Taking time off from work is critical for our relationships and to sustain a productive workforce. With Americans taking the least amount of vacation in nearly 40 years, it is more important than ever to break away from our office desks this holiday season and take an epic winter vacation. North Carolina mountains have some of the best snow skiing in the United States and offer picturesque winter scenes that will leave you in awe. Whether you’re an advanced skier or just beginning, these top three North Carolina ski areas will give you an epic winter experience:
Sugar Mountain
As the largest ski resort in North Carolina, Sugar Mountain offers 115 acres of skiable terrain, eight lifts, and 20 different trails that are divided into 35 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, and 15 percent advanced. Located in the Village of Sugar Mountain, this ski resort is popular with families who enjoy beginner terrain such as Easy Street, while more advanced skiers can ski the more advanced Boulder Dash and Whoopdeedoo trails. Sugar Mountain also offers ice skating, a public racing program, and a guided snowshoe tour.
Season: November-March
Best Trails: Boulder Dash (a black diamond ski trail) and Easy Street (for beginners).
Where to Stay: Spoil yourself at the Sugar Ski & Country Club with their Jacuzzis, sauna, indoor heated pool, tennis and basketball courts, and amazing panoramic views.
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Located in the Blue Ridge region of North Carolina, Appalachian Ski Mountain offers twelve slopes that are 25 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, and 25 percent advanced. Their five lifts feature two quads and one double chair. This ski area is also popular for families and is home for the French-Swiss Ski College, an award-winning ski and snowboard school. For this reason, it is the perfect place to brush up on your skiing skills and learn from the best. All of Appalachian Ski Mountain’s trails are lighted for night skiing as well, so you can enjoy the mountain both day and night. The resort also has an ice rink maintained by a Zamboni.
Season: November-April
Best Trails: The Orchard Run (intermediate) and the Upper Big Appal (advanced).
Where to Stay: Westglow Resort and Spa is an all-inclusive spa resort that is close to Appalachian Ski Mountain and minutes away from Blowing Rock, North Carolina so you can be close to the fun, yet still enjoy a secluded vacation.
Beech Mountain Resort
Beech Mountain Resort boasts the highest ski area in Eastern America and is a popular winter vacation spot in North Carolina. This resort has 15 slopes divided into 30 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, and 30 percent advanced runs. The resort also has a fixed-speed quad, a fixed-grip quad, two surface lifts, and five double chairs. Beech Mountain Resort’s halfpipe is another draw for skiers and snowboarders alike and the family tubing park can be a fun break from skiing. If you’ve had your fill of the snow, you can grab a beer at their brewery or visit one of their many eateries in the area.
Season: Late November-March
Best Trails: White Lightning (advanced)
Where to Stay: The Pinnacle Inn offers reasonable prices and boasts Wi-Fi in every room and easy access to Beech Mountain.
A Ski Vacation That You Deserve
If you have been working hard, it’s time to give yourself a break and visit one of these three fantastic ski resorts. Taking a vacation can not only improve your relationships with family and friends, but it can also improve your performance at work. You can boost your productivity even more by renting your own executive suite at YourOffice Ballantyne and getting two months free rent in the process. Returning from your vacation feeling rejuvenated to an office you feel comfortable in is key to maximizing your work performance.
