Family fun in the mountains of North Carolina. Let the fun begin!
Highlands and Cashers are filled with family friendly activities to have your bucaroos dog tired by lights out. Great for summer or the leaves changing season in the fall. Thanksgivign is also a cozy time to visit.
Where to sleep?
Old Edwards Inn – in town historic full service hotel right on Main Street. The spa is fantastic!
Trailborn in Highlands is a Marriott Bonvoy property
Highlander Mountain House is a cozy hotel a quick walk into Main Street Highlands. Family and pet friendly.
High Hampton Resort – our favorite Smokey Mountain family retreat. Full service resort restored to all of it’s 1920’s original glory. Kids camp available! Must be a member or resort guest to enjoy the restaurants and amenities.
Renting a home is a nice option as well.
This is a nice 2 bedroom cottage near Main Street in Highlands.
This 3 bedroom cottage near highlands looks like the perfect spot to curl up with a book after a day exploring the mountains.
This 2 bedroom 2 bath is recently renovated in a quiet neighborhood close to Highlands.
NATURE
Cliffside Lake: Hiking trails, picnic shelters, grills. Lake for swimming and fishing.
Highlands Nature Center: We usually make a day of this at least once. Check their schedule for special activities. Small building but packed with fun activities and things to see. After take their hike and have a picnic!
Highlands Recreation Park: Picnic tables and a playground. Pool has retractable roof so rain isn’t a spoiler!
Hike to school house falls
Pantnertown nice hike for kids – fun day, pack picnic
Whitewater Falls – Nice walk/hike – good for kids, easy walk
Green Market – Wednesday afternoon in Cashiers and Saturday morning in Highlands.
Gorges State Park nice trails and museum
The Village Green crossroads of Highway 64 and Highway 107 in Cashiers – Playground, gardens
What to do:
Jackson Hole Gem Mining just past highlands Cave and gem mining for the kids
Fun Factory in the Smokies: 56,000 square feet of fun! Play all day on go-carts, arcade games, miniature golf, bowling alley, laser tag, ferris whhel and much more. Feaures two restaurants. (828) 349.8888
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad: Railroad running from Dillsboro to Bryson City. During special times, they feature The Little Engine That Could, Thomas the Tank Engine, and The Polar Express. (800) 872.4681
Highlands Ariel Park was fun for all! The screamer mountain coaster right next to it is a blast too!
The Highlands History Museum is a surprisingly fun stop, and its free!
The FoxFire Museum is a walking tour through history – run by a local high school. Might be one of the coolest experiences we have had. My kids loved trying to walk on stilts and churn butter. It’s a short drive away. Julep Farms is on the way and it is a picturesque spot for a meal.
Where to eat?
Whiteside Brewing Company – (Cashiers) I know I know, baby in a bar, but this is open to a big park, often has live music and the food is really good.
The Primary (Highlands) is one of the best spots in the area. Weekend brunch, not crowded seating, cool atmosphere, great service and food that can’t be beat.
Ingles grocery store (Cashiers) is huge and great. They likely have everything your little heart desires. You can also order on the app and do curbside pickup.
Mountain Fresh Grocery (Highlands) is right downtown and great spot to provision a picnic – not so much for actual grocery shopping.
Old Edwards Inn and Spa is not only a lovely historic place to stay, but the spa is amazing and the restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. Sitting outside by the waterfall with the kiddos is picture perfect.
Cornucopia Restaurant great for kids – 16 Cashiers School Rd, Cashiers, NC 28717 (828) 743-3750, porch and outdoor space
Canyon Kitchen – Make reservations as soon as you know you are going. We enjoyed a great table where the kids were running over to catch fireflies. Chef Naron is known for sourcing local in season goods and making the most of them. The whole evening was absolutely splendid. (828)743-7967
The Orchard Cashiers – 828-743-7614 fresh mountain fare
Library Kitchen in the Saphire Valley Resort and built in 1862! Recently renovated and now is a hip yummy place to enjoy dining al fresco. We suggest a 5pm reservation on the terrace.
Worth noting:
The roads are mighty curvy and mostly canopied so if you have one who get car sick like we do… pack a little trash can and trash bags, papertowels and cleaner. Fresh air, a window seat, and sing along music or fun podcasts (not a movie) also helped us. Bonnie motion sick meds are a game hanger.
We have Verizon and service is spotty at best.
Packing List:
Exploring Clothes
Tshirt
Vest
Rain jacket
Jacket
Rainboots
Sturdy sneakers
Water shoes
Bathing suit
Bathing suit shorts (for sliding rocks)
Bug repellent
Sunblock
Sunglasses
Pajamas
Games and puzzles for rainy days – these are the BEST puzzles and mexican train is a great game for ages 5 and up.
