48 Hours in Highlands, North Carolina: Best Things To Do 🇺🇸
48 Hours in Highlands, North Carolina: Best Things To Do 🇺🇸
Notable moments
- 01:05 Lunch at Highlands Smokehouse
Claire and Chad visit Highlands Smokehouse for lunch before heading out on a hike. Claire enjoys brisket and smoked chicken tacos paired with collard greens, while Chad orders a brisket melt sandwich served with a side of potato salad.
Highlands Smokehouse, Highlands, NC - 02:23 Hiking at Glen Falls
The creators hike along the public trail to Glen Falls located within the Nantahala National Forest. They observe the cascading water over multi-tiered rock faces and dip their feet into the stream near the base.
Glen Falls, Highlands, NC - 03:21 Walking Behind Dry Falls
Visitors descend paved steps to a wooden boardwalk path that passes directly behind the heavy curtain of water at Dry Falls. The massive rock overhang allows hikers to enjoy the thunderous waterfall view while remaining mostly dry.
Dry Falls, Highlands, NC - 03:57 Bridal Veil Falls Roadside View
A quick roadside stop highlights Bridal Veil Falls, where mountain water streams over a smooth rock ledge alongside Highway 64. Passersby can pull off the road to view the picturesque waterfall and lush green surroundings.
Bridal Veil Falls, Highlands, NC - 04:05 Room Tour at Trailborn Highlands
Claire gives a detailed tour of their hotel room at Trailborn Highlands, showcasing the interior design elements. The room features a king-size bed, a custom quilted mountain wall tapestry, terrazzo bathroom counters, and a gas fireplace.
Trailborn Highlands, Highlands, NC - 05:27 Nordic Spa at Trailborn Highlands
The couple partakes in a private one-hour outdoor Nordic Spa experience at their hotel. They alternate between sweating inside a wooden barrel sauna, cooling off under a cold spritz shower, and unwinding by an open fire pit.
Trailborn Highlands, Highlands, NC - 06:55 Biking Through Downtown Highlands
Equipped with unique collapsible helmets, Claire and Chad ride complimentary beach cruiser bikes from Trailborn Highlands into town. They pedal down paved residential roads and along the main streets of downtown.
Downtown Highlands, Highlands, NC - 07:28 Dinner at Highlands Tavern
At Highlands Tavern, the vloggers sit at the cozy bar for dinner and craft cocktails. Their meal includes house-baked cranberry sage focaccia, seared tuna tataki with seaweed salad, and a fragrant Thai green curry made with crab.
Highlands Tavern, Highlands, NC - 11:34 Sunset Hike to Sunset Rock
Claire and Chad take their two pugs on an evening walk along the gravel hiking path leading to Sunset Rock. Upon reaching the wide granite ledge, they sit and admire the sun setting over the Blue Ridge Mountain valley.
Sunset Rock, Highlands, NC - 12:30 Brunch at Blue Bike Cafe
The hosts visit Blue Bike Cafe, a casual, family-run diner in town for a hearty brunch. Claire orders a toasted corned beef Reuben sandwich while Chad eats banana bread praline French toast topped with fresh banana slices.
Blue Bike Cafe, Highlands, NC - 13:13 Strolling Downtown Highlands Boutiques
Claire walks along the brick sidewalks of downtown Highlands to explore local flower shops, gift stores, and boutiques. The village center is filled with vibrant foliage, hanging baskets, and rustic mountain architecture.
Downtown Highlands, Highlands, NC - 13:30 Specialty Coffee at Outpost Inn
Sitting outside on a shaded patio at Outpost Inn, the vloggers try signature iced coffee and tea drinks. Claire drinks an iced tropical matcha layered with banana, coconut, passionfruit, and lychee, while Chad chooses an iced banana bread latte.
Outpost Inn, Highlands, NC - 14:32 Gourmet Desserts at Edelweiss
Located inside a historic white farmhouse, Edelweiss Pastry Boutique displays handcrafted European gâteaux and pastries. The vloggers select a red-glazed mushroom-shaped chocolate cake along with mango and pistachio macarons.
Edelweiss, Highlands, NC - 15:38 Hiking Whiteside Mountain Loop
With their pugs in tow, the creators hike the two-mile loop trail on Whiteside Mountain. The trail climbs steep wooden steps and rocky ledges, revealing dramatic cliff faces and panoramic viewpoints above the tree canopy.
Whiteside Mountain, Highlands, NC - 18:56 Dinner at Highlands Supper Club
Set in a historic 1930s log cabin, Highlands Supper Club offers upscale Southern and Appalachian regional fare. The couple dines on deviled eggs with crab, fresh oysters, grilled North Carolina trout, and elk tenderloin over stone-ground grits.
Highlands Supper Club, Highlands, NC - 21:56 Roasting S'mores by Fire Pit
To end the day, Claire and Chad sit around an outdoor gravel fire pit back at Trailborn Highlands. They roast marshmallows over glowing embers to construct classic s'mores while their dogs relax beside them.
Trailborn Highlands, Highlands, NC
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