When most people think of snow skiing, North Carolina probably isn’t the first place they think about, but it’s a great, drivable option for Southern skiers that want to learn to ski, or to get their snow fix close to home. The North Carolina High Country ski season runs from November through March and there are several resorts to choose from within a short distance. Appalachian Ski Mtn., Sugar Mountain Resort, and Beech Mountain Resort are the main ski resorts and each offers something a little different.
Explore Kid Friendly North Carolina Skiing
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
Beech has the highest elevation of any NC ski resort with 15 trails and 95 skiable acres. It also boasts a high-speed quad lift to get skiers up the mountain fast. Beech Mountain is the only one of the three resorts to have a shopping area in addition to a pro shop in the lodge. The Alpine Village includes restaurants, shops, a 7,000 square foot ice rink, and a large fire pit. A short drive down the mountain in the town of Beech is a free sledding hill for kids 12 and under with a visitors center and warm bathrooms.
Appalachian Ski Mtn.
Appalachian Ski Mtn.’s French Swiss Ski College is one of the best in the state and has taught over a million people how to ski. App also has the unsurpassed snow making capabilities and as long as Mother Nature cooperates, can blanket the mountain in short order. For beginners, they offer a magic carpet moving sidewalk to take you to the top of the bunny slope. This is so much easier than the old rope tows I used as a kid. The slopes themselves are not as steep as other resorts, so it’s perfect for a beginner to get in a longer run without being intimidated. For those that want a break from skiing, the ice rink at Appalachian Ski Mtn. was voted by Trekaroo as one of the top 10 outdoor ice rinks for families.
Sugar Mountain Resort
Sugar Mountain offers 115 skiable acres and 20 trails, the most of the three resorts. It also offers the only double black diamond trail in the state of North Carolina. But don’t think this resort is only for experts. There are trails for every level and several green runs for novice skiers. The bunny slope has a magic carpet to take beginners to the top easily. Sugar also offers the most wintertime fun off the slopes including an ice rink and tubing hill.
Looking for a kid friendly ski resort in your neck of the woods?
-Explore more at Fieldtrips with Sue, a blog about things to do in metro Atlanta and beyond.
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