Places to Go and Things to Eat.

Though tranquility typically comes to mind when you think of the Western North Carolina Mountains, the beauty of the area is matched by a growing complement of things to see and do. There are infinite opportunities to explore the area’s cultural attractions and enjoy dining out at a restaurant, café or diner that suits your particular taste and mood.

Highlands and Cashiers are small towns by any definition, but the sister villages each offer a surprising assortment of cultural attractions. A number of lively galleries can be found in downtown Cashiers. For fans of the performing arts, Highlands boasts no fewer than four theatres. A little ways up the road there’s Brevard, home of the Brevard Music Festival, the Brevard Music Center and the Porter Center for Performing Arts at Brevard College. Then, there’s Asheville, about an hour’s drive away. The city is home to more than 150 boutiques, shops, art galleries and antique stores. If you’re out for a night on the town, you’ve come to the right place, Asheville offers a seemingly endless array of entertainment, including shows, dinner theater and nightspots for people watching.

All this entertainment making you hungry? You don’t have to look very far. From authentic mountain fare in a casual setting to fine dining, Cashiers and Highlands have you covered. It may surprise you to know that six Highlands restaurants have garnered recognition in Wine Spectator including Wolfgang’s Restaurant and Wine Bistro, Lakeside Restaurant, Madison’s at Old Edward’s Inn, On The Verandah and Paoletti’s Restaurant.From bistros to barbecue, from Mediterranean to Mexican and every taste in between, the more than fifty restaurants in nearby Asheville can satisfy almost any culinary taste.