Higher Calling
Trailborn Highlands, a new boutique hotel in Highlands, NC, blends craft and comfort
By Blair Knobel
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE PHYSICAL RISE of traveling to the mountains—or hiking up a trail—that delivers me from the heaviness of life. It’s as if the act of literally moving up relieves me of my troubles below. Therefore, going to Highlands, North Carolina, the rhododendron-lush, misty-peaked Blue Ridge plateau in the Nantahala National Forest, is medicine for the soul. The charming mountain town, brimming with shops and restaurants, is also not shy of hospitality.
Last November, during Highlands Food & Wine, my partner and I tucked in at Trailborn Highlands, a new hotel at the intersection of craft culture and modern style that evokes the values of connection and slowness—hallmarks of intentional living.
Many of the 63 guest rooms have private balconies or outdoor sitting areas that are ideal places for complimentary coffee or tea. Trailborn highlights regional brands such as East Fork, based in Asheville, and other purveyors who share similar holistic and detail-driven approaches. I enjoyed browsing the small gift shop near the lobby, where regional beer, wine, and other beverages and artisanal snacks are available for picnicking.
Each morning before heading to the festival, we fueled up courtesy of the hotel’s continental breakfast. Simple yet satisfying oats, yogurt, and coffee in East Fork mugs filled tables in the hotel’s common area, where guests warmed themselves by the fireplace. The interplay between hot and cold is paramount in Scandinavian culture, and Trailborn follows suit with a Nordic-style spa and fire pit outside. Guests may also rent the hotel’s bikes for a fast track to downtown Highlands, which is only a few minutes by car (or foot, our chosen mode of travel).
The newly opened Highlands Supper Club, Trailborn Highlands’ new restaurant, has piqued my curiosity. The log cabin was built in 1924 by Joe Webb, a notable carpenter in the region, for a local family. Now in its current iteration as an approachable yet refined restaurant, it offers contemporary Southern cuisine that has been ticked up a notch or two, with both richness and smokiness in equal measure. Dishes like Southerner’s Cioppino and Mushroom Barbecue catch my eye, though traditional Pork Barbecue and the less widely seen Elk Tenderloin will please plenty diners. The cocktail list appears classic and strong, much like the restaurant’s storied building.
What I appreciate about Highlands and special stays like Trailborn are the myriad ways one can decompress and experience thoughtful hospitality. “Leaving it all behind,” even for a few days, is a privilege—and this little town in Western North Carolina rises to the occasion like its mountain roads.