Shred the gnar one state over 🎿
To celebrate the start of the Winter Olympics (which kicks off Friday), it’s time to hit the slopes.
Follow this guide for the best skiing experience in N.C. (a.k.a. the Colorado of the South) for you + your crew to get your Shaun White on.
⛷️ For a Griswold-approved family vacation…
Appalachian Ski Mountain | 📍 Blowing Rock, N.C. | 💰 $30-62 (lift), $12-28 (rentals) | 🚙 ~3 hours from Cola
With three beginner slopes, three intermediate, three expert + three freestyle slopes – no one will be left out. #Protip: They offer night skiing seven days a week.
⛷️ For the skiers and non-skiers…
Cataloochee Ski Area | 📍 Maggie Valley, N.C. | 💰 $30-78 (lift), $25-30 (rentals) | 🚙 ~3 hours from Cola
The oldest ski area in N.C., with 18 slopes + five lifts. Best part? For those non-skiers, head over to Tube World located just a few miles from the slopes for some (you guessed it), tubing.
⛷️ For those on a budget…
Sapphire Valley | 📍 Sapphire, N.C. | 💰 $21-60 (lift), $11-20 (rentals) | 🚙 ~3 hours from Cola
Bonus: Sapphire Valley also offers a three-hour zipline tour on the Vordach for only $37.50.
⛷️ For #SundayFunday…
Beech Mountain | 📍 Beech Mountain, N.C. | 💰 $20-79 (lift) + $12-45 (rentals) – 25% off in March | 🚙 ~4 hours from Cola
13 slopes + five lifts, ready to make your day in the snow worthwhile. Ice skating, tubing, freestyle terrain + Beech Mountain Brewing Company – one of the only U.S. breweries owned and operated by a ski area. (Talk about Funday.) #Protip: After a long day on the slopes or the rink, wind down with the Long Winter Mocha Stout (9% ABV).
Photo by @jjoytotheworld_
⛷️ For those who want to stay more than one day…
Sugar Mountain Resort | 📍 Sugar Mountain, N.C. | 💰 $18-74 (lift), $10-33 (rentals) – 25% off in March | 🚙 ~3.5 hours from Cola
With 21 slopes + eight lifts, ice skating, tubing, snowshoeing, 15 nearby lodging options, five nearby spa locations, nine dining options and plenty of shops close by, you and your group will want to stay as long as possible. Plus, ski lessons for the kids. (A.k.a on-mountain babysitting.)
⛷️ For the last-minute day trip…
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort | 📍 Mars Hill, N.C. | 💰 $20-71 (lift), $10-34 (rentals) | 🚙 ~2.5 hours from Cola
Perfect for those who want to spend more time on the slopes than on the road. In addition to skiing/snowboarding their 15 slopes, you can spend your day on the Tube Run featuring a “magic carpet” lift.
Photo by @genapaigeboue
⛷️ For the non-skiers/boarders who still want to play in the snow...
Hawks Nest Tubing + Zipline | 📍 Seven Devils, N.C. | 💰 Starting at $29 | 🚙 ~3.5 hours from Cola
Featuring four areas + 30 different lanes, this is definitely the largest tubing park on the East Coast. Plus, 20+ ziplines with 4 miles of zipline riding over 200 feet and speeds up to 50 mph. Zoom zoom zoom.
Cola was left out of last month’s S.C. snow, so the slopes are calling our name. ⅔ of our team has birthdays in March, so we’re already checking out those 25% off deals for an adult Spring Break. (The beach isn’t going anywhere, but the faux snow fades.)
–Sam, with help from our new sister brand AVLtoday
