Things to do / Travel Guide
The Appalachian Mountains is a vast network of mountain ranges which traverses large parts of United States territory, and is so vast that it reaches into parts of Southeastern Canada as well. Divided into a series of ranges, each with numerous individual mountains, the catch all phrase of “Appalachian Mountains” actually refers to several regions. In the Southern areas they can be found in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Winters at the top of any mountain range can vary from mildly temperate to downright freezing and everything in between. But one thing that the southern mountains have in common is their breathtaking beauty, and the natural terrain that's just perfect for the discerning skier and snowboarder. From small, family resorts to big named resorts, the Southern Appalachian Mountains has something for everyone.
Skiing in and around the Blue Ridge Mountain Range
The Blue Ridge Mountains, which gain their name from the blueish color that can be seen from a distance, spans from Georgia to Pennsylvania, with a lot of the ski areas concentrating at the peaks in North Carolina and Virginia. Offering fantastic, varied terrain from summit to summit, and national parks within its ridges, the Blue Ridge Mountain Range is home to many top ski and snowboarding areas worth taking a look at.
Boone, North Carolina has earned the nickname "Heart of the High Country." Two hours from Charlotte, North Carolina, Boone is just a short distance by car to the resorts of Sugar Mountain, Ski Beech Mountain, Appalachian Ski Mountain, and Hawksnest. Is there any more reason not to make Boone your home base on your next skiing vacation?
Patrons will find resorts concerned with tending to their needs that provide a great experience on and off the snow. One notable resort is Ski Beech, located just 24 miles from Boone. It is the 2nd largest ski resort in North Carolina, and it's not hard to see why it's so popular, with its 15 slopes and 5,506 foot summit! Another can't miss snow sports area is Hawksnest. It is known for its supportive attitude towards snowboarders, and maintains a dedicated and award winning instructor and crew staff. They constantly improve the outlay of their terrain park with bigger and better features, so that snowboarders will find their own haven here, tucked away in the mountainside. The premier resort of Sugar Mountain should also make it onto your itinerary this winter with its perfectly groomed slopes and ample powder, while if you're bringing along the family, Appalachian Ski is a great place to go.
Be sure not to miss the happening nightlife in Boone either. Home to Appalachian State University, it has a young crowd and plenty of selections for après ski events. Once you've worked up an appetite, there are many bars and grills in town that serve up a delicious array of food, from juicy burgers, to tiny French appetizers and all you can eat buffets, assuring no one goes hungry. Once satiated, while the night away with a selection of lounges, live music, and shopping. This friendly ski town treats everyone as family no matter where they hail from. When it's time to bed down for the night, there are over 650 rooms to be found in Boone in B&Bs, chalets, cabins, and mountain retreats. You may also decide to head over to either of the two neighboring towns of Seven Devils or Banner Elk. These towns may be a bit sleepier than Boone and its college crowd, but still provide their own selection of nightlife, pubs, and lodging.
The beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Pisgah, and Nantahala National Forests house the Bryce Resort with its exclusive slopes and fancy onsite lodging. It's also the home of Sapphire Valley with its retreats into the dense wooded areas and trails groomed to suit any level of rider, as well as snow tubing to accommodate any member of the family's winter sport of choice.
As Washington, DC is a short 2 hour drive away from the Shenandoah Valley, many visitors opt to head into the city for the host of historical and lively entertainment that only our nation's capital can provide. From seeing the famous White House decked out for the holidays while fresh snow falls around you, to the upscale lounges and smaller, college aged bars and clubs, there is never a shortage of places to eat, drink, or sleep.
Snowboarders have an endless range of creative shredding available to them at Massanutten Mountain, which features a super-dedicated snowboarding team and crew, and a maintenance staff that meticulously grooms and hand shapes the two terrain parks into a new layout daily, which is posted at the resort for boarders' perusal.
Hotels and condos are available on site with kitchens, fireplaces, decks, and whirlpool tubs just some of the perks available to lodgers. Don't miss the massive indoor water park or the Encounters lounge for relaxation after hitting the slopes hard. Or head into Harrisonburg, Virgina, home of James Madison University, where a bustling nightlife and cheaper lodging options await the budget conscious traveler with everything from a quick slice of pizza to sit down bistros, featuring delicate Italian pastries and hearty fare to warm up the belly after a long day on the slopes. Or just walk down the glistening streetlamp lit streets and dream the night away at a local lodging.
