Winter Getaway to Jackson County, NC

Keep Warm in Sylva and Dillsboro

Out and About

Warm up with some shopping in a variety of locally-owned stores, and find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Shops throughout the county sell handmade and artisan goods that can’t be found anywhere else. In Dillsboro, explore the work of incredibly talented local artisans. There are many specialty Christmas stores in town that have festive decorations and gifts that are sure to put even the biggest scrooge in the holiday spirit. Stop into Nancy Tut’s Christmas Shop, a Dillsboro institution, for an incredible selection of holiday ornaments, décor and more, then warm up with a latte from Great Commission Coffee on Front Street or a glass by the fire at the historic Enloe House Wine Bar. If you’re staying the night, the restored Jarrett House puts you at the center of it all.

The Mountain Artisans Hard Candy Christmas is a decades-old holiday tradition. The show features incredible collections of handmade goods from local and regional basket makers, leather craftsmen, master jewelers and many more. Check our event calendar for this year’s dates!

Also at Western Carolina University, don’t miss the Mountain Heritage Center, a regional resource for education and research that aims to celebrate the people and the natural and cultural heritage of the Southern Appalachians. Check their calendar for event dates and times, or their website for a complete list of current exhibits.

When the sun goes down, the lights turn up and guests to the area will experience the most wonderful time of the year as Dillsboro is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter and music during their annual Lights and Luminaries event. 2,500 luminaries light guest’s way to shops, while horse and buggy rides carry people through the streets, and shopkeepers welcome guests with live music and treats. Lights and Luminaries takes place on select December evenings; check the event page for this year’s schedule and shuttle details.

Every year at the start of December, the Sylva Christmas Parade marches through Historic Main Street with more than 50 floats and a special guest appearance from Santa.

Head over to the ecological, artistic and environmental marvel, the Jackson County Green Energy Park, for another activity to keep you out of the cold. Situated on an old landfill that now harnesses the methane to create energy, the Green Energy Park uses that renewable energy as fuel for glassblowing studios, blacksmith forges and pottery kilns and is the only art studios powered by renewable energy in the world.

Want to pamper yourself? Head to Fusions Spa & Wellness. Located in downtown Sylva, Fusions is the perfect way to recharge your body and mind during the colder months. Choose from the extensive menu of offerings, including massages, facials, body treatments, makeup, fitness and wellness options.

Comfort Food (And Drinks)

Start your day off right with a delicious hot breakfast and coffee or tea in town at one of the many dining options.

City Lights Café provides “quick, tasty and healthy” fare, and uniquely decadent menu items to satisfy any palate. Many of their ingredients are locally-sourced and organically-produced. At the City Lights Bookstore, which is located above the City Lights Café, find a quiet corner to enjoy a good book and relax.

Lulu’s On Main is a beloved staple of Sylva, North Carolina, offering an eclectic blend of American and global cuisine. Nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, the vibrant eatery showcases a quirky, artistic interior and a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Renowned for their commitment to fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, their menu encompasses diverse palates, featuring vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Take a break from the chilly temperatures outdoors, and grab a slice of pizza and a movie at the local favorite, Mad Batter Kitchen Mad Batter offers creative comfort food with a free feature film every Thursday, Friday & Saturday in their theater. Here, you can eat, drink and catch a flick all for an affordable price. Check their website for the monthly movie selections.

Jackson County is home to several innovative and tasty breweries: Innovation Brewing, Balsam Falls Brewing Co. and Lazy Hiker Brewing Company Taproom, which are located within walking distance of each other in downtown Sylva. Innovation Brewing’s second location, Innovation Station, is located in the heart of Dillsboro and Whiteside Brewing Co. in Cashiers, where the Blue Line Bar at Brookings Anglers also pours beer and wine beside a fly-tying table. For those who prefer wine and cocktails over beer, check out Santé Wine Bar & Market, Dark Moon (the after-hours cocktail bar inside White Moon) or The Cut Cocktail Lounge – both perfect choices for great drinks and welcoming environments with locals happy to provide you with even more suggestions for the area.

There are plenty of dining options around town, so find the one that best fits your palate. 

For those who aren’t afraid of a cold-weather adventure, consider getting outside to explore the best of the winter mountain views. Groups, couples, and families can enjoy wintertime hiking, fly fishing, and much more. For something a little more relaxing, take some time enjoying peaceful forest therapy by experiencing Shinrin-Yoku with Pinnacle Forest Therapy. Shinrin-Yoku is a Japanese health practice that involves connecting with the restorative power of nature — and Jackson County has two certified forest therapy trails to practice it on, at Pinnacle Park and along the paved, all-accessible Jackson County Greenway.

