Highlands

So much history in North Carolina, it was like making an x on the map to figure where the heart of the Blue ridge Mounatains was, but in a way that is how the Popularity of the highlands came to be.

Since this North Carolina town arranges itself on a ridge 4,000 feet above sea level, the "high" in Highlands is entirely justified.Yet it has taken more than altitude to uphold this town's reputation as a favorite summer refuge for more than a century. It's the related gift of remoteness that's key. Getting to Highlands requires intent. You don't pass through on the way to somewhere else.On approachYou go slowly. You pay attention to the road as it narrows and winds upward. The air feels cooler. The light changes. And when prudence allows, you take in the views: the pastures, the pines and towering tulip poplars of the Nantahala National Forest, the dramatic drop-off into the Cullasaja River Gorge. Lake Sequoyah was created in 1927 by damming the Cullasaja, and its tree-lined shores and vintage cottages suggest the Adirondacks.

CNN.com - N.C. mountain town blends rustic charm, rich history - Jul 14, 2006

Related Tags: Blue Ridge Mountains, Highlands, North Carolina, History, Hiking