The Bascom supplies a substantial cultural counterpoint. Its six-acre campus occupies a former horse farm and combines exhibitions, education and outdoor sculpture. The Will Henry Stevens covered bridge and Dave Drake Studio Barn make the buildings part of the visit. Pottery classes require checking the schedule and booking an available place; entering the campus does not automatically include a workshop.
Open gardens, a closed Nature Center
The Botanical Gardens at Highlands Biological Station invite closer attention to the region's plants. The station is affiliated with Western Carolina University, and its outdoor gardens are open from dawn to dusk. The north garden entrance is at 111 Lower Lake Road, a different address from the station's administration and Nature Center.
One operational change is essential for fall 2026: the Nature Center announced a renovation closure from August 16 through the end of the year. Gardens and outdoor grounds remain open. Reopening in the new year is a plan, not a confirmed event. The botanical walk therefore remains a valid part of a fall itinerary, while access to the indoor exhibits should not be promised.
Two very different ways to see the mountains
Dry Falls, along US 64 west of Highlands, offers an accessible viewing platform and a lower route reached by steps. The Forest Service describes a 75-foot waterfall. Walking behind the falling water depends on the lower trail being open; the accessibility of the overlook does not extend to the entire route.
The official page retained a notice closing the lower section September 14–18, 2026. Those dates had passed by this edition's September 26 research cutoff. An expired notice proves neither an ongoing closure nor a confirmed reopening. Check current access before making the passage behind the falls the centerpiece of the outing.
Whiteside Mountain, between Highlands and Cashiers, deserves a morning with more room in the schedule. Its two-mile loop is rated “more difficult” by the Forest Service. The mileage sounds modest, but the climb and terrain make this a hike rather than a drive-up viewpoint.
A practical approach is to give hiking its own outing, pair the gardens with art on another day, and fit Dry Falls into a journey along US 64. This is a planning suggestion, subject to weather and access, rather than a fixed promise of what every visitor will be able to do. It leaves enough flexibility to enjoy Highlands without making the whole trip depend on one trail.
Sources
- Our Campus - The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts
- Getting Here - Highlands Biological Station
- Letting the Light Back In - Highlands Biological Station
- National Forests in North Carolina | Dry Falls | Forest Service
- National Forests in North Carolina | Whiteside Mountain | Forest Service
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Recommended options
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A visual arts center on a six-acre former horse farm, combining exhibitions, education and outdoor sculpture. Galleries, pottery studios and distinctive campus buildings give a Highlands mountain weekend a substantial cultural dimension.
Highlands Biological Station and Botanical Gardens
Garden entrance: 111 Lower Lake Road, Highlands, NC 28741
A Western Carolina University biological station with public gardens devoted to regional plants. The outdoor gardens remain available in late 2026 while the Nature Center is closed for renovation, with its reopening still a future plan.
A 75-foot waterfall in Nantahala National Forest with an accessible overlook and a stepped lower trail. Walking behind the water depends on current trail conditions and official access notices, which should be checked before visiting.
Whiteside Mountain
Trailhead on Whiteside Mountain Road, south of US 64 between Highlands and Cashiers, NC
A Nantahala National Forest mountain with a two-mile loop and elevated views. The Forest Service rates the trail “more difficult,” making it a hike that requires more time and effort than a roadside viewpoint.
Sources & references
These independent references add context or corroborate key facts used in this guide. Restaurant websites are kept on the business profiles rather than repeated here. Current information can change after the access date shown below.
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Home - The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts ↗
Primary source
www.thebascom.org · Accessed September 26, 2026
MASKAY NC 2026 · shared evidence for ES and EN; documentary verification.
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Our Campus - The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts ↗
Primary source
www.thebascom.org · Accessed September 26, 2026
MASKAY NC 2026 · shared evidence for ES and EN; documentary verification.
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Home - Highlands Biological Station ↗
Primary source
highlandsbiological.org · Accessed September 26, 2026
MASKAY NC 2026 · shared evidence for ES and EN; documentary verification.
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Getting Here - Highlands Biological Station ↗
Primary source
highlandsbiological.org · Accessed September 26, 2026
MASKAY NC 2026 · shared evidence for ES and EN; documentary verification.
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Letting the Light Back In - Highlands Biological Station ↗
Primary source
highlandsbiological.org · Accessed September 26, 2026
MASKAY NC 2026 · shared evidence for ES and EN; documentary verification.
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Meet Our Staff - Highlands Biological Station ↗
Primary source
highlandsbiological.org · Accessed September 26, 2026
MASKAY NC 2026 · shared evidence for ES and EN; documentary verification.
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National Forests in North Carolina | Dry Falls | Forest Service ↗
Primary source
www.fs.usda.gov · Accessed September 26, 2026
MASKAY NC 2026 · shared evidence for ES and EN; documentary verification.
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National Forests in North Carolina | Whiteside Mountain | Forest Service ↗
Primary source
www.fs.usda.gov · Accessed September 26, 2026
MASKAY NC 2026 · shared evidence for ES and EN; documentary verification.