A Romantic Escape

BY KIMBERLY BROUILLETTE

Whether you and your significant other have been together for a few months or decades, it’s always a great idea to celebrate your relationship. Romantic getaways are a wonderful way to focus on each other, while having a great time in a new setting. Since it’s still very cold in February, a fun-filled trip that might include skiing, entertainment, spa treatments, or simply relaxation could be just the ticket.

A list of fun and scenic NC mountain locations has been compiled in this article as inspiration for a romantic weekend or vacation. All of them are located within a few hours of Cabarrus County, so they’re perfect for couples to relax and enjoy themselves, without driving a great distance. Enjoy!

The Destinations:

The Esmeralda Inn & Restaurant, Chimney Rock, NC Sugar

Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain, NC

Cataloochee Ski Area, Maggie Valley, NC

The Esmeralda Inn & Restaurant Chimney Rock, NC Escape to a nearly 130-yearold, historic inn with beautiful surroundings and rustic, but luxurious charm. The secluded Esmeralda Inn is located at the edge of the Appalachian Mountains, near Chimney Rock State Park and Lake Lure. This perfect getaway retreat is the ideal place to stay while visiting some of the top mountain destinations in North Carolina.

According to the inn’s website, theesmeralda.com, “motion picture makers discovered The Esmeralda and the Hickory Nut Gorge area in 1915. It was a favorite spot of silent movie stars and several silent films were actually filmed at The Esmeralda. Notables such as Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks, Clark Gable and others used The Esmeralda as a hideout.”

The Esmeralda Inn has many cozy accommodations for couples and families alike. Attractive king and queen, spacious bedrooms are located in the main inn. Most face the gardens or outdoor patio. The one-bedroom and bath Honeymoon Cottage is the newest addition to the Esmeralda Inn Cabins, and is located just steps from the main building. Two and threebedroom cabins are available for larger groups, including a couple that are situated near the Rocky Broad River. To begin each morning, a gourmet, made-to order breakfast is included with your stay in the main dining area. The Esmeralda Restaurant has a casual dining atmosphere inside the elegant, rustic inn. It is open evenings from Tuesday through Saturday.

The inn also features a Valentine’s package, which includes a candlelit dinner for two at The Esmeralda Restaurant, roses in room upon arrival, six chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of Champagne. Other options include the Elopement or Romantic Escape Packages.

For additional fun, the inn has a game room with a billiard table. The outdoor hot tub and fireplace area is a great place to relax year round (except during inclement weather). There are many great activities nearby, such as golfing, fishing, rock climbing, gem mining, historic attractions and bowling.

Chimney Rock, NC

The inn also features a Valentine’s package, which features a candlelit dinner for two at The Esmeralda Restaurant, roses in room upon arrival, six chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of Champagne.

The top local attraction is the 6,800- acre Chimney Rock State Park, which is filled with many scenic views, hiking trails, beautiful waterfalls and rock climbing adventures. A wide range of wildlife can be seen in their natural habitat. Animal lovers can drop by the Animal Discovery Den to discover the creatures that call this area home.

Those who enjoy shopping, there are a variety of locally-owned stores and boutiques in the town of Chimney Rock. According to visitNCsmalltowns.com, “the Chimney Rock Village is full of surprises waiting to be explored. The village has an old-time feel due to locally owned businesses that occupy historic buildings full of character and flair. There are no “big box” stores, towering hotels, or chain restaurants found here, only the charm of a friendly and hospitable community.”

In warmer weather, the Rocky Broad River and Green River are perfect for white water rafting, tubing, and kayaking. Lake Lure, where portions of the movie “Dirty Dancing” was filmed, is only two miles away, and is an excellent place for swimming and canoeing. Nearby, Cedar Creek Stables claims to have a “once-in-a-lifetime Lake Lure horseback riding experience through the beautiful landscapes of North Carolina.”

A free area vacation guide is available at theesmeralda.com/vacation-guide/.

Sugar Mountain Resort Sugar Mountain, NC For anyone who enjoys a skiing or snowboarding getaway, Sugar Mountain Resort is North Carolina’s largest ski area, with 21 trails, nine lifts and 115 acres of skiable terrain. The resort celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Having a peak elevation of 5,300 feet, Sugar Mountain is located at one of the highest elevation resorts in the state. A high-speed detachable 6-person chairlift is new for the 2019- 2020 winter season, and is the fastest in North Carolina.

