Travel North Carolina 13 Best Things To Do In Cashiers, North Carolina Find respite in Cashiers, the 200-year-old resort town in the mountains of North Carolina. By Heather Bien Heather Bien Heather Bien is a writer experience contributing to some of the industry's top lifestyle, design, and wedding websites. She's covered event planning ideas and tips, weddings both traditional and eclectic, and she brings her love and knowledge of art history and design to every celebration she covers. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on August 23, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Stay In Cashiers Where To Eat And Drink What To Do Close Photo: Heather Bien When temperatures soar across the South, you don't have to travel far to find a welcome respite from the heat. Or to see breathtaking fall foliage as temperatures start to drop as summer turns to fall. Cashiers, North Carolina, is a town built upon a plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and its rain forest landscape offers daytime highs in the summer that feel like you're just a few degrees away from pumpkin spice. This mountain town—and several more that surround it in Jackson County—has a summer camp attitude that is full of nostalgia. There's a rustic elegance to everything there. Abundant flower beds are at home next to bent twig furniture. Locals meet outdoors for laid-back lunches al fresco and cozy fire pit evenings alike, while making sure to show you the latest photo they snapped of a bear strolling by. Heather Bien From hiking to swimming hole hopping to shopping and eating, there's as much to do in this small town as many twice its size. Need help planning? Here's where we would stay, what we would eat and drink, and what we would do with a visit to Cashiers, NC. Stay In Cashiers Heather Bien Relax in Mountain Luxury at High Hampton Resort For a stay that feels both like going back in time to a nostalgic summer camp and also immersing yourself in a curated, relaxing getaway, book a few nights at High Hampton Resort. This classic inn was reimagined in 2021 through the eyes of the Blackberry Farm team, and it has a charm that blends historic memories, vintage elements, and vibrant, colorful textiles. While you're there, take a pickle ball lesson, try your hand at canoeing on Hampton Lake, roast s'mores by the fire, or go for a swim in the pool. This is the place to truly embrace that carefree camp attitude—while staying in the comfort of a luxury resort. highhampton.com, 1525 State Rte 107 #1525, Cashiers, NC 28717 Heather Bien Where To Eat And Drink Grab a Beer and Snacks at Whiteside Brewing Co. Bring the whole family for drinks and food at a brewery that's designed for being outside. With plenty of room to run around, Whiteside Brewing Co. is a perfect midday spot on a beautiful afternoon. There's beer, of course, but you'll also find everything from a kale caesar to a waygu smash burger to wings. whitesidebrewing.com, 128 State Rte 107, Cashiers, NC 28717 Heather Bien Dress Up for Dinner at High Hampton's Dining Room Large windows overlooking Rock Mountain and American Chestnut paneling set the stage for a dining experience that feels a bit like stepping back in time at High Hampton. The Dining Room is a restaurant where people still get dressed up for dinner, and the menu offers upscale Southern-inspired fare. There are different menus on back-to-back nights so you can always return and expect a different meal. highhampton.com, 1525 State Rte 107 #1525, Cashiers, NC 28717 Heather Bien Pop Into Buck's Coffee Cafe When you need caffeine, pop into the quaint Buck's Coffee Cafe. This no-frills spot fills up with locals and tourists alike. Get here early or late to avoid the reliable crowd that shows up for their morning cup of joe. facebook.com/BucksCoffeeCafe, 6 State Rte 107, Cashiers, NC 28717 Fill Up On Pizza at Slab Town Pizza Whether you've been out hiking in the mountains or shopping in town, Slab Town Pizza is an easy spot to grab hand-tossed pizzas and craft beer. There's plenty of outdoor seating for those perfect Cashiers afternoons. While you're in the neighborhood, Crossroads Custard & Cold Brew is just a few doors down. The array of flavors is unbeatable, as is the range of toppings. facebook.com/SlabTownPizza, 45 Slab Town Rd, Cashiers, NC 28717crossroadscustard.com, 45 Slab Town Rd A6, Cashiers, NC 28717 Find the Most Idyllic Dinner Setting at Canyon Kitchen Sitting out in the gardens behind Canyon Kitchen, you might have one of those moments where you start looking up Zillow wondering how quickly you can make a move. From the flowers surrounding the tables in the garden to the sweeping views through the valley, the experience of waiting for your table with