Top Things to do in North Carolina Mountains
Top Hotels in North Carolina Mountains
- 1. Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
- 2. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Asheville Downtown, an IHG Hotel
- 3. Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville Biltmore Area
- 4. Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville Biltmore Village
- 5. Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
- 6. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Asheville Downtown Tunnel Road, NC
- 7. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Asheville Westgate, NC
- 8. Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
- 9. Courtyard by Marriott Asheville Biltmore Village
- 10. Best Western Asheville Tunnel Road
10 Ski & Snowboard Areas in North Carolina Mountains That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in North Carolina Mountains, United States including Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center, The Sledding Hill, Appalachian Ski Mtn., Cataloochee Ski Area, Tube World, Beech Mountain, Appalachian Resort, Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, Sapphire Valley Ski Resort, Sugar Mountain Resort.
Restaurants in North Carolina Mountains
1. Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 134 reviews
We are a family fun center that has trout fishing, gem mining, & "summer tubing" in the spring and summer, and ice skating and snow tubing during the fall and winter.
Reviewed By khgatewood - Albany, United States
Summer Tubing Fun! 9 year old and 6 year old loved the tubing! 6 year old was a little nervous at first but they will allow a parent to ride with child 2x and once he did it once he was hooked! Super fun! Pleasant staff!
2. The Sledding Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By 749aimeem - St. Augustine, United States
My kids had the best time going up and down the hill. This is a great FREE activity! We were able to get sleds in the ski rental shop next door. They were $5 to rent them. We also bought waterproof gloves in the ski shop. Plenty of free parking
3. Appalachian Ski Mtn.
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 380 reviews
The NC High Country’s 1st ski area. Renowned for teaching beginners, families and groups how to ski since 1962. Home of the French Swiss Ski College, the place to learn to ski and ride. 3,000 sets of ski and snowboard rentals. Offering NC’s only Flex Ski Ticket and only late-night skiing. Snowmaking on all slopes, mostly after operating hours. Jacket, bib, glove, goggle and helmet rentals. 3 terrain parks, refrigerated outdoor ice skating rink, 46,000 sq. ft. Bavarian-style lodge with wireless internet and 200’ observation deck. Restaurant with fireplace overlooking slopes, Ski Shop, Gift Shop, nursery, locker room, TV lounge and group meeting rooms. Ski-in/ski-out chalet rentals. Open 7 days and nights, mid-November to late March. 2 miles off 4-lane US Hwy. 321 between Blowing Rock and Boone. Closest resort to Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Raleigh.
Reviewed By caleaX - Tampa, United States
Loved our weekend at Appalachian Ski Mountain and Boone in General. The whole area is great for families and there is plenty to do for non skiers to do while everyone else is on the mountain. We where there Feb 28-March 1. I’m not sure their normal conditions, but the days we were there were amazing. We had been watching the weather to pick the weekend we would head up from FL so my wife and 4 year old could get better acquainted with skiing. This weekend we got great snow and had a great experience at Appalachian Ski Mountain. The instructors my wife and son had were great. Like really great!! The value for the instruction and rental equipment is incredible compared to what thing cost at larger more well known resorts. One drawback is that the learning slopes can have very long lines and there are lots of beginners that are skiing/riding in a very dangerous manner. For learning and beginners I wouldn’t recommend anywhere higher than ASM. It would also be a fun friends weekend. Give it a shot.
4. Cataloochee Ski Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 423 reviews
Cataloochee Ski Area, located high in the mountains of Western North Carolina is the home of "Great Skiing in the Great Smokies!" One of the first areas in the region to open each season, Cataloochee is committed to making your skiing and snowboarding experience the best it can be by utilizing one the most advanced snowmaking systems in the Southeast. With 100% snowmaking on 18 slopes and trails including the Cat Cage Terrain Park, 3 aerial lifts and 2 moving carpet lifts, and over 4,000 sets of snowsports equipment, the Cataloochee experience offers something everyone. We feature a PSIA and AASI member Ski and Snowboard School with instruction for all ages and abilities, and offer our HEAD Kids Adventure Center with ski and snowboard programs for kids ages 4-12 and a variety of terrain for beginners to experts alike. With our new Terrain-Based Learning programs, you will learn quicker and easier than ever before. Group and corporate meeting space is available. In the lodge, a fireplace and cozy atmosphere await you along with our on-mountain restaurant offering three ala carte meals daily and a lounge with full ABC permits. Round out your day on the mountain with a visit to The Shop at Cataloochee, featuring signature gifts and apparel. Down the hill in Maggie Valley, we offer Tube World, a snowtubing hill with up to 12 lanes of tubing fun! Cataloochee Ski and Sports, our rental and clothing shop in Maggie Valley allows you to rent your ski or snowboard equipment at a discounted rate, purchase your lift ticket and get everything you need for a day on the slopes. Bib, jacket and helmet rentals are also available at the shop as well. Best of all, you can pick up everything you need the night before and be ready to go straight to the snow on the day you plan to ski or snowboard with no waiting! The sports shop sells goggles, gloves, hats, sunglasses and other accessories to complete your visit. Cataloochee is located only 35 miles west of Asheville, 3 hours north of Atlanta, 1 3/4 hours from the Greenville/Spartanburg and Knoxville areas with easy four lane access from each and offers great midweek packages including our Drive, Slide and Stay and Kids Ski and Stay FREE programs making economical winter fun closer than you think!
Reviewed By hardwayjc - Locust Grove, United States
I recently visited this place as beginner/intermediate. I fell in love with place. Was great for learning blues also had advanced run blacks that were terrifying but good place to grow for future. Had excellent trainer Jess who was so kinda professional and taught me so many tips and trick to help me advance! This place is great! Not to crowded and nice size runs unlike Appalachian Ski Mt which was tiny. I had great time comparable to Colorado runs. Everyone was kind lovely views of mountains highly recommended and closest park to Atlanta can do in one day.
