We highly recommend you visit downtown Highlands in your free time. There is ample shopping, eating, drinking, art galleries, and more. Many of the local hotels and rentals are within walking distance of this area.

From downtown Highlands, walk the Satulah Mountain Road. The dwarf white oaks and pitch pines here are 200 years old. Visit the stone shelter, built in 1911 to behold the glories of the sunrise, the sunset, and the stars.

Sunset Rock is an ideal choice for a late afternoon stroll, and is walking distance from town. Beautiful sunsets can be seen over the town, while you sit on a natural amphitheater of slabs of granite.

Whiteside Mountain is one of the most popular hikes in the area, and is known for being one of the oldest mountains in the world (at 360-490 million years old)! It is a 2.5 mile loop that will take you to amazing views.

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended due to steps and uneven walking. This is one of the most popular waterfalls in the area. This 80-foot waterfall is located along the Cullasaja River Gorge in the Nantahala National Forest and is part of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway.

Big Shoals Falls, also known as Secret Falls, is a .75-mile easy hike to a beautiful waterfall.

The Bascom creates visual art experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities through seeing, thinking, and doing.

A championship 18-hole golf course with a "Highlands Course" (front nine) and a "Cove Course" (back nine).