’s building.

TJ Baileys

A premier clothing boutique offering high-end men's fashion, from tailored suits to casual mountain-inspired styles.

Highlands Wine Shoppe

A fantastic wine shop with a wide selection of wines, sommelier curated tasting machines, and a cute outdoor patio to enjoy your wares.

McCulley’s

A Highlands mainstay known for their expansive selection of cashmere alongside a selection of men’s and women’s designer clothing.

Highlands Hatter

A hat shop offering a wide variety of styles—from classic baseball caps to rugged cowboy hats and timeless mountain-inspired styles like fedoras and felt outback hats—perfect for everyday wear or occasions like the Highlands Food & Wine Festival

Reclamations

A delightfully quirky shop where every visit feels like a treasure hunt through eclectic antiques, vintage oddities, and one-of-a-kind home décor with personality and charm.

The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts

More than just an art gallery, this creative hub features handmade pottery, paintings, and unique local crafts.

Local Events & Live Music

Highlands Food + Wine Festival

A four-day celebration featuring gourmet small bites from local restaurants paired with wines, spirits, craft beers, and live music performances.

Orchard Sessions at the Farm

A series of intimate concerts put on monthly by The Farm at Old Edwards, featuring talented musicians in a picturesque orchard setting.

Highlands Motoring Festival

A wonderful event for classic car enthusiasts, spanning four days with judged car shows, curated driving tours, a Main Street parade, and other social gatherings.

Dazzling Dahlia Festival

A celebration of the beauty of dahlia flowers, featuring fresh dahlia displays, competitions, and vignettes throughout the town.

Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade

A cherished holiday tradition featuring festive floats, marching bands, and an appearance by Santa Claus. The parade brings the community together to celebrate the holiday season in the heart of Highlands.

Mountaintop Arts & Crafts Show

Held twice each summer, this event transforms Highlands as over 100 artisans showcase fine art, crafts, and entertainment. Visitors can enjoy demonstrations and live music while browsing a variety of handmade creations.

Highlands Porchfest

ations. Highlands Porchfest - A free, community-driven music festival where local and regional musicians perform at local restaurants and businesses throughout Highlands.

Three River Fly Fishing Festival

This three-day tournament brings together fly-fishing enthusiasts to raise funds for the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund. Participants fish across over 2,200 miles of public waters, with events including an opening night reception, daily competitions, and a closing banquet with awards.

Golf Courses Open to the Public

Sky Valley Country Club

About a 20 minute drive away, Sky Valley offers public tee times from 7:30 AM-6 PM weather permitting, Call ahead or book online to enjoy their picturesque 18-hole, par-71 course with tree-lined fairways, rolling terrain, and beautiful water features. At over 6,900 yards, this course provides a fun challenge for golfers of all skill levels.

Sapphire National Golf Club

About a 30 minute drive away, this mountain course, designed by Ron Garl, is the only public 18-hole golf course in the Sapphire-Cashiers area. Book your tee time online to experience its dramatic, par 4, 13th hole beside a majestic waterfall, or the postcard Par 3, 15th hole that hosts an island green. Sapphire National stretches 6,147 yards long.

Franklin Golf Course

About a 35 minute drive away, Franklin Golf Course, offers a more relaxed golf experience, with a classic 9-hole, par-36 course stretching 2,993 yards. It's a great option for a quick round or for beginners looking to play in a laid-back setting. A driving range and practice green are available as well. Walk-ins welcome, but call ahead for availability.