Trail tip: Before you head out, check current trail conditions and Blue Ridge Parkway road closures.

Rest Up

Begin planning your escape to Jackson County by selecting from various lodging options. Ranging from spacious cabins and cottages to comfy hotels and B&Bs — including the grand old porch of the Balsam Mountain Inn — there is sure to be one cozy enough to work for your winter mountain getaway.

Cozy Up in Cashiers

Out and About

During the holidays, start a new tradition and bring your family along to choose and cut your own tree! Due to the location, range of elevation, excellent soil and rainfall, Jackson County is home to the southern-most natural stand of Fraser fir in the world. Researchers have even shown that the genetics recovered from this southern stand produce some of the fastest-growing, most aesthetically pleasing Christmas trees. Jackson County has several nostalgic choose and cut tree places, many of which are family-owned.

Keep your holiday spirit bright with our annual Cashiers Christmas Parade, and check our event calendar for this year’s date!

Hit the slopes at Sapphire Valley Resort with skiing and snowboarding on the 1,600-foot main run with a vertical drop of 200 feet. Ideal for a day of family fun, take a lesson from the mountain’s professional instructors, and save money with rentals included in lift ticket prices. Sapphire Valley Resort also features Frozen Falls Tube Park, where tubers can slide down the 500-foot run with a vertical drop of 60 feet, and the moving sidewalk makes it easy to get to the top for another ride down. Snow-seekers can also enjoy full-service amenities now offered at Sapphire Valley Resort, making it easier than ever to plan a day on the slopes.

Continuing the fun at Sapphire Valley Resort, the always-popular Outhouse Races are held every winter, providing thrills for both participants and spectators. Attendees cheer on teams as two people push homemade outhouses secured to a set of skis down the race track while a third team member holds on for one wild ride. Teams with outhouses, both simple and elaborate, are welcome to enter, as long as they follow a short list of rules for the competitive event.

Explore the unique stores Cashiers has to offer, and walk along 107 North and South to the boutiques located near the Village Green and Cashiers Crossroads to grab those last-minute gifts — single-origin bonbons from Indigenous Chocolate and the curated gifts and wine at Village Pantry of Cashiers among them.

Winter is a great time of year to enjoy fishing in the crystal-clear streams of the Great Smoky Mountains, so look into hiring one of the many local premier guide services to coordinate a fly fishing excursion. The area hosts the most picturesque trout waters east of the Mississippi River. With a large concentration of rainbow, brown and brook trout, the opportunity exists daily to achieve the Tuckasegee fly fishing grand slam – catching all three species of trout in the same day.

Bundle up and head outdoors for a one-of-a-kind experience at Whitewater Falls, one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rockies at nearly 400 feet. This natural beauty is sure to be stunning in the winter months – you might even glimpse a few icicles!

If you’re visiting in late winter, you might be lucky enough to catch the Shadow of the Bear, a naturally occurring phenomenon that makes an appearance for just 30 minutes on sunny late afternoons. It starts with a small dark shadow at the bottom of the valley and grows until it finally evolves into the bear that appears to be walking along the treetops below.

Comfort Food (And Drinks)

For lunch, Duck Hawk Provisions pairs slow-smoked barbecue with fresh espresso and a wine bar under one roof, and Village Pantry of Cashiers does soups and sandwiches to eat in or take back to the cabin. Up in Sapphire, The FIX is open seven days a week year-round and Casa Amigos Bar & Grill is the lively local hangout after a day on the slopes.

Close out your chilly evening with a dinner at The Orchard, which is set in a 100-year-old farmhouse. With a dining ambiance reflecting rustic elegance with mountain charm, this restaurant features several historical artifacts on display. From trout almandine to bacon-wrapped filet and lamb chops flambeau, The Orchard’s extensive menu touches on American cuisine with a Southern flavor. Pair any dish with a bottle from their cellar, which heavily focuses on New World and California wine regions. Note that a few Cashiers favorites, including Cornucopia and Canyon Kitchen, close for the winter, while The Library Kitchen + Bar now stays open through the season. End the night with a cocktail at the Hotel Cashiers Lobby Bar & Lounge.

Check out the full lineup of dining offerings in Cashiers to find the perfect winter meal for your visit.

Rest Up

Be sure to book a room in one of the many lodging options in Jackson County for your winter getaway — Hotel Cashiers and High Hampton both make a cozy base on the Plateau — and enjoy lower rates that can be found throughout the winter season.