ASHEVILLE, NC

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort

A Perfect Winter Escape Discover the North Carolina mountains

By Sandra Chambers

The North Carolina mountains are the perfect destination for a winter getaway. Beginning with grand holiday celebrations in December to the more serene winter months of January and February, families, romantics and winter sports enthusiasts will find a wide variety of activities to inspire warm memories.

One of the top seasonal attractions in North Carolina is the two-month long celebration of Christmas at the Biltmore in Asheville. Docents guide tours through the elaborately decorated, 250-room French Renaissance chateau featuring 100 hand-decorated Christmas trees. All winter long a European-inspired village, wine tasting, dining, shopping, carriage rides and more grace the Biltmore Estate. biltmore.com

Kids and adults alike will have sugar plum fairies dancing in their heads when they view the elaborately themed gingerbread entries in the 2021 National Gingerbread Contest held at the Omni Grove Park Inn. The entries and winners of the largest gingerbread contest in the world are on display the entire month of December. omnihotels.com/ hotels/asheville-grove-park/

Snow enthusiasts will delight in a plethora of winter activities at Sugar Mountain Resort in Banner Elk including skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating and snowshoeing. Sugar Mountain is the largest snow-sport resort in North Carolina and offers the largest vertical drop (1,200 feet) in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. Also at the resort is the

Photo of skiers courtesy of Bushphoto.com; spa courtesy of the Omni Grove Park Inn; Biltmore courtesy of The Biltmore Company; fire courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com

Christmas at the Biltmore

can’t-miss Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, a cross between a roller coaster and toboggan run. skisugar.com

Mount Mitchell State Park is home to several trails that, together, make up the highest trail system in the Southeast. Nearby, the Bare Dark Sky Observatory hosts an incredible stargazing experience for adults and kids alike and provides a special space-themed treat for all visitors—a Milky Way candy bar! mayland.edu/foundation/ foundation-events/observatory

In Hendersonville, a different kind of hike can be found with the Cheers! Trail, showcasing four different types of craft beverages. There are 23 different tasting experiences along the trail to choose from, involving 11 breweries, 6 wineries, 3 hard cideries and one meadery. A Cheers! Trail Passport can be purchased at the Hendersonville

One of the top seasonal attractions in North Carolina is the two-month long celebration of Christmas at the Biltmore in Asheville.

Pillar Roof Top Bar

Visitor’s Center for $10. Each stop on the trail will stamp the passport, and with enough stamps, they can be redeemed for some sweet swag. visithendersonvillenc.org/cheers-trail

The Great Hall at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn may be the best place in the area to relax, with rocking chairs positioned perfectly in front of a 36-foot stone fireplace. The 43,000-square-foot subterranean spa is also an incomparable escape, with luxurious spa pools made for a relaxing soak and hot stone massages provided by trained a masseuse.

Downtown Asheville offers plenty of places to stay cozy while enjoying winter. The French Broad Chocolate Lounge is known for their signature hot chocolates along with hand-crafted bonbons, brownies, confections and pastries made in their local bean-to-bar chocolate factory. Tours of the chocolate factory are also available. frenchbroadchocolates.com