Highlands · Relais & Châteaux
Old Edwards Inn & Spa
The area’s landmark inn in the middle of Highlands, with a renowned spa, Madison’s restaurant and beautifully kept rooms. The romantic splurge.
Website & map for Old Edwards Inn & SpaNorth Carolina · Couples · Two nights
Highlands–Cashiers
Waterfalls, cool air and a great inn.
High on a plateau in the Blue Ridge, the twin villages of Highlands and Cashiers are cooler than the valleys below and surrounded by waterfalls and granite cliffs. Stay at a polished mountain inn, walk behind a waterfall, hike to the cliffs of Whiteside Mountain, and end with dinner on a village main street.
Mountain innsWaterfallsFine dining
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to K1A5
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~241 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~1 hr 51 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Courtesy or rental car
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land in the valley, drive up the mountain.
K1A5, Macon County Airport in Franklin, is about 35–40 minutes from Highlands by a winding mountain road; Cashiers is about 20 minutes farther. Jackson County Airport (24A) near Sylva is an alternative for Cashiers.
The FBO
Macon Air · Macon County Airport
828-524-55291241 Airport Road, Franklin, NC 28734
The FBO lists a courtesy car and rental cars; for two nights, reserve a rental car ahead. CTAF 123.05. Ask about parking, fees and hours. No live fuel price is shown.
This is mountain flying: high terrain surrounds the valley, and clouds and fog can linger on the ridges. Review terrain, density altitude, the sectional and current NOTAMs, and plan morning flights in summer.
02 / Where to stay
Choose your kind of weekend.
A celebrated inn, a small romantic one, or a boutique hotel in Cashiers. Rates and availability need travel dates.
Highlands · Small & romantic
The White Birch Inn
A cozy, highly rated small inn favored by couples, close to the village.
Website & map for The White Birch InnCashiers · Boutique
Hotel Cashiers
A boutique inn in the center of Cashiers with dining and a spa, and an easy drive to Highlands.
Website & map for Hotel CashiersLuxury alternatives
Mountain resort · Cashiers
High Hampton
A historic mountain resort on its own lake near Cashiers, with golf, hiking and a classic lodge.
Website & map for High Hampton03 / Where to eat
Two dinners. One long lunch.
Mountain-town dining is excellent here. Reserve weekend dinners well ahead, especially in summer and fall.
Friday dinner · Old Edwards
Madison’s
Seasonal fine dining at Old Edwards Inn on Highlands’ main street. Polished and romantic.
Website & map for Madison’sSaturday dinner · Cashiers
The Orchard
A much-praised restaurant in a restored farmhouse near Cashiers. Diners call it one of the best meals in the mountains; reserve ahead.
Website & map for The OrchardLunch · Highlands
Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro
A long-running Highlands favorite with a wine list and a garden patio. Good for a long lunch between waterfalls.
Website & map for Wolfgang’s Restaurant & Wine Bistro04 / Things to do
Waterfalls and granite cliffs.
Most of the best sights are short walks from the road.
Dry Falls & Bridal Veil Falls
On the road between Franklin and Highlands: walk behind the curtain of Dry Falls, then pass Bridal Veil Falls, which spills right beside the highway.
Whiteside Mountain
A two-mile loop to sheer granite cliffs with long views over the Blue Ridge. Moderate, and one of the area’s classic hikes.
Sunset Rock
A short walk from downtown Highlands to a rock ledge with a view over the town and mountains. Go for sunset.
Whitewater Falls
Among the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States, about 30 minutes south of Cashiers, with a short paved walk to the overlook.
Main Street Highlands & Cashiers
Galleries, boutiques and wine shops in two small villages. An easy afternoon.
Optional / Spa & relaxation
The spa at Old Edwards · Time for two
Old Edwards Inn’s spa is one of the best known in the Southeast, with couples treatments, a heated mineral pool and quiet lounges.
Booking: Ask about couples treatments, access for non-inn guests, current pricing and cancellation policy. No prices are shown here, and no appointment has been booked.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the area visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
Summer
Cool mountain season
Highlands sits near 4,000 feet, so summer days are pleasantly cool. The busiest season; book well ahead.
October
Fall color
The plateau turns gold and red, usually in mid-October. Spectacular, and very busy.
November
Culinary Weekend
Highlands’ well-known food-and-wine weekend in the fall. Check dates and tickets.
Concerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the area visitor site when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Friday–Sunday weekend: waterfalls on the way up, a cliff-top hike and two mountain dinners. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at K1A5 early and pick up the car.
- Midday
Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the drive up, then lunch in Highlands.
- Afternoon
Sunset Rock or a stroll on Main Street, then down the mountain before dark.
FRI
Arrive & the waterfall road
- Late-morning arrival
Land at K1A5, subject to weather and your actual flight plan, and pick up the car.
- Afternoon
Drive up past Bridal Veil Falls and walk behind Dry Falls, then check in.
- Evening
Dinner at Madison’s.
SAT
Cliffs & villages
- Morning
Hike the Whiteside Mountain loop.
- Afternoon
A long lunch, then the spa at Old Edwards or a wander through Cashiers.
- Evening
Dinner at The Orchard.
SUN
An easy departure
- Morning
Sunset Rock in the morning light, or a last coffee on Main Street.
- Before leaving
Allow extra time for the mountain road and the FBO.
- Fly home
Mountain clouds can linger in the morning; let weather set the departure.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
The Whiteside Mountain loop.
- Afternoon
A drive to Whitewater Falls, or a spa afternoon at Old Edwards.
- Evening
Dinner in Cashiers.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodging and a car first, then dinners and the spa.
Mountain flying
High terrain, valley fog and quick-building storms. Fly in the morning and keep a backup day.
Mountain roads
The road from Franklin is steep and winding. Drive it in daylight.
Peak seasons
Summer weekends and October fill early. Book well ahead.
Testing / Destination 24
Draft for review.
Research-based selections, not personal-visit endorsements. Researched November 1, 2026. Several picks have no website link because official addresses could not be confirmed; check each one, and confirm hours, prices and availability directly before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.