Boone’s Winter Wonderland Provides Fun All Season Long. Snowy adventures abound for families visiting North Carolina’s High Country with skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and ice skating at the top of the list. 

Here’s the scoop. Boone area ski season often stretches from November to late March with slope conditions remaining consistent, thanks to the area’s massive snowmaking power. Add to this the fact that the High Country receives as much natural snowfall as Buffalo, New York, and you have the perfect combination of incredible skiing, a spectacular scenery, and family-friendly Southern hospitality. 

With three equally great ski resort options for wintery family fun in the Boone area, no matter the age mix of your family there will be a perfect fit. 

The Best for Beginners. Appalachian Ski Mountain’s beginner terrain makes it perfect to learn to ski or brush up on your skills if it’s been a while since you hit the slopes. Home to the French-Swiss Ski College, a nationally renowned ski school, there are group and private lessons for skiers and snowboarders from beginner to expert, including the SkiWee program for kids. Appalachian Ski Mountain is serious about snowboarding and freestyle skiing, too, with three separate terrain parks and up to 60 rails, boxes, tabletops, and other features. 

The welcoming base lodge embodies Appalachian Ski Mountain’s family atmosphere. The upper lodge has a mesmerizing slope-side view from an outside deck, and the huge fireplace in the main dining room is always ablaze with 4-foot logs. Best of all, there is on-site dining ranging from fast food to hearty, home-cooked meals. The lower lodge has ticket windows, a full-service ski shop, and ski and clothing rentals.

 
There’s plenty for non-skiers here, too. In fact, Appalachian Ski Mountain’s ice skating experience has just been named one of the best in the nation for families. The rink sits on a scenic rise with spectacular views of the ski slopes on one side and rippling distant mountains on the other. Rink-side seating is ample and a bonfire keeps spectators warm. Daily ice skating sessions are offered with figure skates included—hockey skates are extra. Lessons for individuals and group lessons are available, too. Details: Toll-free 1-800-322-2373 or visit www.appskimtn.com.

The Best for Three Generations. The 5,506-foot summit of Beech Mountain Resort rises higher than any ski resort east of the Rockies, and the town of Beech Mountain is the highest municipality on the East Coast. But what’s even more impressive is the fact that, on a clear day, the views from here stretch for miles across Tennessee and north to Virginia.

Beech Mountain Resort has beginner areas, intermediate slopes, and expert runs with vistas that extend to Mount Mitchell in the distance and the nearby summits of the Appalachian Trail. A terrain park entices snowboarders and freestyle skiers. But most notably, the resort maintains a Professional Ski Instructors of America school with an adaptive ski program that enables physically and mentally challenged guests of all ages to enjoy the adventure of skiing.

Make no mistake, Beech Mountain Resort is has the most charming setting for ice-skating in the High Country. The stunning alpine-style architecture, shops, and eateries of Beech Tree Village surround the resort’s 7,000 square-foot skating rink. Three daily skating sessions are offered during the week—with even more offered on weekends and skates are included in the price. Details: Toll-free 1-800-438-2093 or www.skibeech.com.

The Newest Additions to Winter. For the winter 2015/16 season, Sugar Mountain Resort has opened a new 2,000 foot-long intermediate slope and added new snowmaking facilities as well as lights for night skiing. All of this complements what was already an impressive winter destination for families, complete with a ski and snowboard school, mile-and-a-half-long intermediate runs, and North Carolina's only double black diamond run for experts only. 

Sugar Mountain Resort’s lodge has everything families need in one place, including a cafeteria, lounge, ski rentals, and the Sugar Mountain Winter Sports Shop. The lodge also offers the only guided snowshoe hikes in the Boone area. This popular outdoor activity is perfect for the whole family. