A Winter Day Trip to Highlands, NC

I think I first saw a post about Highlands Outpost on Instagram. Later, a friend also shared a link to the same Instagram post, and I just knew we had to go and check this place out. And what better time to go snowtubing and mountain coaster riding than in the winter? So, during winter break, we loaded up our gear and adventure spirits and headed out on the three-hour journey from Acworth, Georgia, to the North Carolina mountains. 

The drive was scenic, and the air was a mixture of warm and cool. And just like any drive from the valley to the mountains, the air changed (and our anticipation built) with every mile we covered. If you ever get a chance to, you must drive up the North Carolina mountains. It's such a breath of fresh air, literally.

Highlands Outpost is located in Scaly Mountain. The resort offers a variety of activities, including snow tubing, mountain coaster rides, ice skating, and gem mining. The combo admission fee is highly recommended since it gives you more fun for your money. The girls and hubby were able to fit in about an hour and a half of unlimited snow tubing before wearing themselves out. It was not too busy on the day that we went, and to top it off, we were blessed with snow flurries. This was a big deal for us since we live in Georgia and hadn't seen real snow in years. It also helped to make it a true winter break for us. 

After snow tubing and trying out the mountain coaster ride, we headed further up the mountains to the small, quaint town of Highlands. Highlands, NC, is such a picturesque town. We headed to their outdoor ice skating rink in the middle of town and walked the historic district for a little bit before it got too cold, and we headed back down the mountain. We stopped to eat at a small Chinese restaurant at the foot of the mountain before making the journey back home. 

I loved Highlands Outpost and the town of Highlands, NC, and will recommend a visit if you can. We will try visiting during the spring or fall to discover more of what Highlands and its surrounding towns have to offer.