This beautiful inn was built in 1910 - fabulous rooms with their own bathrooms. Wonderful wine and hors d'ouvres every night at 5:30, delicious breakfast spreads every morning. They even made all of our dinner reservations wherever we wanted to eat. Hospitality plus! I will definitely go back - maybe even send my daughter there on her honeymoon! A+++

Highlands is a wonderful weekend getaway - wonderful shopping and restaurants, and our favorite place to stay is the 4 1/2 Street Inn. Rick and Helene offer such a warm welcome, great wine and cheese time to mingle with the other guests before going out to dinner, as well as freshly baked cookies in the afternoon and a delicious breakfast in the morning.
Each room is unique but very comfortable - some even have fireplaces. The wrap around porch is a great spot to curl up with a book. We feel so lucky to have this only 2 1/2 hours from home!

4 ½ Street Inn sits on a beautiful property in Highlands, NC. Graceful hemlocks and aromatic white pines in tranquil landscape ensure privacy and provide a peaceful setting. The Inn is a romantic house filled with grace: an inviting entry hall with chocolates and a friend filled ledger, a sitting room with books, games and musical instruments, the aroma of fresh baked cookies in a basket for your delight, the sounds of people sharing stories and laughter over wine and cheese in the afternoon on the deck overlooking green quietude.

These were all important to our experience, but the rare grace was our gracious hosts. Rick and Helene are unique, and the main reason the 4 ½ St Inn is distinctive; they are a dear couple, and complete individuals comfortable within themselves. They put all their guests at ease. In a short time over wine and cheese perfect strangers are perfectly comfortable and conversing like old friends. Rick and Helene are welcoming hosts who pull down barriers of silence and open opportunities for sharing. In addition, they help steer you to sites in town and hiking trails you might enjoy. The Inn is an easy walk to downtown shops and a quick drive to many fine restaurants.

I can not fail to mention Jake, the Labrador Shepherd mix; he is a perfectly mannered greeter and happy to be petted. He watches over the large yard and helps those who have left their pets behind for the weekend feel more at home.

From Helene’s gourmet breakfast to start the day, to the wine and cheese party in the afternoon before a delicious dinner at one of Highlands’s restaurants, there is plenty of time to explore the mountains; and there is plenty of private time to enjoy your cozy room at the end of a stimulating day.

We plan to return to the 4 ½ Street Inn in the near future. I recommend this Inn to anyone who enjoys a peaceful environment and meeting new found friends.

Louellen Vernon-White
Yanceyville, NC
October 2011

We stayed at the 4 1/2 Street Inn for two nights in September. We enjoyed our stay there very much and would definitely stay there again. The Inn has charm and comfort and the owners are warm and welcoming. If you like B & Bs, you'll love this place!! Positives: It has a wonderful wrap-around porch with lots of rocking chairs. The grounds are immaculate and rooms perfectly clean. Close to town. Breakfast is very good. Best to eat outside on patio. Complimentary wine and hor dourves around 5pm. Homemade cookies. Negatives: Not really any except would recommend staying on the second or third floors because the first floor can be noisy and privacy can be an issue with the room next to the front porch.