5. Tube World
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 181 reviews
Kids of all ages enjoy tubing at Tube World. Located four miles from Cataloochee Ski Area, Tube World is located across from Ghost Town in the Sky in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. We are a perfect place for a family or group outing and offer tubing fun from mid-December to early March.
Reviewed By chiefchuck102 - Indianapolis, United States
We visited during the 8pm to 10pm time slot on Friday night, 12/27. I was expecting large crowds given the holiday season. The weather was about 50 degrees, so a pretty warm, nice night. Around 8:00-9:00, there was a decent crowd, but I certainly wouldn’t say it was crowded. In that first hour we still managed to get in 6 or 7 runs down the hill. From 9:00 to 9:45, which was when they had last call, there was really no wait at all, just walk right up and slide. We had two 6-yr olds who I was nervous would be too scared to go down. Well, after the adrenaline of going down the first time, they were hooked! One of them even asked to get a push down the track with the jump in it so she could catch some air. There was some mud, for sure, but you could stay out of it fairly easily. The walkways were gravel or mulch, so it wasn’t a big deal to us. I mean, it’s been a pretty warm couple days, so the fact that there’s any snow on the hill is impressive. All the staff members were super nice to me and our two kids. I would suggest that the facility not allow their staff to smoke on the job. With kids around, it was a disappointing element of our experience, especially at the top of the conveyor belt when there’s no way to avoid the cigarette smoke. That being said, everyone was very friendly and gave our girls polite instructions and lots of high fives. I would definitely recommend it. Super glad we gave it a shot. I’m sure the kids would go back every night if we’d let them.
6. Beech Mountain
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 309 reviews
All-season activities abound at this mountain resort area: skiing, tubing and snowboarding in the winter; hiking, fishing and biking in the summer.
Reviewed By AuntTraci - Fort Mill, United States
I was expecting a ski lodge and some hotels. Beech mountain is an entire mountain, it’s a large area, the ski resort being only a small portion of it. It’s cute, fun and 5500 feet in the air! This was our first time and we’ll be back again. Tips- the road up is 2 miles to the top and it’s double lane, windy and super steep. Like motion and altitude sickness steep. Be aware. Hydrate. There’s free sledding at the top and plenty of restaurants Tips- there are no grocery stores or gas stations. If you ha e food allergies you won’t find much on the mountain
7. Appalachian Resort
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 14 reviews
Family-friendly recreational area in the Blue Ridge region that welcomes skiers and snowboarders of all skills and styles.
8. Wolf Ridge Ski Resort
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 166 reviews
Enjoy premier skiing and snowboarding, long range views, mountain top lodging, and playful snow tubing at Wolf Ridge Resort.
Reviewed By Experience637097
Save a lot by going during the week. Rent your equipment down the road at wolf den and get a reduced rate when renting consecutive days. Bring your lunch and this becomes a very affordable adventure. Need 4 wheel drive if it’s snowing. Book outside of 24hours online on busy days so they don’t reach capacity before you get there. Drop your equipment off at the front then go park so you don’t need to carry everything to the ski area from the parking lot. It can be a hike especially if you don’t arrive in advance. We had an absolute blast and the medics were super helpful and friendly and made sure everyone was safe and there was plenty of them around. I recommend the group ski lessons for first timers. My boys 7 & 11 did great after they got warmed up. We will be back. ????????
9. Sapphire Valley Ski Resort
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By SusieKHazan - Hollywood, United States
Our family from Florida had a great time at Sapphire! Key to success is arriving early with the printable online forms complete in order to get your tickets and gear quickly. Our kids’ ski school instructor Marsha was so kind, patient and did an amazing job preparing them for the big slope. We read so many bad reviews on other local ski resorts and were honestly afraid to even try Sapphire and not even bother skiing in NC. But this place was honestly clean, organized, and put together nicely for a small ski resort. Highly recommend!
10. Sugar Mountain Resort
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 773 reviews
Big-mountain ski resort area featuring a 1,200-foot vertical drop and ski runs of one-and-one-half miles.
Reviewed By CapeFear98 - Raleigh, United States
I don't have a lot to base this on, since I haven't really skied at a 'real' resort before...just had snow time on small hills. Me and my 10-year-old son both skied for the first time one legit runs while my wife and other son explored the area and had no interest in skiing. The night before we all did snow tubing, which the kids also really, really enjoyed at Sugar Mountain. Surprisingly, they enjoyed the smaller park rather than the incredible Hawksnest park. Anyway, me and my son rented clothes, skis/boots, etc. and enrolled in Ski School. Daniel was our instructor, and we super helpful helping us hit the ground running...or skiing. And yes, we each did hit the ground...a couple of times - ha. But that was part of the fun since no one was hurt. The staff was all very helpful, and the mask policy (during COVID times) was enforced in the lift lines, inside the rental area, and most every area. It's kind of a pain to have a mask on in certain areas, especially during physical activity, but the rules are the rules, and I can certainly respect that. We ended up doing Easy Street and Little Nell a few times. The snow was great, the lift lines were very smooth and, perhaps it was a slower day than usual, but one time we made it to the top, skied back, and were doing about three runs per hour by the end of the session. Again, my experience is very limited, but I think we skied WAY MORE than I thought we would. We practiced on the bunny hill for a while, they had a conveyor belt down below to make that situation a breeze to get back up, and we went three times each on the 'green' runs while also attending ski school, all in the matter of several hours. Money well spent. The inside might be a little on the used and older side, but the staff was certainly friendly and helpful to us, making it a memorable experience. I would highly recommend, and will definitely be back.
