For a summer trip to the Western NC mountains , I'm debating on either going to Brevard or Highlands. I've already been to the Smoky Mountains ( Gatlinburg), been to the North Georgia Mountains, been to Asheville, and been up to the Blowing Rock area, and have already seen most of the sites along the Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville and the Boone/Blowing Rock area. I wanna go some place new. I've never been to highlands or brevard or that area around there. I have also not really traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Asheville. I def want to visit the Highlands area even I don't stay there. I haven't seen Chimney Rock or the Cataloochee section of the Smoky Mountains NP. Whiteside Mountain, Gorges SP, and Caesars Head and Table Rock nearby in SC also look interesting. We do some hiking but not a lot. And just like to see the sights. My only concern about Highlands is the restaurants. They sound high dollar. We don't goto a sandwich shop for dinner but not into high dollar places either. Highlands sounds more tourist oriented though than Brevard. Plus, i like the fact it is high elevation, it probably does not get that hot in the summer. Another thing to consider is convenience to the sights I'm interested in seeing. Any suggestions?
Thanks

Brevard has a wonderful summer music camp/program. We haven't been to Highlands for a long time, but for us in Charlotte/east, it is more remote.
I think Brevard is more accessible to more things that Highlands.

Either will work. Brevard's restaurants can be just as expensive as Highlands so I don't know where that is coming from. As I posted on another thread, there are expensive restaurants in both, moderate restaurants in both and grocery stores to buy food for picnics. Brevard is probably as cool in the summer as Highlands. Either will work but based on your previous reservations about Highlands, go to Brevard and visit Highlands on a day trip.

I agree with the above except for the temperatures. Highlands is ~2000 feet higher, so it is going to be cooler on the average by about 10 degrees.

Even in the hottest months, the average high is below 80 with average night lows below 60.

This is either good or bad, depending on what you want to do.

Thanks-

I might actually be leaning towards Highlands more, although its not close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. What would be the closest access to the Blue Ridge Parkway from Highlands? How do the two towns compare? Size? Walkability? Shops? We liked Blowing Rock a lot. Quaint , small, but still enough restaurants and shops for tourists. I kinda get the feeling that Brevard is kind of more a college/working town versus Highlands, which is more of a tourist/retirement town. However, on the plus side, Brevard is closer to some of the things I want to see. I'm looking to use either town as a base for a week , so Im looking for somewhere where we won't run out of things to do or have restaurants to choose from.

Where are you coming from?
Brevard is a thriving music center in the summer with an incredible program of world class artists as well as their music camp participants. Highlands is a high end summer community. It is also pretty remote--at least from Charlotte when we have gone. From Georgia, it isn't "remote". lOL
I think you don't have Brevard quite pegged correctly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevard_Music_Center

"I kinda get the feeling that Brevard is kind of more a college/working town versus Highlands, which is more of a tourist/retirement town"

We're still wondering where you come up with these conclusions - and why nothing we say deter you from your preconceived ideas. Virtually all of north Georgia, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina is "tourist/retirement" areas. Half of the state of Florida live there in the summer (only a slight exaggeration). I can't think of a single town - Highlands, included - that doesn't have a mix of restaurants including high end, moderate and inexpensive.

" I'm looking to use either town as a base for a week "
If you are using a town for a base for a week, EITHER one works. NEITHER is too remote and BOTH can be used as a base to see it and all the other towns/places you've mentioned.

Just pick one. Based on your previous posts, I'd pick Brevard.

I retired to NC from L.A. 4 years ago. While our house was being built (Asheville area) we rented in Brevard for 5 months. I do agree that the "vibe" of Brevard is more local residents than Highlands. Maybe one of the things on your list of places to go is Dupont Forest. We too are walkers in the woods not hikers and Dupont is so fabulous that we have driven to Dupont, nearby Brevard, several times. What a gem of a place. Also in Brevard immediate area is the Cradle of Forestry, the first forestry school in the US. Also been to it several times walking it's paths and seeing the exhibits.
Once we did a day trip to Highlands. The town itself is lovely, definitely high end and definitely struck me as primarily touristed. We walked the heart of Highlands and were struck by the high cost shops and preponderance of reasonably priced restaurants. Yes there were some but were greatly overshadowed by the "nicer" ones. We didn't get to drive around much to explore outside of the heart of downtown. As I recall, it's further west and not convenient to Brevard but then again I'm geographically challenged. If you plan to base in either and also see the other area then I'm sure you've done your map homework.
Have walked in Caesar's Head state park and it was lovely. We plan to do it again but in a better season than winter which is when we did it from Brevard. Pretty convenient from there as I recall.
I must say that Highlands is a prettier town and I attribute that to what I said before; it seems more touristed and upscale. It definitely is a higher income resident population judging by the homes we saw and have heard from Asheville residents here longer than us.
One more thought, Brevard is in Transylvania County,which is called Land of Waterfalls. So staying in Brevard puts you close to them. One is in Brevard on the way to

Hmmm........its really a tough call. I like the sound of Highlands better because its seems more of a town like Blowing Rock. Also, a little bit of remoteness would be nice. Brevard seems like a nice place too, but possibly more of a distant suburb of Asheville along with Pisgah Forest.

"Also, a little bit of remoteness would be nice.

Both are equally "remote" and both are equally accessible. it just depends on where you are coming from. Highlands is the lesser remote one if you are coming from Atlanta. Only about 15 miles off a 4 lane highway.

" Brevard seems like a nice place too, but possibly more of a distant suburb of Asheville along with Pisgah Forest."

Where do you get this stuff? Brevard a suburb of Asheville? How/why do you reach that conclusion? Brevard is no more a suburb of Asheville than Highlands is.

You took the words out of my mouth!! Where are you getting this stuff!! Have you looked at a map for that "suburb"!!
Amazing.
As for "authentic", although the word hasn't come up, it would be Brevard
What's with Blowing Rock--all these mountain towns have changed over the years as they are "discovered" for their various charm.
And the lower Pisgah is just wonderful--do you fly fish?

And by "remote" I meant distance for me from Charlotte--not being uncrowded or hard to get to, as Starrs points out--it's not hard either way. Highlands is further for ME--I don't know about the OP.

Well maybe not a "suburb". But its one of the string of towns in the French Broad Valley, which include Asheville, Hendersonville, Pisgah Forest, Brevard. But, looking the geography, Brevard is in the river valley as Asheville and Highlands is on a mountain plateau.

You reach amazing conclusions after looking at maps.
It will be interesting to see your thoughts after you actually visit.

Enjoy your trip!

Hilarious. can't wait for what he thinks when he drives it!! ;o)

Route 280 to Brevard from I-26 is a four lane highway. Its a straight highway for the most part. I even looked it up on Google Earth. Unless there's a lot of stoplights, I don't see how Brevard is not easily accessed from Asheville. From the nearest highway (Route 441) to Highlands, Route 64 is a two lane winding road between the mountains.

asdaven, we look forward to your trip report.

WHO said it isn't easily accessed?!! LOL

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...m#last-comment

asdaven, whatever conclusions you have reached by looking at maps is true. Nothing anyone has posted about Brevard or Highlands on these two threads is accurate. Ignore any input that has been given up till now. Only YOU know the real layout of Brevard/Highlands in western NC. Pick one. Book your place to stay. I look forward to your trip report as you describe your impressions of the area - after you've actually been there.