Travel Destination: Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, NC
Are you looking for a beautiful getaway with your partner or even with your girlfriends? I just spent 48 hours in Highlands, North Carolina. It’s about a three-hour drive outside of Atlanta. Many southerners escape the heat of the summers and head to the Highlands or return for fall foliage or Christmas in the mountains. My husband and I wanted to drive his new Porsche convertible on the winding back roads to Highland- top down. It was a perfect time to enjoy the last warm months of fall, even though the fall foliage had already peaked at the end of October. But first, I ensured that our final destination hotel would make the trip worthwhile and memorable. I selected Old Edwards Inn and Spa for our stay in the Highlands. It did not disappoint, and neither did the quaint little town and surrounding area.
Old Edwards Inn and Spa
Old Edwards Inn and Spa sits atop the beautiful southwest plateau of North CarInnna’s Blue Ridge Mountains in Highlands, North Carolina. This historic hotel has been gracing the small downtown area of the Highlands since 1878, making it the town’s earliest boarding house, and over the past 144 years it has been handed over to new owners, keeping the town’s tradition alive while also making modern improvements as times evolved. It is proudly listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
Trip Advisor Traveler’Innhoice for 2022
Voted #5 Travel + Leisure 15 Best Resorts in the South for 2022
The Relais & Chateux European style resort cascades along several blocks filled with amenities, music, dining venues and individually appointed guestrooms, suites and cottages.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a champagne cocktail called the Pomosa. The inn welcomes its guests with a new champagne cocktail every month.
Pomosa Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 oz pomegranate liqueur 12 oz total for six drinks
- 3 oz champagne one 750ml bottle is about 25 ounces for six drinks.
- pomegranate seeds optional
Instructions
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1. Pour pomegranate liqueur into a champagne flute.
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2. Add champagne and pomegranate seeds if desired.
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Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Accommodations
There are six options for staying at the Inn. Depending on when you book your room, not all options are available. We were lucky to book a room in the Historic Inn which I thoroughly enjoyed. You can walk downstairs for morning coffee or eat in the restaurant without going outside.
Our Historic Inn Room
We were lucky to book a room in the Historic Inn. However, some rooms may require stairs. We don’t have issues climbing stairs, but you should always check with the hotel about your room. The king-size bed was comfortable, and the bathroom had a separate tub and shower. The guest toiletries were from Molton Brown.
Our room had a little balcony that overlooked the Wine Garden.
Hickory Double Queen Suite
The Restaurants at Old Edwards Inn and Spa
We only ate at two of the restaurants at Old Edwards Inn. However, all were very delicious, and the staff was outstanding.
Madison’s
Madison’s is the Old Edwards Inn and Spa signaturInnestaurant. I highly recommend thaInnou make reservations on Open Table before you arrive at the Inn. The restaurant books up quickly!
Our table overlooked the Wine garden. We were given a charcuterie board as our first appetizer. My husband had brought a bottle of wine from home.(If you bring a bottle of wine to Madison’s there’s a $40.00 corkage fee.)
We had the casear and garden salads. Hubby had the trout and I had Art’s Southern Meatloaf with Gravy which was the best meatloaf outside of my house! (I forgot to take pictures!)
In the end we were so surprised that the hotel paid for our dinner, which was a pleasant surprise!
Four65
Since we arrived before our room was available, we decided to have lunch at Four65. Four65 Bistro handcrafts wood-fired pizzas, cast-iron sandwiches, and fresh salads using ingredients from their gardens, local growers, and purveyors. We decided to split a Greek salad and a Brussels and bacon pizza. Both delicious!
Madison’s Wine Garden
On the second day of our stay, we had lunch outside in the wine garden, which is part of Madison’s restaurant.
The Spa
The spa is so beautiful and serene. To book a treatment it’s important that you do it ahead of time. I didn’t have the opportunity to experience any of the treatments or services at the spa on this trip. But I will the next time I visit!
Members and guests also enjoy three seasonal, heated mineral outdoor swimming pools (closed for the season) and several hot tubs.
The hotel has a well-equipped fitness center spread out over two floors, with enough workout equipment to satisfy all fitness lovers.
Hummingbird Lounge
The Front Entrance
Architecture of some of the buildings we saw
Upcoming Calendar of Events
Winter Getaway Packages
Other Restaurants that I Recommend
Ristorante Paoletti’s
This family-owned restaurant is located across the street from the inn. So many of our friends in Atlanta highly recommended this restaurant, and it didn’t disappoint!
Hubby had the Burrata Caprese Salad, and I had the Roasted Beet and Orange Salad. Deliciosa!
We were both hungry for pasta after walking 5 miles. I selected the Rigatoni Alla Bolognese, and my husband had the Canneloni all Emiliana, which was excellent!
Blue Bike Café
You must eat here! It’s a wonderful place for breakfast and the food was delicious!
Hubby had the Pastrami Hash while I had the Commuter Bike breakfast. The biscuit was so flaky and GOOD!
Outside Activities
Since we were up in the mountains, we explored a few places with waterfalls, botanical garden, and a scenic overlook. There are so many things to do in Highlands, North Carolina.
Dry Falls
Dry Falls, a popular waterfall located a few miles outside of Highlands, gives you the rare treat of walking safely behind a waterfall.
Walking behind the waterfall was a fun treat!
Glen Falls
Glen Falls is a scenic series of major waterfalls that totals about 600 feet. It’s close to Highlands North Carolina. This is the upper section of the falls. This is 2.4-mile out-and-back trail near Highlands, North Carolina. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 31 min to complete. 
Whiteside Mountain
This 1.9-mile loop trail near Highlands, North Carolina is generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 4 min to complete. It was very wet so we went up and down on the easier trail.
Highlands Biological Station, Nature Center, and Botanical Gardens
The Highlands Biological Station, Nature Center, and Botanical Gardens is a public garden and nature sanctuary that showcase the diverse flora of the southern Appalachians. We came too late to see the beautiful garden, but it was a lovely 1.5-mile walk from the hotel.
Shopping
Yes, there are lots of cute shops to shop in that line the main street in the Highlands. I am surprised that there weren’t many art galleries like you see in Asheville.
What I Packed for the Trip
One of my readers wanted to know what I pack on short trips. I took a tiny bag and a garment bag for this quick getaway, which meant that I utilized the same color combination for the trip. In this travel post about my trip to Coral Gables, I wrote about packing the same color combinations.
However, this time I had brought a reversible vest from Draper’s and Damon’s that could be worn on both evenings giving me different looks.
I wore the vest to Madison’s this way with the black side over the Silky Knit Long Sleeve Jewel Neck Top in pearl. I am wearing Slimtacular® Flex Fit Pants in new khaki.
The Animal Print Side
For our dinner at Ristorante Pauletti’s I wore the vest with the animal print side. Again I am wearing the Silky Knit Long Sleeve Jewel Neck Top in black with the pull-on pants.
See how versatile the vest is when packing for a trip? Two looks in one!
Dont forget that you can shop my Hello I’m 50ish page on Draper’s and Damon’s for more affordable style inspiration!
Shop this Look
I hope you enjoyed my visit to Old Edwards Inn and Spa! Have you ever been to Highlands, North Carolina?
And when you book your stay, be sure to mention that you heard about the Inn through Hello I’m 50ish!
Until next time!
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Love Highlands, such a sweet town. Looks like a great getaway.
Yes, Mimi, the Highlands is so quaint!
Have you ever stayed at the Old Edwards Inn and Spa?
If you haven’t, I highly recommend staying there the next time you’re in Highlands!