a cocktail in hand rivals the meal itself. But you'll eventually want to head indoors to eat and neither the ambiance nor the food will disappoint. lonesomevalley.com/Canyon_Kitchen, 94 Lonesome Valley Rd, Sapphire, NC 28774 Heather Bien Stop In For a Cozy Lunch at Cornucopia Coruncopia feels like the type of place families have been coming for generations. It opens up for the season in the spring, beckoning guests onto its classic porch—hence its title as "Cashiers' Favorite Porch." Order classic casual meals including burgers and sandwiches, but don't miss the buttermilk pie for dessert. cornucopianc.com, 16 Cashiers School Rd, Cashiers, NC 28717 Heather Bien What To Do Visit the Cashiers Historical Society The Zachary-Tolbert House stands out amidst the mountain-inspired architecture of Cashiers, and it exists just as it did when it was built 150 years ago. It was intentionally designed to look reminiscent of houses built in South Carolina and Georgia, with the goal of drawing in travelers from those areas. Its builder, Mordecai Zachary, believed the Greek Revival style would feel familiar and more appealing than other possible boarding houses in the area. Today, you walk into the home and are immediately taken aback by how unchanged it is—there's not a drop of paint on the walls. This house, and several other structures on the property, tell the story of how Cashiers came to be. It was primarily the work of Colonel John Zachary and his children, including Mordecai, who came to the area following a land grant. They set up shop as accountants and cashiers for the North Carolina gold miners, and, thus, the name Cashiers was born. cashiershistoricalsociety.org, 1940 State Rte 107, Cashiers, NC 28717 Heather Bien Take a History Tour at High Hampton For history that is more specifically tailored to the evolution of Cashiers as a resort town and the "rustic" yet curated escapes of the early 20th century, head back over to High Hampton. Their in-house historian leads daily history tours that not only cover the tales of the families that created High Hampton, but also their relationship to other properties of the time, including the Biltmore. You'll be transported back to Gilded Age grandeur in the mountains as you learn about Dr. William Stewart Halsted and Caroline Hampton Halstead, E. L. and Gertrude McKee, and the others who participated in the evolution of this mountain escape. highhampton.com, 1525 State Rte 107 #1525, Cashiers, NC 28717 Visit Stunning Natural Vistas The Blue Ridge Mountains are a playground for those who love the outdoors, with trails of varying difficulties and varying payoffs at the end. You can hike a short route to Silver Run Falls, with a 25-foot waterfall and a spot for a refreshing dip at the end. Cashiers Sliding Rock is another favorite with, unsurprisingly, a slick, smooth rock that's perfect for sliding into a shallow pool. The Upper Whitewater Falls Trail is another easy, through slightly longer, trail that offers gorgeous views of the falls. at the end. discoverjacksonnc.com/outdoors/trails Heather Bien Find Serenity at the Spa If your ideal getaway involves pampering, then head over to the Canyon Spa at Lonesome Valley. Housed inside a charming cottage that once belonged to the caretaker of the 800-acre Lonesome Valley property, this serene spa offers multiple treatment rooms and a porch to relax before or after your session. lonesomevalley.com/Canyon_Spa, 121 Lonesome Valley Rd, Sapphire, NC 28774 Go Antiquing High and Low Cashiers is a hidden gem for antiquing with finds across style and budget. Stop by Vivianne Metzger Antiques for 18th and 19th Century English and French antiques. Meanwhile, the Bazaar Barn, a charity shop run by Good Shepherd of Cashiers, has a range of prices. You'll find incredible, ornate antique furniture in one room and affordable glassware and home goods in another. vmantiques.com, 31 Canoe Pt, Cashiers, NC 28717goodshepherdofcashiers.com/bazaar-barn.html, 1846 State Highway 107N, Cashiers, NC 28717 Heather Bien Pop in Specialty Shops For a small town, Cashiers punches above its weight when it comes to shopping. From high-end clothing at TJ Baileys and Vivace to the treasure trove of consignment finds at Victoria's Closet to colorful resort wear at Bella Cotn, you'll have no trouble finding a new outfit for dinner. Want to daydream about your future home in the mountains? Stop by Rusticks. facebook.com/vivace828, 104 State Rte 107, Cashiers, NC 28717victoriasclosetnc.com, 29 Marmalade Ln, Cashiers, NC 28717tjbaileys.com, 95 State Rte 107, Cashiers, NC 28717rusticks.com, 32 Canoe Pt, Cashiers, NC 28717bella-cotn.myshopify.com, 236 State Rte 107, Cashiers, NC 28717 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit