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Western Carolinas
Posted on 6/25/26 at 12:52 pm
Posted on 6/25/26 at 12:52 pm
We are doing a quick 4 day road trip / college campus tour with our daughter next week and don’t really have an itinerary. We are starting in Auburn and will hit Georgia, Clemson and Furman in one day and probably stay in Greenville that night.
After that, we want to get some hiking in and enjoy the mountains.
Any favorite hidden gem mountain towns that you would recommend staying a night or two during the loop? Bonus if they have a decent college we can drive though. Someone mentioned the Highlands or Brevard?
Don’t want to go north of Asheville this trip, but open to Asheville and surrounding towns if that is the best option.
Any favorite hikes, restaurants, campuses or other activity recs welcome.
After that, we want to get some hiking in and enjoy the mountains.
Any favorite hidden gem mountain towns that you would recommend staying a night or two during the loop? Bonus if they have a decent college we can drive though. Someone mentioned the Highlands or Brevard?
Don’t want to go north of Asheville this trip, but open to Asheville and surrounding towns if that is the best option.
Any favorite hikes, restaurants, campuses or other activity recs welcome.
6
Posted on 6/25/26 at 2:13 pm to jsquardjj
Brevard is great. Dupont State Forest is nearby and has great easy and more difficult hikes (Triple Falls, Hooker Falls, High Falls). Sliding Rock is nearby
Table Rock in SC is great, but more of a day hike.
Chimney Rock is east of Asheville and a good one
Some great waterfalls around Cashier's also
Table Rock in SC is great, but more of a day hike.
Chimney Rock is east of Asheville and a good one
Some great waterfalls around Cashier's also
Posted on 6/25/26 at 2:37 pm to jsquardjj
LOL! I went to Furman for one year. Beautiful campus. Much has changed since I went there.
The best mountain bases are Brevard, Highlands, Cashiers, and Hendersonville. Brevard is my happy place, the top pick for waterfalls and easy hikes (DuPont + Pisgah). Highlands has great views and walk-behind waterfalls like Dry Falls. Cashiers is quieter and close to Panthertown Valley. Hendersonville is underrated and super close to great trails. All are easy drives, great food, and perfect for a couple days in the mountains.
Brevard, NC — Your best overall fit. Outdoorsy, low-key, great food, waterfalls everywhere!
250+ waterfalls in Transylvania County
DuPont State Forest + Pisgah National Forest right there
Cute downtown with breweries + coffee
College: Brevard College (small but pretty campus)
Hikes:
Looking Glass Falls (super easy)
Moore Cove Falls (easy, magical)
John Rock Loop (moderate, great views)
The best mountain bases are Brevard, Highlands, Cashiers, and Hendersonville. Brevard is my happy place, the top pick for waterfalls and easy hikes (DuPont + Pisgah). Highlands has great views and walk-behind waterfalls like Dry Falls. Cashiers is quieter and close to Panthertown Valley. Hendersonville is underrated and super close to great trails. All are easy drives, great food, and perfect for a couple days in the mountains.
Brevard, NC — Your best overall fit. Outdoorsy, low-key, great food, waterfalls everywhere!
250+ waterfalls in Transylvania County
DuPont State Forest + Pisgah National Forest right there
Cute downtown with breweries + coffee
College: Brevard College (small but pretty campus)
Hikes:
Looking Glass Falls (super easy)
Moore Cove Falls (easy, magical)
John Rock Loop (moderate, great views)
Posted on 6/25/26 at 3:14 pm to Nole Man
highlands is a special place
Posted on 6/25/26 at 5:49 pm to cgrand
We used to spend a week at a VRBO every year around Murphy, NC. I can't imagine a place that is beautiful regardless of season. My wife's company bought a house on the Ozarks which is why we don't go anymore. The last time we were in Murphy was right as things were starting to open back up after Covid so I'm not really sure how big of a bit they took from Helene.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 5:52 pm to cgrand
Agree. Highlands is what you want.
This post was edited on 6/25/26 at 5:52 pm
Posted on 6/25/26 at 7:47 pm to jsquardjj
Highlands/Cashiers are nice. If you’re staying overnight in Greenville, get a room at the Grand Bohemian with a falls view. Dinner at Jianna or Halls Chophouse. All walkable from the hotel.
