Regional Travel Ideas

IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO SAY GOODBYE, but with a resounding “Adios!” we shut the door firmly on the past year and enthusiastically welcome in 2021! With good news on forthcoming vaccinations calming our frayed nerves, we rejoice with the hope of freely and safely traveling once again. Although a vacation to Europe may not be imminent, our limbs yearn to stretch a little longer outside the comfort of our beautiful mountain oasis on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. Take a look at some fresh regional ideas that have caught the eye of the NC Living travel team to be added to the future vacation calendar. It’s time to happily coordinate a breakout and explore some not too distant interesting destinations.

Closer To Home...

Western North Carolina & Northeastern Tennessee

North Carolina’s beloved Great Smoky National Park (GRSM) is one of our top picks for nearby adventure with its sprawling landscape of wildflowers and fauna, high elevation views, waterfalls, streams, ancient mountains, remnants of Southern Appalachian life, and oldgrowth forests. Nestled in Western North Carolina west of Asheville and spilling over into Tennessee, GRSM is a national treasure ranking at the top of the list as the most visited national park in America. And because of this title, it is best to visit in the off-season to avoid the crowds. The main event in this park is hiking for all levels, but for all nature lovers, it is a great go-to spot for forest bathing and indulging in the natural world. With 522,427 acres to explore, one can plan a day trip, but a couple of nights would be ideal. Top visitor sites include Clingman’s Dome (elev. 6,644’), the highest peak, and Cades Cove, a verdant valley known for its abundant wildlife.

Just over the border in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee is a magical place called Trillium Gap, a 6.7-mile trail. After an extensive two-year renovation by Kristin Bowen project, the trail is now open again to visitors. Aweinspiring sites include the vast hemlock groves, Grotto Falls (only one mile in), and the stunning peak of Mount Le Conte (elev. 6,593’) graciously rewarding conquerors with unforgettable views. The highest guest lodge in the eastern United States, one only accessible by foot, is LeConte Lodge sitting at an elevation of 6,400’ and which needs to be booked well in advance due to its popularity. Its Appalachian rustic vibe with roughhewn heated cabins lures guests who long for that sitting-on-top-of-the-world kind of feeling. The Lodge is old school and even uses llamas on the trail to cart supplies to and fro. Exploring GRSM closer to Asheville, you’ll find the extraordinary Mount Mitchell standing as the highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6,684’. This lush 300-million-year-old mountain is blanketed in Frasier Fur, rhododendron, mountain laurel, maple, spruce, and birch trees. Hiking is available year-round. Stay in the nearby town of charming Burnsville which can serve as a convenient base to visit Mt. Mitchell and allow easy access to explore the WNC Quilt Trail, the impressive creative arts and textiles found at Penland School of Crafts and Echoview Fiber Mill, the internationally known Robert Levin Glass studio, and second-generation McWhirter Pottery. On your return home, treat yourself to a stay at the historic and newly renovated Swag, a luxury mountaintop property near Waynesville. Andrew Harper of the Hideaway Report and Condé Nast Traveler gush over this diamond in the rough by calling it the “Most Romantic Hideaway” and “Top Resort in the South,” respectively.

A Little Further Away…

Looking to rev the engine and test the tires of your sports car or motorcycle? When a little thrill ride is in order, head two hours west through the Nantahala Forest to Robbinsville, NC, to take on the Tail of the

Dragon. It is a hair-raising adventure made up of eleven jaw-dropping miles of uninterrupted asphalt located in Deals Gap. The Tail of the Dragon is not for those prone to motion sickness since it is an active drive weaving through the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest creating a mountain-hugging terrain with 318 curves. There are several pull-off points with stunning views for photo ops. Before you get to The Tail of the Dragon there are a few worthwhile stops. Around the time you see beautiful Fontana Lake, veer off the main road toward signs for Robbinsville and Lake Santeetlah. The latter is unspoiled—absolutely worth a canoe or kayak ride. Adjacent to the lake and just as special is the 3,800+ acre Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest—a favorite of inthe-know hikers. This forest is one of the last remaining stand of old-growth trees with over 100 different tree species, many over 400 years old and 20 feet in girth. Several movies were filmed in the area including The Fugitive with Harrison Ford, Nell with Jodi Foster, and A Walk in the Woods with Robert Redford and Emma Thompson. Just beyond these you’ll reach the start of the Tail of the Dragon and thirty minutes and one joy ride later, you’ll find yourself in Chilhowee, TN. And if you find yourself in this part of Tennessee, you might as well go to heaven with a stay at one or the other luxury resorts, Blackberry Mountain or Blackberry Farm, both owned and operated by the Beall Family. These resorts rank top in America for five-star stays and have too many awards and accolades to count. On the other hand, if chi-chi rustic with safari-style glamping is more for you, check out undercanvas.com with its five-star tents and private bathrooms. Ranked in the Top 20 resorts

by Condé Nast Traveler, you won’t be disappointed. At the end of the trip, rather than going back the way you came, return home by traveling east through the Great Smoky National Forest for a gorgeous ending to a great adventure.

