Rugged mountain beauty, small town charm and big city sophistication come together in the Appalachian Mountain village of Highlands, NC. Encompassed by the Nantahala National Forest and coming in at an elevation of 4,117 feet, this mountain community lives up to its name. But don’t let the rural setting deceive you; this town boasts diverse and high-class offerings for all.
Red brick sidewalks line the quaint streets of tiny downtown Highlands, where visitors escaping the heat of the summer can enjoy luxury shopping, antique shops, art galleries, and James Beard award-winning restaurants. Arts and culture are of high value in Highlands, with visual and performing arts centers, a music festival and three theater groups calling this community home. Nature enthusiasts can also participate in the numerous workshop offered by the Highlands Biological Station and Nature Center. The offerings of more metropolitan Asheville are only a car ride away as well, as Highlands is approximately 72 miles southwest of the city.
A centerpiece of this community is the Highlands Country Club, established as a well-respected golf destination in the 1930s. Opportunities to tee off in some of the most uniquely beautiful settings in the Southeast abound here and throughout the Highlands area. If tennis is more your wheelhouse, you’ll be hard pressed to find more beautiful courts than those available in this corner of Macon County.
The numerous mountain lakes, rivers, waterfalls and National Forest lands adjacent to Highlands afford visitors and residents a never-ending list of options for outdoor recreation. Bring your boat, your rod, your hiking boots, or a book and relax in nature’s splendor that surrounds you in Highlands.