Highlands is ready to party. After an interrupted 2024 season due to Hurricane Helene, Highlands, North Carolina, is gearing up for the return of fall tourism to Western North Carolina along with the tenth anniversary of Highlands Food and Wine Festival, November 13–16.
During the annual festival that showcases the highlight reel of local and regional culinary talent, Main Street transforms into a concert venue, this year for a musical lineup that includes The Wallflowers, and chefs begin prepping for the occasion weeks in advance. Many local restaurants host their own wine dinners independent of the festival, previewing what’s to come to the delight of residents and as incentive for festival goers to arrive early.
The call of the mountains is powerful this time of year, and the Highlands plateau is ready to welcome guests with three newer lodging options to consider, making booking easy and leaving less so.
Find out more about Highlands Food & Wine and purchase tickets at highlandsfoodandwine.com.
Places to Stay for Highlands Food and Wine
The Outpost Inn
From the Highlander Mountain House team, The Outpost Inn brings the feeling of an adult camp to the plateau, providing an ideal hub for groups of friends attending the nearby festival. The 14-suite hotel, just a short walk from Main Street, achieves the elusive balance of being cool without the appearance of trying too hard. The effort, in this case, to provide hospitality with ease and an environment supportive of free spirits and creatives, is duly noted.
The former Wells Hotel property reopened in summer 2024, and owner Jason Reeves’s creative vision is evident from the Adirondack chairs around the firepit to the interior finishes of woods and leathers, and the midcentury modern wood-burning stove in the hotel’s multiuse common area. The eclectic collection of art, accessories, and furnishings transports guests to a locale reminiscent of the Berkshires, while keeping the Carolinas top of mind through Western North Carolina reading material, Methodical coffee, and locally sourced provisions in the newly expanded coffee and wine bar curated by former winemaker Jeremy Carter.
Each unique suite is saturated in color, patterns, and texture, and with in-room amenities like turntables, vinyl, and even a typewriter, creativity and play are clear goals. While the Appalachian message of exploration is communicated loud and clear to guests, the Outpost’s interiors provide a compelling reason to stay in—maybe recovering from festivities the night before—and cozy up by a crackling fire in your room or in the coffee area with fellow revelers for a bit longer.
The Outpost Inn, 790 North 4th St., Highlands, NC, outpostinnhighlands.com
Highlander Mountain House, The Bunkhouse
The Outpost Inn’s older sister, Highlander Mountain House recently restored the property’s two-story Bunkhouse to appeal to adventurous guests and their pets. While the Mountain House is a master class in the maximalist art of mixing Appalachian and English styles, The Bunkhouse offers a more rustic cabin experience without losing the luxury linens or minibar.
Bunkhouse queen or king rooms offer a convenient resting place after a day or three of dancing and imbibing, and the smaller square footage serves as a reminder that these accommodations are designed as a recharge for the next adventure.
Bunkhouse guests are invited to enjoy the Mountain House amenities, including the Ruffed Grouse Tavern, where locally sourced ingredients star and live music wafts across the front steps onto Main Street. And there’s no better way to fuel a festival weekend than with a hearty tavern breakfast—offered exclusively to hotel guests.
Highlander Mountain House, 270 Main St., Highlands, NC, highlandermountainhouse.com
Trailborn Highlands
A Scandinavian-inspired stay awaits at Trailborn Highlands. Complete with an outdoor Nordic spa that might just provide the necessary festival recovery, Trailborn offers a minimalist environment in a fully renovated hotel tucked away in a secluded area two minutes from Main Street.
Squeeze in one of the many curated off-site excursions like fly-fishing, forest bathing, or rock climbing before the evening festival events or stay on property for mixology or flower-pressing workshops. An outdoor firepit provides a gathering spot for morning coffee or a night cap.
Trailborn’s small but growing portfolio of hotels includes other adventure-centric destinations, yet only Highlands boasts a standalone restaurant as an amenity. The Highlands Supper Club sits at the top of the property in a historic log cabin with multiple fireplaces. Southern dining enthusiasts will recognize names like Anson Mills and Benton’s Bacon on the menu and feel simultaneously hungry and at home. Executive Chef Aaron Kulzer began planning his festival-week wine dinner in late spring, and it might just be reason enough to head to the mountains a few days early.
Trailborn Highlands, 96 Log Cabin Lane, Highlands, NC, trailborn.com/highlands
