Barrett Farm Ponds in Bunn, NC is a family-friendly catch-and-release sport fishing spot featuring multiple stocked ponds full of bass, bluegill, bream, catfish, and crappie that anglers of all ages can enjoy. With plenty of shoreline space, welcoming country vibes, and a relaxed environment close to the Triangle, it’s a…

Snow skiing at Appalachian Ski Mtn. delivers smooth trails, dependable snowmaking, and an inviting atmosphere ideal for all skill levels. Its nighttime skiing, careful grooming, and classic mountain charm make it one of the best ski experiences in the High Country.

The farm tour at Lowrey’s Fish Farm & Sadie’s Channel Cats is a $10 guided experience that walks visitors through the ponds, operations, and daily routines of the fish farm. Friendly staff explain everything from feeding to pond management, making it a fun and educational outing for families, kids, and…

Lowrey’s Fish Farm & Sadie’s Channel Cats in Rowland, NC offers relaxed, family-friendly pond fishing where folks can catch catfish straight from well-stocked ponds, bring boats if they want, and take home the fish they catch. With regular tournaments, guided tours, overnight camping, and all the gear available onsite, it’s…

Gem mining at Grandfather Trout Farm and Gem Mining offers a full outdoor sluice setup with shovels, sifters, and flowing water where visitors can uncover gems from small ($15), medium ($25), or large ($50) mining buckets. With plenty of colorful stones to discover and a scenic mountain setting, it’s a…

Fishing at Grandfather Trout Farm and Gem Mining offers a simple, no-license-needed experience where families catch-and-keep rainbow trout from well-stocked ponds using gear provided onsite. With friendly staff and beautiful mountain surroundings, it’s an easy and memorable way to enjoy Banner Elk’s outdoors.

Cooper Creek Trout Farm & Pond in Bryson City offers easy, year-round trout fishing right from a well-stocked pond where you keep whatever you catch, making it a fun and rewarding outing for anglers of all ages. They provide poles, bait, buckets, and help if you need it, so you…

Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing offers fast, thrilling runs down a long, steep tubing hill with a lift to bring riders back up for more fun. With a playful, rustic atmosphere and plenty of snowy excitement, it’s a favorite winter experience for families and groups in Western North Carolina.

Zip N Slip in Mars Hill, NC offers fun, family-friendly snow tubing with multiple exciting runs and a magic carpet that carries you back to the top for more laps. With timed sessions and cozy amenities like a solarium with a fireplace, it’s an easy and memorable winter outing for…

The outdoor rink provides a smooth, well-maintained surface where skaters can glide under the crisp mountain air, surrounded by stunning Blue Ridge views.

Snow tubing at Tube World in Maggie Valley delivers fast, family-friendly fun on groomed lanes with a convenient carpet lift that keeps the rides coming. With set session times, mountain views, and a laid-back Smoky Mountain atmosphere, it’s an easy and exciting way to enjoy winter in Western North Carolina.

Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing in Newland, NC offers fast, family-friendly snow tubing in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, complete with long lanes and a convenient magic carpet lift. With timed sessions, easy online booking, and classic High Country charm, it’s a simple and exciting way to enjoy winter…

Ice skating at Appalachian Ski Mtn. combines smooth ice, classic winter charm, and a friendly atmosphere just outside Boone and Blowing Rock. It’s a delightful, accessible activity perfect for families, couples, and anyone looking to enjoy the season.

Snowboarding at Appalachian Ski Mtn. offers smooth runs, reliable snow, and some of the best-maintained terrain parks in the region. Its nighttime riding, inviting atmosphere, and convenient High Country location make it a standout destination for both new and experienced riders.

Ski Sapphire Valley’s Frozen Falls Tube Park offers a fun and easygoing snow tubing experience with a 500-foot run, a convenient moving sidewalk lift, and a scenic Blue Ridge Mountain setting that makes it perfect for families and first-time snow-goers.

