So you need a break and want to get away, but you have all those meetings next week. What you really need to rejuvenate your spirits and energize you attitude can easily be accomplished in just three or four days with a short getaway to the town of Highlands in the mountains of North Carolina. A short 2 ½ hour drive from Atlanta will transport you to another place of mind so enjoyable and refreshing, you won’t think twice about the responsibilities you left behind.
We are blessed to have such an enchanting place to escape to on short notice. On your departure day, try to get an early start as you have a full day ahead of you. Once you have packed your bags with some casual clothes and a sweater, pashmina shawl or jacket and comfortable shoes, you are ready to go. The weather is traditionally 10-15 degrees cooler than Atlanta.
ON THE WAY UP:
Hop on I-85N and stay on it until just north of Suwanee where you pick up I-985 towards Gainesville., Ga. This eventually turns into Hwy 23/441, a pleasant drive with few 16 wheelers, and it will take you straight through Clayton to Dillard, Ga. Just past Dillard, you will ultimately make a right turn onto Highway 106 leading up the mountain to Highlands, NC .
As you are traveling north, first spirit of exhilaration comes when you climb over a hill on the way and see your first panorama of mountains. Continue on to Clayton and then to Mountain City, Ga. In the summer and early fall, you must stop at the Osage farmers market (if you can find a space) and pick up some of their truly fresh produce grown locally.
In the late summer you can’t beat the Silver Queen corn, Scaly Mountain blueberries , S.C. peaches, and south Ga. melons….just to name a few.
Some people also enjoy stopping in for a big repast of home-style offerings at the Dillard House just up the road. Be sure to bring your appetite. Just slightly north of Dillard, Ga., past all the shops is the right turn for Hwy 106 to Highlands, N.C., a winding road with some terrific vistas on the way up. When you get close to town you will see one of Highlands loveliest landmarks, the Highlands Country Club. You can’t miss it with the immaculately groomed hemlock hedges and swan-inhabited lake flanking both sides of the road. This was the summer club of Bobby Jones, the golfing legend. In 1930, he played a great exhibition match here with another notable Georgian, Ty Cobb, the great baseball player. Shortly after this point, the road ends in Highlands at the intersection of 106 and Hwy 64, which turning right becomes Main Street for a short distance. Downtown Highlands is really only 4 or 5 blocks with a few small streets intersecting it. There are plenty of hotels and some people rent the local homes.
To give you a brief history of the Highlands plateau, the original inhabitants of the area go back to the Cherokee Indians. The “Trail of Tears” was a result of their being driven out west from their “enchanted forest” here. Average elevation is 4000 feet, making it is the coolest of all the towns around these parts and people come from all over the South as far as Texas, and even NYC to escape the summer heat. The clean and refreshing air is10-15 degrees cooler than in Atlanta. In the late 1800’s. people were sent there from great distances for the healthy climate. Highlands,set in a rain forest, has wonderful and some unique vegetation because it is one of three places in the world that the flora survived the glacial age(750 species of wild flowers) It has attracted may botanists. The famous Bartram Trail was named after William Bartram ,an 18th century botanist who studied there. The trail, still standing, approximates his route throughout NC,SC, Georgia , Alabama , and Tennessee.
A few ideas for your trip:
For dinner reservations are highly recommended in the high season of summer and fall. Some of the popular restaurants include Paoletti’s, Lakeside, Wild Thyme’s, Veranda and Old Edward’s Inn. There are several more casual restautants of Mexican, barbecue and other fare. Later you might want to get some refreshments at the lovely Hummingbird Lounge. You will feel like you are in the library of a great English hotel and if lucky will get to hear the wonderful music of Maestro, a pianist, who plays Friday and Saturday evenings after 6.
Hiking :One of the big attractions of Highlands is the wide array of hiking trails for all levels of hikers. A good place to start this adventure is to stop in at Highland Hiker the day before and they can fill you in on where to go ,provide mapsand of course outfit you to look as if you had just stepped off Everest. For beginners, Whiteside Mountain offers an easy hike for all ages with spectacular views of Jackson and Macon Counties. You will probably see a pereqrin falcon or two while there. An even easier hike/walk & close to town is Sunset Rock, a nice spot overlooking the city where you can sit and have a snack or a glass of wine. Hikes are also advertised in the weekly paper.
Golf:There are several public courses and if you are lucky you might wrangle an invitation to a private club. Check with Visitors Center for details.
Canoeing, and Kayaking. These can be rented locally and are a perfect way to take in the flora and fauna of the area.
Spa: A day at the spa: to really treat yourself and forget all your cares, Highland’s boasting a world class spa and salon at the Old Edwards Inn.
The only problem is time will pass quickly, you will have forgotten all your cares, and then it will be almost time to return home! Have a safe trip back.
Bee Breitenbach
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
Cell 404.895.4715
Office 404.835-9600