Cashiers, North Carolina, Is the Perfect to Cool Down in Summer—With One of the South’s Best Resorts

Situated on the best plateau within the Blue Ridge, Cashiers (elevation 3,487 toes) isn’t precisely the best vacation spot to succeed in. The roads wind by means of numerous mountain towns—relying on the place you’re coming from, you may go Highlands, Brevard, or Sylva—and, in the course of the peak summer season season, you might have to slowly and patiently drive behind different vacationers looking for the delights of this a part of Western North Carolina. The trouble, nevertheless, is price it ultimately once you pull into this historic village, simply eight miles from the South Carolina border.

“Cashiers has lengthy been admired for its pure magnificence, small-town vibes, and a welcoming sense of Southern hospitality,” Daniel Fletcher, co-founder of Outland Hospitality, the group behind Lodge Cashiers, tells Journey + Leisure. “It’s the form of distinctive place that actually transports you to a distinct mind-set [from] the second you arrive.” It’s quaint, peaceable, and exceptionally laid-back.

Pronounced “Money-urs,” not “Money-ears,” the roughly 900-person group sits on the intersection of U.S. Route 64 and NC Freeway 107, and serves as a jumping-off level for all method of out of doors actions, together with fly fishing, mountain climbing, {golfing}, and boating. It additionally boasts barely decrease common temperatures in the summertime, because of the next elevation. (The common excessive in August is round 81.9 levels Fahrenheit, whereas close by Greenville is 88 levels Fahrenheit.) This mixture has solidified Cashiers’ standing as a resort city, one which’s anchored by Excessive Hampton, a historic inn and repeat World’s Best Awards winner.

“Consider Cashiers like a seaside city with out the seaside,” says Sarah Jennings, associate dealer at Cashiers Valley Real Estate. “Our inhabitants balloons in the summertime and that may be exhausting for a few of our eating places and retailers to arrange for, so once you come, particularly in July, be affected person, be sort, and be courteous.” Even in the event you skip the summer season crowds, opting as a substitute for the quiet shoulder seasons, you gained’t miss a lot. Cashiers’ distinctive model of summer season camp-like magic endures all year long.

Learn on to find tips on how to plan a visit to Cashiers, in keeping with locals.

Finest Motels & Resorts

Excessive Hampton

Lately named the second-best resort within the South within the 2025 World’s Finest Awards, High Hampton is a vacation spot in and of itself in Cashiers. Though the property has been welcoming friends because the Twenties, its newest chapter started within the spring of 2021, following a revitalization helmed by the Blackberry Farm (one other T+L reader favourite) group.

Serving as each a personal membership and a resort, Excessive Hampton balances a sure stage of exclusivity with all the trimmings of a welcoming, kid-friendly getaway—albeit one which’s impeccably designed and complemented by a Tom Fazio-designed golf course and an excellent meals and beverage program. Breakfast is served in The Eating Room, overlooking Hampton Lake and out onto Rock Mountain. An off-the-cuff lunch down at Mitch’s Lakeside (frozen cocktail elective) or The Tavern might be adopted by a return to The Eating Room, the place dinner ought to all the time conclude with a dessert made by chef April Franqueza, a semifinalist within the 2025 James Beard Awards for Excellent Pastry Chef or Baker.

Lodge Cashiers

“Personally, I really like Hotel Cashiers. The house owners have actually reworked the world right into a walkable and pleasurable place the place you’ll find effective eating and pleasant areas,” says Ashlie Mitchell, the manager director of The Village Green—a 13.2-acre space on the crossroads of Freeway 64 and Freeway 107—and a sixth-generation resident of Jackson County. The rooms are a bit retro and Scandinavian-inspired, and so they’re outfitted with the entire necessities; you possibly can even pop into the shared pantry for complimentary snacks and occasional. “Don’t neglect to have dinner of their ‘foyer’ as a result of it’s fabulous,” says Jennings, referring to Kitchen & Bar, the place the seasonal menu options dishes made with farm-to-table elements.

The Wells Lodge

The Wells Hotel is one other stable, extra inexpensive choice in Cashiers. “[It’s] related to Whiteside Brewing Co. by a brief strolling path, and that’s all the time a enjoyable go to for good brews and eats,” says Mitchell. The rooms are shiny and ethereal and conveniently situated close to the Elevated Kitchen meals truck, so friends can simply seize a fast breakfast earlier than beginning their day in Cashiers.

Finest Issues to Do

Go for a hike—or stretch your legs on the town.

“Cashiers is thought for its abundance of waterfalls, hikes, and wildlife, and my favourite hike is Whiteside Mountain. It’s a straightforward hike that provides jaw-dropping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” says Fletcher. Jennings additionally recommends taking “the brief hike to Silver Run Falls.” You may even get in some steps with out leaving the city itself. “I all the time get pleasure from exploring the Cashiers Walking Trail and The Village Inexperienced sculpture park and seeing all of the native flowers and artwork,” says Fletcher.

Have a lake day.

Cashiers could also be a mountain city, however it’s additionally shut to 2 beautiful lakes: Lake Glenville and Lake Toxaway. For those who’re within the former, Mitchell suggests stopping by the seaside on the  Pines Recreation Space or renting a ship from Signal Ridge Marina. Lake Toxaway Marine additionally presents boat leases, in addition to kayaks, canoes, water skis, and tubes.

Test the native occasion calendar.

Mitchell notes that Cashiers additionally has “free occasions all through the week,” and households can all the time discover some inexpensive enjoyable on the native park and playground at The Village Inexperienced. In 2025, the schedule of events contains the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, a farmers market, an vintage present, and extra.

Plan a fly-fishing journey.