Opposite page: The Post House is a tiny inn and tavern in Old Town Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. This page: Blackberry Farm Firetower and Watchman Cabin interior by Beall + Thomas Photography.

Further Still…

Lowcountry South Carolina It's always so surprising that driving southeast just over four hours away you can find the alluring marshlands of South Carolina, a vastly different topography than our mountainous environs here on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. Before you hit this briny Atlantic coast, indulge in a little small city hopping with visits to Greenville and Columbia, SC. Both are brimming with cultural charm along with foodie haunts that make an overnight or lunch stop worthwhile. Your final destination is not its ever-popular neighbor Charleston, but the quintessential village of Old Town Mount Pleasant. Many travelers to SC miss going just a little further north of bustling Charleston to this much quieter district. There you will find a magical respite. The creators of the scrumptious restaurant Basic Kitchen in Charleston, Ben and Kate Towill, have reimagined the old Post House built in 1896. Turning the classic structure into a chic and cozy space, there are seven beautifully appointed rooms to the inn

Clockwise from top Admiring the view at Frazier Museum Bottle Hall; making friends at the Kentucky Bourbon Affair; tasting at Heaven Hill Family Distillery; the Maker's Mark stillhouse; enjoying the ambiance at Bardstown Bourbon Company.

and a contemporary tavern simply called Old Post. Located in the historic village noted by hundred-year-old live oaks whose Spanishmoss sways to the rhythm of the sea breeze and lazy streets, the Inn is just steps away from the salty waters of the Hog Island Channel, cafes, and a vibrant shopping scene. On your return to the mountains consider stopping by Congaree National Park for a meandering hike through the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. Some of the largest trees in our country, called Champion Trees, are found here. As you walk through the floodplain forest, gaze up at the lush canopy of deciduous trees to take in the numerous birds that call this place home. Hopefully, you’ll spot the ivory-billed woodpecker last seen here in 1944.

Only Five+ Hours Away…

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Adventure If bourbon is your thing, or at least piques your interest, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail experience should be added to your bucket list. Not only is it fit for foodies, this unique area is where distilleries line up like wineries in Napa. The Bluegrass State’s native limestone makes making bourbon possible and 95% of the world’s bourbon originates here.

From Lexington to Louisville, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour winds through a picturesque land of lush rolling hills, with champion horses peering over long white fences and miles and miles of legendary bourbon producers like Four Roses, Maker’s Mark, Woodford, Willett, and Jim Beam. The local motto “Where the spirit leads you” could not say it better as you pause from place to fabled place for an education and tasting. COVID-friendly craft tours guide you through the 200-year-old process and master brewers and distillers share the rich stories about then and now.

Visit the official website at kentuckybourbontrail.com or kybourbontrail.com where you will find ample information about curated tours for groups and self-guided options enabling you to plan your own provocative adventure. Most explorers base in Lexington, Louisville or Bardstown staying at inns like the Beaumont, Ashford Acres, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, or Historic Boone Tavern. Airbnb offers many quaint cottages along the trail too if you would like your own space. Foodies rejoice at the plentiful options to dine along the route with top choices like The Stave, Distilled, and Old Owl Tavern. Of course, bourbon bars are ubiquitous like pubs in Ireland. Not only will you return home with a new appreciation for bourbon and liquid souvenirs to stock the bar, but most go home raving about their new favorite bourbon-infused coffee drink called the Kentucky Sundowner.

CHATTOOGA RIDGE

CASHIERS

offered at $1,325,000

Enjoy luxurious one-level living in this three-bedroom, three-bath condominium in Chattooga Ridge, featuring gorgeous long-range mountain views from many of the rooms. The open floor plan flows beautifully for entertaining, with spacious living and dining areas and a built-in wet bar with beverage cooler, wine cooler, and icemaker. Enjoy the crisp, clean air and beauty of the changing seasons on the large deck with its own fireplace and Armor screens. The gourmet kitchen is a chef's dream with high-end cabinetry, a side-by-side refrigerator and freezer, a six-burner gas range, double ovens, and a large center island. Custom window treatments, automatic blinds, rich wood floors and moldings, and upgraded lighting fixtures set this upper-level unit apart. MLS# 93724.

COUNTRY CLUB VILLAS

SAPPHIRE

offered at $499,000

Enjoy mountain living in this wonderfully maintained three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath townhome in Country Club Villas. Located in an ideal level setting with mature landscaping, the property adjoins the Sapphire Valley Golf Course for a picturesque view. The owners have completed many upgrades throughout the unit, including a new composite back deck with French drains; wood and luxury vinyl tile floors throughout the main areas; a new washer and dryer; upgraded fixtures and ceilings fans; and rustic brick accent walls in the dining room. The large primary suite is on the main level with separate closets in the master bath. Upstairs are two spacious guest rooms, a guest bath, and a loft area perfectly suited for an office or sitting area. MLS# 95332.