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More Knoxville Magazine - June/July 2009

• From the editor: June issue of Knoxville Magazine
• UT football coach Lane Kiffin and his family get settled in Knoxville
• Luxury Inn Blackberry Farm gets back to its roots

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High Hampton Inn celebrates its 87th season this year, but one experience at this time-honored resort transcends guests to an ageless period of sweet remembrances. As guests drive up to this landmark on 1,400 acres of natural beauty in Cashiers, NC simplicity infused with luxury becomes a way of life. A former respite and summer vacation spot for Lowcountry Carolinians, High Hampton Inn has retained its culture as a place where travelers come seeking refuge from society's modern transformation, and families spend generations introducing new members to the nostalgia and return year after year to find the same gentle spirit and welcome nature they've become accustomed.

In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mother Nature is both artist and hostess. A 35-acre lake, cool mountain streams, Rock Mountain and over 150 species of birds are samples of her craftsmanship. Hike an hour and a half up to the Chimney Tops or lace up and head out on the property's numerous hiking trails, guided or self-guided. Days are spent at leisure. Swim, sail, canoe, play croquet or bocce ball or just sit a spell with a good book.

The Cashiers Valley Book Club even meets every fourth Thursday during the summer and invites guests to join. For ultimate pampering and relaxation that whispers summertime, delve into a Cucumber Mint Body Wrap or Alpha Hydroxy Fruit Pulp Facial at the High Hampton Health Club and Spa. For guests looking for more activity, there's pilates, fly fishing, tennis or a round on the 18-hole golf course designed by George Cobb who remarked, "I have yet to see a course - designed by me or others - with greater natural beauty or one more enjoyable to play." The par 3, 137-yard eighth hole, positioned on a peninsula where the green juts out into the lake just below the imposing rock-face mountain, gained attention when Golf Digest named it "One of America's Great Golf Holes."

While the High Hampton Inn is reminiscent of summer camp, modern amenities and initiatives freshen and maintain the luxurious standards the inn has always aspired to. In addition to wildflower and artist workshops, a new Naturalist Program for adults is a hands-on approach to learning and appreciating the unique and diverse biological treasures, preserved and rooted in the inn's history. And with history comes the property's prized Halsted Dahlia Gardens. Cultivated over 100 years ago by Caroline Hampton Halsted and her husband, guests can borrow scissors and vases to cut fresh blooms to enjoy in their rooms. Kids are able to get involved with "Let's Get Cooking" by watering and weeding the vegetable garden, learning more about farm-to-table practices, while the fun whimsy of teens is catered to with day trips to Little Sliding Rock and planned field day games and activities.

And no holiday or special occasion passes without spectacular revelry and celebration. The annual Independence Day Picnic, Thanksgiving House Party and the Teddy Bear Picnic with donkey cart rides, nature walks, pajama parties and cookouts are traditions families plan around year after year.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and among Historic Hotels of America National Trust for Historic Preservation, the inn transitions to true mountain rustic elegance and an atmosphere of stone and wood on the inside, including the focal point, a magnificent four-sided stone fireplace - the continued vision the Hampton family began over 170 years ago. The 117-room estate has the inn, cottages and cabins, both refined and well-appointed yet a testament to their commitment to relaxation and leisure with no telephones, televisions, or computers in the rooms. Whether it's crickets chirping or wafts of mountain breezes, the only sound you'll hear is nature's voice.

There's still a taste of an aristocratic lifestyle at High Hampton Inn. The comfort and ruff-hewn days spent outdoors still mean evenings are special. Jackets and ties are still dinner attire in The Dining Room. However, new Executive Chef Sean Ruddy is now introducing two casual themed dinners each week. A ragin' Cajun seafood boil on Mondays and on Thursdays, a Southern Smokehouse night of bar-b-que, ribs, chicken and all the Southern sides. But traditional Hampton fare will always be their famous fried chicken and fresh caught mountain trout with homemade desserts, also accompanied with afternoon tea each day from 4-5pm.

A trip to High Hampton Inn is synonymous with lazy days, family fun, romance and "Into the Woods." It's a destination that represents nature, cleansing the soul and doling out a myriad of inspirations for living a simpler lifestyle. Just like when you returned from summer camp, all you could think about were the friends you made, the good times you had and the time you spent feeling completely content. Just like summer camp all you wanted to think about was when you would return to unite once again with the same gentle spirit and welcome nature that kept you going back. highhamptoninn.com or call toll-free at 1.800.334.2551.

