Baldy and I had a wonderful time at Half Mile Farm in Highlands, North Carolina this past weekend! It was such a lovely and relaxing weekend in an idyllic setting and we thoroughly enjoyed every second we were there! We made new friends, enjoyed delicious food and craft cocktails, did a pottery painting workshop, hiked and made great memories!

As you drive up the winding driveway toward Half Mile Farm, there is an energy that begins to take over your body. It’s an energy that tells you to relax, settle in and let the weekend unfold.

My favorite thing about the weekend was having time to spend with Baldy! We are so busy in our lives and so often we don’t prioritize spending time together! We were able to relax, enjoy the scenery, get to know new friends and laugh! I think the farm inspires all the important things in life!

Everywhere you look at Half Mile Farm, you see something beautiful! The surrounding area is filled with forest and waterfalls and sitting right in the middle, is the inn with it’s meticulously landscaped gardens! I particularly loved the espaliered crab apples that were trained to grow on a trellis. The red maple in the middle picture reminded me of the one in our front yard and the beautiful fountain greeted us each time we walked into the inn. I loved being surrounded by so much beauty!

This is the view from the front of Half Mile Farm! There are rocking chairs on the porch, a pond with canoes and a fire pit for chilly evenings!

One very important reason to schedule another trip to Half Mile Farm when the weather gets a little warmer is having the opportunity to sit by this beautiful pool, look at at the mountains, and read a book while sipping a craft cocktail.

When we checked into the inn, we were greeted with friendly smiles and a special glass bubbly that was so refreshing after a long drive. We knew right away that it was going to be a great weekend!

Another one of the highlights of our stay was participating in the pottery painting workshop hosted by Haand Pottery! As you know, I’m obsessed with the hand crafted pottery from Haand and I was so excited to get my creative juices flowing and paint my own bowl.

At the workshop, each guest was given a bowl to paint and the bowls were taken back to Burlington to be fired and then will be mailed back to the guests as a memento of their trip!

I enjoyed getting to know the other guests and was so amazed how artistic everyone was! Of course, no two bowls were alike and they were all a reflection of the personalities of the people painting them!

The workshop was such a hit that Haand is already planning another one! Be sure to look at the Half Mile Farm website to find out more! They also host cooking classes as well as craft cocktail classes…yet another reason to go back!

The images above and below were taken by Molly Harris. She is such a talented photographer and it was a pleasure to meet her! Be sure to check out and follow her on Instagram!

Saturday morning, I got up early and went for a hike! I wanted to explore the woods and was hoping to see a waterfall! As I walked through the forest, I could ear the birds chirping, the water rushing along, and the breeze blowing through the trees! I’m so happy I decided to go and I’m sure that my breakfast was even more delicious because I worked up an appetite on the hike!

The trails were well marked and easy to walk on…I felt very safe and truly in awe of the natural beauty!

I was on a little bridge looking out over this stream and couldn’t figure out how in the world this bench was placed where it is…maybe there is a secret trail to get to it.

And now…let’s talk about the food! I have eaten some pretty fabulous meals in my life and the food at Half Mile Farm and also in Highlands was some of the best I’ve ever eaten!

Normally, I’m not much of a breakfast girl or a cocktail drinker, but I definitely made an exception on this trip! Breakfast is included every morning and is always two courses…one savory and one sweet! The bacon was my favorite part and I loved it combined with maple syrup!

The cocktail menu was one of the most imaginative and creative I’ve ever seen! As I said, I’m not much of a cocktail drinker, but definitely made an exception! I’m now spoiled forever and not sure that I’ll ever have a cocktail anywhere else…other than a margarita!

This quaint little herb garden was one of the first things I spotted as we pulled into the farm. It has a split rail fence with vertical sticks (limbs) decoratively placed along the split logs. Since it’s a little cooler in the mountains, daffodils were still blooming and a few other plants were beginning to pop out of the ground! The little bench would be a perfect place to sit in the mornings with a cup of coffee and dream about the day ahead!

Baldy and I loved our stay at Half Mile Farm and so enjoyed the little town of Highlands! We made memories that will last a lifetime and will be going back to visit as often as possible! If you’re planning a mountain getaway, this is definitely the place to go! I didn’t have time to visit the spa, but it’s on my list for the next trip!

Since the weather was cooler, I packed lots of sweaters, jeans and sneakers to walk around in. Everyone was dressed nicely, but casually and my outfit was perfect…I’ve linked the exact pieces below!

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