Cashiers, Highlands, and a fun visit with friends!

Wednesday, August 15

We left early to meet friends Bill and Cori at their mountain house, and  I have to say that going west along this road, there are a few little restaurants and necessities to support the community, as well as some beautiful golf courses, so I have to amend my comments from yesterday!   I could now also appreciate the beauty of the curving roads, with  Clem was driving allowing me to  look at something besides the shoulder and yellow lines in the road! About a half hour drive to Cashiers, and as we approached, it became more populous and charming.  Their community entrance led us up a steep winding road, and some lovely mountain houses tucked in the trees, until we came to theirs with a charming wood and stick fence across a bridge to the house, and soaring trees surrounding them.  We could see immediately why they loved it so much, with the screened in porch and big stone fireplace that served the porch as well as the open plan living area.  Cori has the decorator’s touch, and the “urban mountain” furnishings complemented the space beautifully.   

Clem, Cori, and Bill overlooking their golf course. 

After our tour of the house, we set out to see the neighboring town of Highlands, where I was immediately charmed by the street lined with great shops.  Our first stop to beat the crowds at the Historic Old Edwards Inn and Spa, where we had a delicious lunch in the very charming garden patio, with a waterfall feature beside us.  After lunch we went in to see the lobby and dining room, which were very charming for a nice dinner.  Built in 1934-5, old lobby registers were displayed from 1947 and 1950.  I ran quickly through some of the names, and didn’t recognize any on the pages displayed, but it reminded me of staying at the Mohonk Inn up the Hudson River, and the room full of old registers containing names of people like Teddy Roosevelt.  Always fascinating to learn of renowned people having perhaps stood  where you now stand. 

We moseyed along and popped into some of the shops, where I am sure I could drop some dough, were we staying  longer!  An overly zealous young woman in one shop gave us her dissertation and demonstration of the new umbrellas that close upward.  I escaped to look at some other things, but Cori got cornered witnessing her demonstration of an article of clothing that Cori announced she had already purchased on a previous trip!  Just a little over the top, but luckily the only place we encountered that, and folks were very pleasant and friendly elsewhere.  

We were not wearing appropriate foot ware, or I may have suggested the walk down and under the falls!

Another fall,where we watched some people jumping in, holding our breath to see if he surfaced! 

We also visited some  waterfalls, enjoyed some house made gelato, and stopped by the art center, where Cori has been taking pottery lessons, and picked up some of here very impressive handiwork.   Such a neat space to make art!   

A stop at Reclamations to poke around the "great junk" turned up some serious nostalgia of wringer washing machines and the like, in addition to some strange artifacts that were hard to identify.  No purchases, but fun to look!

The so called Cashiers Farmers' Market is actually a store open all week, and serves up all the usual, plus a BBQ window, and some fun signs and tee shirts.

We went back to their house for a drink before dinner at “The Library”, which was just that, a converted library, decorated with some funky art work created by one of the owners.  After a delicious meal, we received our check in, of course, a library book! 

 (*adjust and replace photo)

A very enjoyable day with friends seeing the charms of this beautiful area, which leaves us thinking about a possible future summer rental!