Group Activities in Highlands, NC

Play a scenic mountain course where elevated greens, sweeping views, and tree-lined fairways offer a challenging round in a stunning setting. Whether you’re working on your short game or just soaking in the beauty, it’s always time well spent.

Tucked away in the luxury country inn, this intimate escape blends rustic charm with rejuvenating care exclusively for guests. Unwind with nature-inspired treatments and gentle aromas that create an atmosphere of total calm and quiet indulgence.

Let go of tension in a luxurious European-style sanctuary that combines natural elements with world-class wellness. From deep-tissue massages to hydrotherapy and restorative facials, every detail is designed to soothe body and spirit.

Your team will enjoy this fun and relaxing tasting experience guided by one of our expert bartenders. Discussions go over the differences between each flight, how they are made, histories, tasting notes, and more. 

Our sommelier will guide guests through an interactive wine tasting. Take a vino sensory journey—from the initial appearance to the final sip—tasting five or more wines. Enhance this event with hors d’oeuvres. 

Inspire and challenge your team with Haake Scheffer’s Wine Blending Experience. Participants will blend a wine, design a label, create a story, determine the target market, and pitch the brand. 

Private cooking classes at The Barn offer a unique and festive outing for your small group. This rustic, authentically Southern spot oozes gracious hospitality, beauty, and plenty of old-fashioned charm. 

Grab up to seven of your favorite people to experience an afternoon of creativity at The Bascom. Create a mug, bowl, bracelet, or even a pendant to wear. Wine and beer are provided.

Enjoy pottery making or art lessons by appointment at The Bascom’s Studio Barn. Choose from pre-made bisque ware such as wine chillers and serving trays—or create your own. Wine is provided.

Offered at The Bascom Center, a Center for the Visual Arts. Enjoy an afternoon in the Ceramics Barn. Take turns on the turning wheel to create a wonderful ceramic piece. This is a fun, safe way to work as a team. 

Enjoy a relaxed creative experience with a professional art instructor who brings all the supplies and guides your group through a custom painting session with a range of design options.

Bond with a beat in this energizing group session led by a professional instructor. Learn and play dynamic rhythms together using provided hand drums. No experience is needed. Just bring a good sense of fun.

Work together and shake things up with an interactive mixology experience! Our expert bartender will demonstrate how to balance flavor, color and ingredients to produce the perfect blend. 

Offered on-site at Old Edwards, this class teaches the basics of tying flies relevant to fishing in western North Carolina, including how materials work together and techniques to tie sustainable flies.

Offered within walking distance of Old Edwards at Harris Lake, each clinic covers an intro to tackle—including fly rods, reels, line, leader, and ‘tippet’—as well as three knots you need to know. 

Get to know each member of your team through friendly competition or wind down after a day of meetings with casual group fun. Enjoy volleyball, cornhole, bocce, badminton, horseshoes, and even karaoke on site.

Your team will enjoy an introduction to bee life with Killer Bees Honey’s tour. The experience includes discussion, hive inspection with full bee suit, honey and food pairing lunch, and a souvenir bottle of honey.

Blue Star Ranch’s Group Equine Experience Package includes a meet and greet with a herd of eight horses, including two petite mini horses and an equine demonstration and coaching experience with Dr. Ring.

This trip consists of two short hikes totaling almost four miles—one to see the enormous Bob Padgett poplar in Horse Cove near Highlands, and another up the west fork of the famous Chattooga River. 

This four-mile round trip hike takes place on one of western North Carolina’s most spectacular and historically significant trails. Hikers will learn about the 18th-century artist and naturalist William Bartram.

Visit some of the beautiful waterfalls of Gorges State Park and learn why this area lays claim to such a unique micro-environment. At approximately 40 minutes from Old Edwards, it’s an easy day trip.

Visit some of the waterfalls of Panthertown Valley and learn why this area is known as the Yosemite of the East. Trails are approximately a one-hour drive from Old Edwards.

Carpe Diem Farms creates meaningful equine experiences, offering participants the opportunity to ‘whisper’ to horses. Arrowmont Stables offers trail horseback riding for groups. 

Highland Excursion will take you on a backroad rainforest eco tour through the Nantahala Temperate Rainforest. This adventure takes you to amazing vistas of the surrounding mountains and local waterfalls.

This easy and leisurely four-mile paddle begins on the Cullasaja River between Highlands and Franklin. The scenery along the Cullasaja is outstanding, as is the birding and plant life. 

Picture your team relaxing on a serene excursion with Captain Mark’s Lake Glenville Waterfall Boat Tour. With 26-miles of shoreline and four waterfalls, there is plenty to see and enjoy throughout the experience.

Take a waterfall-focused road trip, drive a scenic byway, or tour the Blue Ridge Parkway. No matter what your motivation or your destination, it’s a most enjoyable way to spend the day. 

Split into teams, each accompanied by a facilitator and given a folder of clues, trivia questions, and other pertinent information. Every time your team completes an activity, you get the clue for the next one.

Take your group on a guided mountain excursion to The Chinquapin Adventure—A private eco preserve with breathtaking waterfalls and rare f lora and fauna—exclusive to Old Edwards guests. 

Whether you just want to enjoy some outdoor adventures together or grow your team with an objective-based, adventure-filled agenda, Highlands Aerial Park can help craft your perfect group outing. 

Take a lazy hour tubing adventure down the French Broad River at a location that is a one hour drive from Old Edwards. Kids and adults of all ages enjoy time on this beautiful river. 

Learn the ancient sport of Falconry with Curtis Wright Outfitters. Handle the raptor with a licensed falconer and experience the exhilaration of having this magnificent bird perch on their gloved fist. 

Highlands is fly-fishing country. Let one of our local outfitters show your team the ins and outs. Choose a fly-fishing trip, casting clinic, or fly-tying lesson—with optional picnic with wine.

This guided canoe trip balances nature observation with the quiet relaxation of a morning canoe outing. Each canoe trip includes all paddling gear, a river shuttle, and guide service.

Your team can have the unique experience of target practice on an outdoor shooting range in Highlands. Test your accuracy with stationary and moving targets using provided handguns, shotguns and carbine rifles.