Posted on 6/26/26 at 8:18 am to jsquardjj
Highlands area
Bryson City area (near Smoky Mountains)
Blowing Rock (Northeast of Ashville)
We will be in the area mid-July
Bryson City area (near Smoky Mountains)
Blowing Rock (Northeast of Ashville)
We will be in the area mid-July
Posted on 6/29/26 at 3:18 pm to rbiggarjr
Lots of good advice here. I'm flying to Greenville tomorrow to spend a week in Cashiers. Download the AllTrails app. Lots of great trails. If you fish book a guide for fly fishing the local streams.
Tere are so many waterfalls here you could just do a waterfall trip and have every day filled.
Smoky Mountain National Park is not far but honestly its going to be packed. DuPont is a nice place to hike. Gorges State Park is another nice place - get there early and do Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls hike. There are also places to river raft in the vicinity.
Cashier Store for the best blueberry you've ever had
Tere are so many waterfalls here you could just do a waterfall trip and have every day filled.
Smoky Mountain National Park is not far but honestly its going to be packed. DuPont is a nice place to hike. Gorges State Park is another nice place - get there early and do Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls hike. There are also places to river raft in the vicinity.
Cashier Store for the best blueberry you've ever had
Posted on 7/3/26 at 1:39 pm to jsquardjj
Thank yall for all of the recs.
We did 2 Nights in Hendersonville/Saluda area (just North of Greenville) and then 2 Nights in Highlands. Stayed in an excellent, affordable cabin with a great view in Saluda. This side was much cheaper all around than the Highlands/Cashiers area.
Hendersonville had some great restaurants and we hiked in Dupont. Triple Falls, High Falls and swam in Hooker Falls. Great waterfall that you can go behind. Really enjoyed this day.
Also hiked Looking Glass Rock (recommended) and did sliding rock after (Not recommended - too crowded and costs $).
Used the morning of Day 3 to rent a boat on Lake Jocassee. Easily one of the best lakes I have been on. Tons of waterfalls flowing into the lake, sandy beaches, and fantastic fishing. We caught rainbows, brown trout and bass.
Highlands lived up to the hype. Perfect town with great restaurants and cocktail lounges. Old Edwards Inn is a classic hotel in the center of town and Hummingbird lounge was great. Dinner at On the Verandah
Dry Falls, White Mountain Hike and the Mountain Coaster on Scaly Mountain for the kids.
Wonderful part of the country. Wish we had more time.
We did 2 Nights in Hendersonville/Saluda area (just North of Greenville) and then 2 Nights in Highlands. Stayed in an excellent, affordable cabin with a great view in Saluda. This side was much cheaper all around than the Highlands/Cashiers area.
Hendersonville had some great restaurants and we hiked in Dupont. Triple Falls, High Falls and swam in Hooker Falls. Great waterfall that you can go behind. Really enjoyed this day.
Also hiked Looking Glass Rock (recommended) and did sliding rock after (Not recommended - too crowded and costs $).
Used the morning of Day 3 to rent a boat on Lake Jocassee. Easily one of the best lakes I have been on. Tons of waterfalls flowing into the lake, sandy beaches, and fantastic fishing. We caught rainbows, brown trout and bass.
Highlands lived up to the hype. Perfect town with great restaurants and cocktail lounges. Old Edwards Inn is a classic hotel in the center of town and Hummingbird lounge was great. Dinner at On the Verandah
Dry Falls, White Mountain Hike and the Mountain Coaster on Scaly Mountain for the kids.
Wonderful part of the country. Wish we had more time.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:27 pm to jsquardjj
Bryson City, NC
Posted on 7/3/26 at 5:33 pm to jsquardjj
right on
we stayed at old edwards as well it may be the nicest hotel we’ve ever been. We only had two nights and it was in February so it was deserted but we definitely will go back there. Yes, expensive but so worth it
the other place we checked out to stay maybe next time is the outpost inn, it has kind of a hippy vibe which we like
we stayed at old edwards as well it may be the nicest hotel we’ve ever been. We only had two nights and it was in February so it was deserted but we definitely will go back there. Yes, expensive but so worth it
the other place we checked out to stay maybe next time is the outpost inn, it has kind of a hippy vibe which we like
Posted on 7/3/26 at 5:51 pm to cgrand
quote:We stayed in late July and were able chill at the pools. It was wonderful.
we stayed at old edwards as well it may be the nicest hotel we’ve ever been. We only had two nights and it was in February so it was deserted but we definitely will go back there. Yes, expensive but so worth it
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