My husband and I typically take a week long vacation for our anniversary each June. This summer our son is on a travel baseball team and the majority of our time is spent at various ballparks. I love watching our son and his sweet team however, the heat is unavoidable. If you live near Atlanta or your child plays summer sports I know you can relate! Knowing we had limited kid free travel time and wanting to avoid the heat we chose Old Edward's Inn located in Highlands, NC for a quick getaway.
Highlands is around a two hour drive from Atlanta and promises cooler temperatures. Downtown Highlands reminds me of something you would see on the Hallmark channel. Filled with adorable shops and restaurants, no one seems to be in a hurry, and this combined with the beautiful Mountain views in the background. Dreamy.
Old Edward's Inn is nestled in the heart of downtown Highlands and has won countless awards including "Best Weekend Getaway." I can't argue with this. When you arrive you're greeted with a signature cocktail made of champagne, St. Germaine, and lavender. The staff is lovely and willing to assist with all of your needs. Our room included a covered balcony with a patio overlooking downtown and the mountains in the background. It also featured a large seating area to relax and enjoy our morning coffee. The bathrooms have heated floors and Molton Brown products. The overall feel of each room is classic and cozy.
After getting settled in our room we walked around downtown and enjoyed the cooler temperatures. The window boxes and hanging flower baskets that line Main Street are precious. We enjoyed a cocktail and small bite at Wild Thyme Gourmet and then continued with a little shopping. Some of our favorite shops are TJ Bailey's for Men, Bear Mountain Outfitters, and Main Street Gifts.
After shopping it was back to the inn to get ready for our dinner reservations at Madison's Restaurant and Wine Garden. The restaurant and wine garden are located at the inn and are critically acclaimed. Although I took my time getting ready, (thanks to the heated floors in the bathroom) we had time to grab a drink before dinner. The Hummingbird Lounge located on the second floor of the inn is the perfect spot for this. We enjoyed hand-crafted cocktails and the smoked trout dip while relaxing in the lounge. It has an elegant yet informal feel which we loved. Then on to Madison's for dinner. Our table was overlooking the wine garden and filled with rose petals in celebration of our anniversary. The special occasion details throughout our stay were an added touch. We enjoyed some red wine from their extensive wine list and took our time ordering dinner. The description of Madison's is "Farm-Fresh Fare with Relaxed Eligance" and this rings true. We ordered garden salads, scallops, and filet which were all made to perfection. Dessert was banana bread pudding soufflé with chocolate ice cream. Our meal was wonderful and the service was fantastic!
Old Edward's specializes in wellness, recreation, fitness, fun, and rejuvenation. We would typically have spent time at the spa, one of the pools, or taken a hike. The location being near a mountain range makes it the perfect place to explore waterfalls, go on a scenic drive, or a historical walking tour. We've enjoyed these activities in the past and loved every second. This time however, we were limited on time.
I can't wait to return next summer!