Visitors return each year to experience the amazing winter landscapes and fantastic skiing trails for all skill levels, with 15 of the slopes being lit for night skiing and snowboarding. Even the most skilled skiers can find a challenge at Sugar Mountain, as the resort boasts the only double black diamond slope in North Carolina, as well as the largest vertical drop (1,200 feet) in the state. Upper Flying Mile is an intermediate slope that connects with Lower Flying Mile for a total run of 1.5 miles long. Gunther’s Way is the newest slope in the NC High Country, and is 2,900 feet in length with a difficult rating. Other activities available at Sugar Mountain include guided snowshoeing, an outdoor ice skating rink, and snow tubing park with magic carpet lift. Don’t miss the live music line-up which is scheduled at the ski resort every Saturday from 4-6 p.m. through March 7th. The Sugar Bear Ski School offers a range of lessons for all ages and abilities. Additional shopping and restaurants are available in nearby Banner Elk, which is only 2 miles away.

During warmer months, Sugar Mountain has a variety of bike and hiking trails, as well as golf and tennis. From June through September, Summit Express Chairlift shuttles foot-passengers and mountain bikers from the base of Sugar Mountain to its 5,300’ peak. Magic Cycles is located in the base lodge, and offers helmet, body armor, bike rentals,

While visiting Sugar Mountain Resort, couples can enjoy a date night at nearby Banner Elk restaurants such as Bayou Smokehouse & Grill, Stonewalls Restaurant, or Puerto Nuevo Restaurant.

bicycle repairs, and any necessary items to get you started and keep you going. A valid trail access/lift ticket is required to enter the trail system.

Lodging and other amenities are available through local rental and hotel partners. Contact the individual partners for information on their specific amenities and specials. A typical ski season for Sugar Mountain begins in mid-November and ends in late March. Information on winter lodging, ski passes, equipment rental and specials can be found on the resort’s website at www.SkiSugar.com. Additional ski equipment rentals are available at several locations in Banner Elk, including Edge of the World Snowboard Shop, Extreme Ski and Snowboard, Ski Country Sports, and Sugar Creek Ski & Snowboard Rentals.

Don’t forget to check the website for any special events and activities throughout the year. For more details on local information, download the brochure PDF file at ww.skisugar.com/brochure.

Cataloochee Ski Area Maggie Valley, NC Maggie Valley is located on the fringe of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and two national forests, where many outdoor favorite activities are available throughout the year, such as hiking, camping, biking, whitewater rafting, summer and winter tubing, and horseback riding. Additional activities in the Valley include golf at the Maggie Valley Club, miniature golf, fishing in our Heritage Trout Waters, antiquing, museums, skiing, snowboarding, tubing and more. One of the newest local destinations is the Elevated Mountain Distillery.

Only a few miles away, you can visit the Cataloochee Valley area of the park. In 2001, the National Park Service successfully reintroduced elk to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These intimidating and majestic animals are most commonly seen at either dawn or dusk. Stop by the Haywood County Visitor Center in Maggie Valley and pick up a free guide on elk sightseeing in the Smokies. In the summer, they also offer firefly night walk tours. To learn more about Cataloochee Valley tours and reservations, visit their website at cataloocheevalleytours.com.

During the winter season, a popular activity is to take a run on the snowy mountain slopes of Cataloochee Ski Area, where you can ski and snowboard at over 5,000 feet in elevation. Cataloochee has 18 slopes and trails ranging from beginner to expert, and the ski area provides challenging fun for everyone. Every year, it’s one of the first ski areas to open and one of the last to close, so you’re guaranteed one of the longest ski seasons in the south. You can spend an entire day out on the slopes, then warm up by the fireplace in the lodge and enjoy a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant and lounge. Visit www.cataloochee.com for more info and current conditions. 3

Near the bottom of the mountain, Tube World is available to visitors for a round of snow tubing. Thrilling activities like scenic winter hikes, incredible live music, shopping and entertainment are also available in the Valley. In addition, there are plenty of cozy spots at locally-owned restaurants to relax and warm up with local craft beer or a glass of wine. Three microbreweries and one distillery are local to the area: Boojum Brewing, BearWaters Brewing, Frog Level Brewing and Elevated Mountain Distillery.

There are plenty of cozy spots at locally-owned restaurants to relax and warm up with local craft beer or a glass of wine.

A wide variety of lodging options are available in the area, including bed and breakfasts, cabins, cottages, inns, villas, resorts and hotels. More lodging information for the Cataloochee Ski Area can be found at visitncsmokies.com/accommodations. Additional travel information can be found at maggievalley.org/ maggie-valley attractions.