Skiing in and around the Great Smokey Mountains
Bordering the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the Great Smokey Mountain Range. Given its name for the smokey “haze” that constantly overhangs it, this mountain range is home to such notable attractions as Cherokee Indian preservation lands and Dolly Parton's famous “Dollywood”. But let's not forget that the immense precipitation here in the Smoky Mountains also gives way to some great winter snow.
The Ober Gatlinberg Ski area is one of a kind. It boasts America's Largest Aerial Tramway, which transports skiers and snowboarders from downtown Gatlinberg, Tennessee straight up to the mountain, instead of necessitating their trying to find parking and haul their equipment from the lot to the base. When you're finished skiing, check out the amazing indoor skating rink and mall at Ober Gatlinberg! With restaurants ranging from chicken to seafood, food stands for nachos and quick bites, and a Fudge Shop which gives out free samples, snow goers won't go hungry anytime soon.
You may also want to try the Cataloochee Ski area which claims to be the first to open in North Carolina and the last to close. Between opening and closing it offers a variety of terrain to suit everyone in your crowd, whatever their level.
Local lodging can be found in the towns of Gatlinberg, Sevierville, or Knoxville, Tennessee, with varied options of hotels or motels. Check out the famous Dollyworld walkway in Sevierville, home of Dolly Parton herself, for some down home southern cooking of slow pulled BBQ or steaks to drool over. Knoxville, being a slightly larger town, has more options of nightlife options, while still maintaining that southern country charm for which the region's famous. So tip your hat and say howdy to the type of vacation full of southern hospitality which can only been seen once you travel through the smoke of the mountains.
Skiing in and around the Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountains are home to some of the finest ski resorts in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. From a historical luxury resort to the resort billed by USA Today as the area's “Best Kept Secret” to a mountain owned by the same company that owns the resorts of Whistler Blackcombe and Park City, Utah, the Allegheny mountains are where your next vacation should be.
Named on Men's Journal's “Top Ten Coolest Mountain Towns,” Davis, West Virginia is home to the Timberline Four Seasons resort. This hidden gem is located in a town with around 700 year round inhabitants and they prefer to keep their ski area pristine, small, and undercrowded.
The Homestead Historical Resort doesn't skimp on well…anything, including their modest but robust skiing area. Preference is given to guests at The Homestead where its long and rich guest history includes a who's who of many of America's earliest Presidents and dignitaries. However, people not staying at The Homestead may also take advantage of the ski area. At the end of the day, head into the splendor of the lodge and be greeted with a European-style spa, a movie theater, bowling alley and indoor heated pool just to name a few amenities of their extensive list. There are a variety of dining options from coat and tie required restaurants to casual eateries. When the day is done, return to your luxurious lodgings, slip into your plush terry cloth robe, and thank the snow Gods that The Homestead never succumbed to the history pages.
Ranked the #1 Southern Ski Resort, Snowshoe and Silver Creek Resort have a lot to look up to as their parent company also owns the Whistler Blackcombe and Park City Utah ski resorts. But this ski area certainly has nothing to be apologetic about with its three very different and independent skiing areas featuring over 60 trails ranging from beginner runs to Olympian designed chutes and steeps. There are also three terrain parks with a staggering number of rails, boxes, tricks, a quarterpipe, and many new features being added each season. Also check out Caanan Resort and Conference for big resort style riding, and without any skimping on the goodies of perfectly groomed trails and world class service.
From Starbucks, to cooking over hot Japanese rocks, to burgers and ribs dripping in sauce, appetites are quenched and tastebuds delighted in the many eateries found on or offsite. Quaint Davis or busy Marlington, both offer the budget conscious consumer an economical way to enjoy the slopes, have candlelit dinners or a rowdy game of pool at the pubs, and a great night of sleep.
With all of these great resorts, the Southern region is fast becoming a top destination for visitors looking for big mountain skiing at smaller prices and less driving or flying distances than the Rockies or Western mountain ranges. Quality and Southern Hospitality, plus a whole lot of variety, should make the Southern Appalachian Mountains a top choice for your next winter excursion.
Ski Resorts in Roanoke, Asheville, Smoky, Blue Ridge, Shenandoah and Southern Appalachian Mountains
Skiing
|
|
|