Destination Guide: Highlands and Cashiers, North Carolina

Your guide to the best stays, eats, and outdoor adventures in the Highlands-Cashiers plateau

The view from Whiteside Mountain

It was a bit of a happy accident that we ended up visiting the Highlands-Cashiers area twice within one calendar year. Once for a late spring weekend with our daughter and my parents in tow, and again for a couple’s trip in the fall.

We fell in love with the area and often find ourselves daydreaming about owning a home there someday. For such a small town, it really packs a punch, offering wonderful accommodations, food, shopping, and endless outdoor activities — a combination that feels rare in most destinations.

Destination overview

Tucked high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Highlands-Cashiers (pronounced KASH-urs …you’re welcome 😊) area feels like a secret mountain escape. The winding roads lead to some of the prettiest views you’ll find in the South.

Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, hitting the hiking trails, or exploring local shops and restaurants, there’s something here for every kind of traveler.

The climate here is one of a kind (a temperate rainforest), making it among the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America. Towering hardwoods, lush rhododendrons, and moss-draped streams weave together an enchanted landscape that feels straight out of a fairy tale.

What you’ll find in this guide:

• 🔑 Where to stay

• 🍽️ Where to eat

• ⛰️ What to do

• 🌲Other considerations