You don’t have to fly to the Colorado Rockies, Canada, or Switzerland to experience good skiing these days. The Carolinas and West Virginia have seen some impressive snow amounts the last several years, making for amazing conditions. When you combine this with great terrain parks and well groomed slopes, there is something for everyone, from the novice to the expert. These are the eight best ski areas in the South you need to visit this winter season.
Winter has arrived, and with it comes the return of the season’s coolest outdoor activity: skiing. Here in the South, there are plenty of family friendly ski resorts that everyone can enjoy regardless of their skiing ability. Additionally, most resorts offer skiing lessons for their guests, allowing people of all ages to participate in this fun wintry activity. Here are eight of the best, action-packed ski areas in the South that you’ve got to visit.
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Open to the public since its debut in 1962, Appalachian Ski Mountain features ten slopes, three terrain parks, and a beautiful, panoramic outdoor ice skating rink. As well as providing as a fun skiing park for families and friends, Appalachian Mountain Ski resort can even serve as a wedding venue and offer complimentary services such as locating florists, bakers, musicians, and on-site mountainside lodging.
French Swiss Ski College
Located in Blowing Rock, at Appalachian Ski Mountain, the French Swiss Ski College aspires to educate students of all ages and experience levels in the art of skiing and snowboarding. The school was founded in the late 1960’s by Jim Cottrell who offered a skiing course at Central Piedmont Community College. The manager of Appalachian Ski Mountain, Grady Moretz Jr., gave permission to the school to conduct skiing lessons on the slopes. The first skiing course was offered to 123 students. Since that first course, the school has taught over 1,000,000 skiing lessons. Today, the French Swiss Ski College is still continuing to accept enthusiastic students who are passionate about learning how to ski or snowboard during the winter sports season.
Beech Mountain Resort
The highest ski mountain in southeastern America at 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain Resort is nestled in the midst of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The resort features a skybar at the top of the mountain, providing fresh food, snacks, and beverages for all of their guests. The friendly staff strives to make sure their skiers are cozy and comfortable during the duration of their stay.
Cataloochee Ski Area
Located on the wild and rolling terrain of the Great Smoky Mountains, Cataloochee offers guests the opportunity to take in breathtaking panoramic views as they make their way to the top of the slopes on the lift. Once at the top, skiers can choose from several different slopes to get down, from easy, gentle slopes for beginners to thrilling, action-packed runs for the more experienced skiers. While some restrictions may apply, the Cataloochee Ski Area offers free airlift tickets to children 17 and under when an accompanying adult purchases a full price adult day, twilight, or night lift ticket. This, along with many other fun activities and amenities, makes Cataloochee a true family-oriented destination.
Sapphire Valley Ski Resort
Head over to North Carolina’s Sapphire Valley Ski Resort if you are looking for a safe and comfortable skiing environment for your family and friends. Off the slopes amenities such as an indoor pool, hot tubs, saunas, mini golf, an arcade, and even a fitness center help to accommodate all of your needs.
Wolfridge Ski Resort
Formerly known as the Wolf Laurel Ski Area, this resort is just 30 minutes away from the popular mountain town of Asheville and is known as the most easily accessible ski slope. Staying in the on-site townhomes will grant you the opportunity to admire breathtaking views of Western North Carolina’s picturesque mountains. In addition, this recently upgraded resort has added fifteen new acres of skiable terrain for you and your family to enjoy.
Sugar Mountain
North Carolina’s largest ski area at 115 acres of skiable land, Sugar Mountain accommodates the winter sports enthusiasts’ every need. Sugar Mountain offers snow shoeing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating, ensuring a wonderful time for people of all ages. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort also offers wonderful stay-and-play ski packages if you and your family choose to stay with any of the area’s lodging companies. The friendly staff and the beautiful location makes this resort a popular pick for families and friends during the wintertime.
Snowshoe Mountain
Snowshoe Mountain’s resort receives the most natural snow during the wintertime of any of the southeast region’s resorts, giving guests the opportunity to get the most out of their winter sports offerings, from skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling to snow shoeing and even their horse drawn sleigh rides. Amenities such as Snowhsoe’s spa facilities, hot tubs, and other relaxing services are included in many of their packages as well. Visitors to this West Virginia resort are guaranteed a great time, not only because of the many outdoor winter activities but because of the truly world-class amenities.
