Why you'd want to live in Highlands

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that a little fresh air can provide a big mood boost. Add some soothing scenery and eye-popping views, and you're fully in the zone for a pure mountain high. Sound appealing? Then pack your bags and head for the Highlands-Cashiers plateau in western North Carolina, where the pristine mountain air and easy vacation charm is available in spades. Just a few miles north of North Carolina's tiny border with Georgia, Highlands is a tiny hamlet sitting at 4,100 feet, making it one of the highest incorporated towns east of the Rockies. Nestled in the Nantahala National Forest that blankets the area’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Highlands, Cashiers, and the surrounding peaks and valleys offer a long list of ways to start or reaffirm a deep personal relationship with Mother Nature. Since their lofty perches also influence weather, keeping things cooler amid the South’s summer swelter, the perfect time to visit is late May through the end of summer. via cntraveler.com