3. Highlands, North Carolina
Whether you unwind indoors or explore the natural marvels all around, you’ll discover Highlands, North Carolina, has it all. For entertainment, visit downtown Highlands to find artistic hot spots, museums, theaters, music venues, and local eateries. This quaint village has justly earned its reputation for comfortable accommodations, luxurious spas, outdoor fun, and Southern hospitality. Explore the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains for hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails in wooded forests, as well as lakes and rivers for canoeing and fly-fishing.
If you’re looking for rustic luxury and seclusion, one of the surrounding lodges at Old Edwards Inn & Spa might be the answer. The historic inn was built in 1878, just three years after the city of Highlands was founded. It includes a spa and wellness center, heated mineral pools, as well as neighboring lodges and spacious cottages like Piermont Cottage, a Victorian estate with four bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a wraparound porch complete with rocking chairs. At the nearby Old Edwards Club, take in striking vistas from an 18-hole golf course or a steamy whirlpool.
