But the areaвЂ™s natural attributes-stunning waterfalls and markedly cooler weather than theВ surrounding South-are also a draw. The luxe, European-style spa and golf resort has amassed impressive accolades ( Conde Nast Traveler named it one of the top hotels in the United States last year). Many credit Old Edwards Inn, opened in 2004, for truly putting the town on the map. Highlands attracts visitors year-round now too, which means businesses that once closed for the winter now cater to Christmas crowds. But these days, youвЂ™re as likely to see young families enjoyingВ a quick getaway as you are the silver-haired (and -spoon) set running errands before holing up in private homes. Old Edwards Inn Highlands, North CarolinaД«est known as a summer retreat for retirees with oversized nest eggs, Highlands is a town whose very name-like Aspen or MarthaвЂ™s Vineyard-signals the good life. DonвЂ™t leave before trying your hand at panning-after all, the hunt for buried treasure never quite loses its luster. Or, descend 200 feet-and more than a century into the past-on an underground tour of Consolidated Gold Mine. If wine tasting and window-shopping feel a bit вЂњcity,вЂќ take a tubing trip down the Chestatee with Chestatee River Adventures or a guided horseback ride at Gold City Corral. After your meal, itвЂ™s a short walk to the townвЂ™s public square, replete with little discoveries such as exotic jerky ( Outlaw Jerky & Trail Grub), artisan chocolates ( Paul Thomas Chocolates), and a player piano ( Dahlonega General Store). The historical boardinghouse also operates an inn with tastefully appointed rooms. When youвЂ™re ready to switch from wine to sweet tea, head to the Smith House, a Southern cooking stalwart that embraced communal tables long before they were trendy. At Montaluce Winery, the rolling landscape and Italianate villa channel the Tuscan countryside, while Wolf MountainВ Vineyards offers a more rustic setting-think stonework and cedar beams-for tastings of its award-winning blends. Just outside town, five wineries produce a variety of award-winning sips. Pick up a $25 Wine Walk Passport at the visitors center, good for flights at four of twelve downtown tasting rooms. Kids who grew up panning for gold in area streams are returning as adults to sample Cabs and Viogniers among the vines. Two centuries after Dahlonega got its start as a gold rush settlement, an explosion in wine production has paintedВ the town purple. Where visitors strike gold Downtown Dahlonega

Wolf Mountain Vineyards Dahlonega, Georgia

Come along on a whirlwind tour of some of the SouthвЂ™s most enchanting high-altitude destinations, and discover one-or several-that sends your spirit soaring. All share these essential elements: natural splendor, a colorful history, and a slate of interesting places to drink, dine, and do a little shopping. Some of our picks are celebrated locales others may be new to you.

To narrow the scope, we focused our search on small towns, places where you can often see Main Street end-to-end and where time seems to move at its own unhurried pace. Selecting a mere ten communities from its southern portion, which spans the Blue Ridge, Great Smoky, and Cumberland ranges, was a daunting task. Rising between the Eastern seaboard and the Midwestern plains, the Appalachian Mountains house an embarrassment of riches.

Mountain town map long dark