Skiing, Snowboarding, Tubing, & Ice Skating
And the biggest winter attraction remains the best skiing in the southeast. High Country ski resorts are increasingly adding snowboarding, ice skating, tubing, restaurants and bars to their array of options.
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Blowing Rock, NC – 800-322-2373 – www.appskimtn.com
Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, lessons, equipment and clothing rental. Restaurant.
Beech Mountain Resort
Beech Mountain – 800-438-2093 – www.beechmountainresort.com
Highest Ski Resort in the Eastern USA. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, lessons and equipment rental.
Hawksnest Snow Tubing
2058 Skyline Drive, Seven Devils – 800-822-4295 – www.hawksnesttubing.com
The largest snow tubing park on the east coast. Open daily in the winter.
Sugar Mountain Resort
Sugar Mountain – 800-784-2768 – www.skisugar.com
Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, snowshoe guided tours, lessons, equipment rental. Restaurant and full service bar.
Shopping
You can shop, while the others ski, at the original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, at the galleries, furniture and antique stores along Hwy 105, on picturesque Main Street in Blowing Rock, on the more eclectic King Street in Boone or score name-brand bargains from over 40 stores at Tanger Outlets.
Blowing Rock’s Main Street is the place for discriminating folks to shop and be seen. Boutiques, antiques, jewelry, furniture, galleries and gifts. Fudge, sweets, restaurants and ale houses. www.blowingrock.com/shopping.php
With over 15,000 Appalachian State University students, the Boone Downtown shopping scene is a younger and more eclectic with a mix of art galleries, restaurants, boutiques and antique shops with modern hotels and traditional shopping centers close by. www.downtownboonenc.com/index.cfm/directory/shopping
In picturesque Valle Crucis you will find the original Mast General Store (circa 1883) that built a reputation for carrying everything from “cradles to caskets”. Just half a mile down the street you’ll find the Mast Store Annex which blends casual clothing with a mountain outfitters shop and the original Candy Barrel….a child’s dream come true. Additional stores in Boone, Asheville, Hendersonville, Waynesville, Greenville, Knoxville and Columbia. (See our profile of John Cooper and his team in next month’s February issue.)
Other shopping choices include:
DeWoolfson Linens
9452 Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk – 800-554-3696 – www.dewoolfsonlinens.com
America’s finest quality white goose down comforters, pillows and feather beds. Closed Sunday.
Sobleski Furniture
10543-4 Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk – 828-963-6800 – www.sobleski.com
High end, customizable, hand crafted, sustainable furniture and decor. Family owned.
Tanger Outlets
278 Shoppes on the Parkway Rd, Blowing Rock – 800-720-6728 – www.tangeroutlet.com/blowingrock
Largest outlet mall in the High Country with great deals on your favorite designers and brand-name stores. 43 stores. Off US Hwy 321 just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Tatum Galleries
5320 Hwy. 105 S, Banner Elk – 828-963-6466 – www.tatumgalleries.com
Fine furniture and accessories for 25 years. Interior design, outdoor furniture and window treatments. Closed Sunday.