Ski Sapphire Valley offers a calm, beginner-friendly skiing experience with gentle slopes, a simple layout, and a welcoming atmosphere ideal for families and new skiers. Its modest size and scenic Blue Ridge Mountain setting create a laid-back alternative to the larger, more crowded ski resorts.

Ski Sapphire Valley provides a comfortable snowboarding experience perfect for beginners and casual riders, with gentle terrain, helpful instruction, and a welcoming mountain vibe. Its smaller size and focus on accessibility create a relaxed alternative to bigger, more challenging resorts.

Snow tubing at Hawksnest in Seven Devils, NC is a high-energy winter favorite, featuring wide, groomed lanes that let riders zoom down snowy slopes on giant inner tubes with exhilarating speed and ease. Its fun, family-friendly atmosphere combined with stunning mountain scenery and effortless lift access makes it a must-do…

Hatley Pointe offers a modern, boutique snowboarding experience with smooth terrain, strong snowmaking, and minimal crowds. Recent upgrades and a welcoming atmosphere make it stand out as one of the most polished and enjoyable mountains in the region.

Hatley Pointe provides a refined skiing experience with strong grooming, efficient operations, and terrain for all abilities. Its upgraded facilities and intimate atmosphere make it a standout for skiers seeking quality over crowd size.

Friendly, efficient, and ideal for newer skiers, Cataloochee is a “first mountain” with surprisingly good snow and service for its size. Rather than steep challenges, it delivers relaxed turns, high‑elevation atmosphere, and the kind of uncomplicated fun that keeps people coming back.

At Cataloochee, snowboarding thrives on reliable snow and a relaxed vibe rather than steep challenge and big airs. Whether you’re just learning to link heelside turns or cruising through the terrain park, the setting is friendly, accessible, and full of mountain character.

Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, NC, offers an exciting snow tubing experience perfect for winter adventure seekers of all ages.

The resort’s dedicated tubing hill features 6–8 lanes, each stretching a generous 700 feet and flanked by high-powered snowmaking guns to ensure consistently slick, fast surfaces.

Perched at 5,506 feet—the highest town and ski area east of the Rockies—the resort benefits from cooler temperatures and consistently solid snowfall.

Situated at an altitude of 5,506 feet—the highest ski destination east of the Rockies—the resort offers crisp, stable temperatures that help preserve both natural snowfall and artificial snow thanks to 100% slope coverage.

The park features a 600-foot-long tubing hill with an 80-foot vertical drop, delivering fast, exciting descents that are suitable for both kids and adults. What makes it especially unique is the ability to operate in both cold and warm weather seasons—thanks to special synthetic lanes and top-tier snowmaking equipment.

This thoughtfully designed track features 13 obstacles, including floating bridges, hill climbs, and “Boulder Mountain,” offering a spirited challenge for RC off-roaders of all levels. Whether you're piloting your own rig or renting one on-site, it's a hands-on experience that blends outdoor adventure with detailed technical skill.

Guests climb aboard a tractor-drawn wagon and wind their way up to the top of Poplar Mountain—over 3,200 feet in elevation. Along the route, the ride passes through a working apple orchard, offering a slice of Appalachian farm life mixed with fresh mountain air and breathtaking viewpoints.

With over 100 acres of skiable terrain and a vertical drop of 1,200 feet, riders can carve their way down long, sweeping runs or challenge themselves on steeper slopes.

As the largest ski area in the state, Sugar offers over 125 acres of terrain with 21 slopes and trails that cater to every skill level—from gentle beginner runs to challenging black diamonds for advanced skiers.

The resort features a spacious, outdoor ice-skating rink surrounded by the scenic backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, making it a picture-perfect spot for families, couples, and friends.

The tubing park features multiple lanes carved into the slope, each offering a thrilling ride down on an oversized inner tube.

Away from the busy ski slopes, the snowshoe trails wind through quiet forests and open meadows blanketed in fresh powder, offering a serene escape into nature.

Highlands Outpost in Scaly Mountain, NC, is home to the Scaly Mountain Screamer, North Carolina’s longest mountain coaster, featuring over 3,800 feet of track with thrilling 360-degree turns and stunning Appalachian Mountain views.