Tipi Overnight at Buckberry Lodge: Experience a modern day Pow Wow in a Native American tipi on the grounds of Buckberry Lodge, one of Tennessee 's only five AAA Four Diamond Award winners. Nestled by a gargling mountain stream, firepits, Adirondack chairs and an outdoor pavilion a half mile down the mountain from the main lodge, 20 adults can share a unique summertime variation from other luxury mountain accommodations. buckberrylodge.com

Wahoo Zip Lines: An adventure that started in Costa Rica so biologists could study and discover wildlife at the tops of trees has now become an adrenaline rush for those seeking the thrill of zipping through the wilderness. Wahoo Zip Lines in Sevierville, TN is the largest zipline and canopy tour in North America. Zip through more than two miles of cable divided into six signature lines that hover anywhere from 40 to 250 feet in the air. It's an experience in eco-tourism that leaves tourists with panoramic breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains while sharing a unique excursion with indigenous wildlife. Wahooziplines.com

Raft N' Rail: Enjoy the best of both worlds and venture through the Smokies by land and water. Wildwater Ltd.'s "Raft n' Rail" excursion leaves Bryson City , NC and takes you along 22 miles of scenic beauty into the foothills of the Smokies and up the Nantahala River Gorge. At the top-of-the-line hop in a raft for a 2-hour whitewater trip down 8 miles of the Nantahala River. Picnic style lunches, complimentary hot beverages, changing rooms with hot showers and transportation back to the depot are all a part of an exciting day. April through October Wildwaterrafting.com

Land Rover Experience Driving School: Navigate your way around Biltmore Estate behind the wheel of a Land Rover. Spend the day honing your driving skills on the specially designed off-road course with an experienced instructor and exploring parts of the property and the beautiful Pisgah National Forest. Start with the Land Rover Experience Driving School before heading out for a 2-hour trail ride. Land Rover Packages are also available for guests to enjoy a weekend on the estate. For reservations call 800-411-3812 or visit biltmore.com

The John C. Campbell Folk School: It's art in the woods for adults eager to experience a creative learning vacation. The 80-year-old Folk School in Brasstown, NC sits on 300 acres and offers 800 weeklong or weekend classes year-round in craft, art, music, dance, cooking, gardening, nature studies, photography and writing. The Craft Shop carries juried works from over 300 artists. Seek inspiration from nature's beauty along one of the many walking trails, including Rivercane Walk scattered with art honoring the area's Cherokee Indian heritage. folkschool.org

The Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness: Once owned by Bowater Southern Paper Corp., the state purchased the 1,133-acre natural area in 1996 located adjacent to the Bridgestone Firestone Centennial Wilderness in White County , TN. The 8-mile round trip hike to Virgin Falls is spectacular for waterfall lovers with three waterfalls flowing into and out of caves and one spilling over a 35-foot ledge. The Caney Fork River runs through the wilderness and provides great areas for camping. The Caney Fork Overlook is also a breathtaking view, overlooking the gorge 900 ft. below. The Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness

Slow Joe's Riverside Cafe: After a day in the woods, rafting or kayaking, order up THE Barbeque Sandwich, Della's Hummus Sandwich, Becki's Pasta Salad or Joe's Chili Nachos. noc.com

River's End: Also at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, where "every seat is a river seat." Signature dishes like creole trout, the Hungry Hiker burger and Sherpas, named after famous mountaineers, are favorites on the new Summer menu. noc.com

Green River Bar-B-Que: It's the favorite spot in Saluda , NC after a day on the challenging Green River or hiking to sit on the screened porch and savor some of the South's most authentic bar-b-que, chicken, ribs and smoked turkey. The homemade sides are just as down home, including tomato pie, sweet potato fries, fried corn on the cob, Vidalia onion slaw and black-eyed pea salad. Bring your four-legged best friend, too, and sit in the "Barking Lot." greenriverbbq.com

Toccoa Riverside Restaurant: It's THE place for fresh North Georgia rainbow trout coupled with a spectacular view alongside the Toccoa River in Blue Ridge , Georgia . Steaks, ribs, chicken and their claim of the "best salad bar in the mountains" top the menu items. toccoa riverside