Anglers are drawn to this a part of Western North Carolina, because of its chilly rivers and streams stuffed with trout. Brookings Anglers has guided float and wade journeys that discover the waters of the Tuckasegee, and there are dozens of smaller streams and rivers to fish within the space surrounding Cashiers.

Finest Buying

Cashiers Farmers Market

It’s practically unimaginable to depart Cashiers Farmers Market empty-handed. From the native produce and baked items to the jars of jams and the takeout barbecue—picked up on the adjoining, aptly named On the Aspect restaurant—this nostalgia-inducing spot is the proper cease once you’re feeling peckish or need to load up on some snacks earlier than heading out on a hike.

Vivace

“Vivace has one thing for everybody, and their choice varies between informal day put on and night [attire],” says Mitchell. “I additionally recognize that they’ve footwear for all events. Every bit I’ve from Vivace has served me nicely, and so they have one thing for every season.” For those who’re a fan of manufacturers like Frank & Eileen or Favourite Daughter, it’s a can’t-miss cease whereas in Cashiers.

Victoria’s Closet

“Victoria’s Closet is a staple consignment retailer and has nice stuff year-round. It’s all the time enjoyable to pop in and discover, as a result of who doesn’t love a superb consignment retailer treasure hunt?” says Fletcher. Mitchell agrees, including, “After I’m in a pinch for the proper outfit for an occasion or an informal evening out, I can all the time discover one right here, together with sneakers.”

Highland Hiker and Brookings Anglers

Mitchell calls Highland Hiker your “go-to store for every thing you want for out of doors excursions, whether or not you are snowboarding the slopes in January or mountain climbing Whiteside Mountain in August.” Equally, Brookings Anglers covers your out of doors wants, and Fletcher provides that it has a “nice location overlooking the lake and presents guided fly-fishing journeys.”

The Cashiers Retailer

“You may’t go away the world with out stopping at The Cashiers Store for a memento,” says Jennings. The store has your whole traditional trip items—colourful T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts proudly touting the mountain vacation spot.

Finest Eating places

Native Prime Provisions

For an elevated evening out in Cashiers, Mitchell recommends Native Prime Provisions. “The house owners, Scott Alderson and Tania Duncombe, deliver all of the enjoyable and greatest seafood from the East Coast. Their wine menu can be meticulously curated, and I’ve by no means had a nasty suggestion. To not point out, it is enjoyable to dine whereas watching everybody work within the kitchen to arrange artfully crafted plates,” she says.

The Orchard

“The Orchard is a Cashiers’ mainstay and all the time great,” says Jennings. Reservations are extremely advisable, and the atmosphere of the 100-year-old farmhouse is hard to beat. The menu includes a vary of hearty favorites, together with fried inexperienced tomatoes, steamed mussels, and crab desserts.

Chile Loco

“For a family-friendly meal, I really like Chile Loco, a family-run Mexican restaurant that provides all of the go-to Mexican dishes in addition to some lesser-known household recipes,” says Fletcher. After an extended day of mountain climbing, waterfall recognizing, or fly fishing on the Tuckasegee River, there’s nothing fairly like a platter of nachos or fajitas, topped off with a refreshing margarita.

Canyon Kitchen

“[Canyon Kitchen] has probably the most spectacular view of virtually any restaurant within the nation, and the meals is phenomenal,” says Jennings. Though it is technically in Sapphire, the brief seven-minute drive from Cashiers is greater than worthwhile, particularly if entrees like North Carolina shrimp and grits or steak and fries are up your alley.

Buck’s Espresso Cafe

“For espresso, I all the time cease by Buck’s Coffee Cafe for an ideal Americano in a residing room-style area,” says Fletcher. You’ll know you’ve arrived once you spot the antlers on the entrance of the constructing.

Finest Time to Go to

There is not any dangerous time to go to Cashiers, so the “greatest” time relies on your supreme climate and crowd preferences. “My favourite time to be in Cashiers is spring and late summer season. The temperature within the mountains is ideal, and the native blooms are gorgeous—assume daffodils, rhododendrons, and laurels in every single place,” says Fletcher.

Summertime and the height of fall foliage are hottest amongst vacationers—and for good purpose. “Summer time is when there’s one thing enjoyable to do with the entire household each day of the week,” says Mitchell. “Fall is when our Cashiers Valley showcases magnificent reds, oranges, and yellows of the deciduous bushes and brings with it cooler temperatures for cozy nights across the fireplace.” That stated, in the event you go to in July or October, you’ll need to maintain a couple of issues in thoughts. “Site visitors can get dangerous in the course of the weekends, [along with] increased lodging costs and busier trails and eating places,” says Fletcher.

For those who’re occupied with Cashiers’ shoulder season, think about coming in September, which Jennings describes as “probably the most underrated time to be in Cashiers.” “The temperatures are nonetheless nice, the crowds have died down, and the entire retailers and eating places are nonetheless open,” she says. Or, you possibly can plan your journey for the winter, which Mitchell says brings “brief wait occasions and pleasant native faces, together with snowboarding and tubing in Sapphire.”  (Sapphire Valley’s ski area is an eight-minute drive from Cashiers).

The way to Get There

For those who’re flying into the world, Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is your greatest guess. It’s nearly a one-hour drive from Cashiers, relying on the visitors and the way snug you might be with navigating mountain roads. Greenville-Spartanburg Worldwide Airport (GSP) is an alternative choice; the South Carolina airport is rather less than two hours away.

The way to Get Round

Though Cashiers is a tiny city—and there may be the partially-completed strolling path, the Cashiers Greenway Ramble—you’ll want a automotive to succeed in mountain climbing trails, some eating places, and different factors of curiosity within the space. Plus, not each a part of the city is related by a sidewalk.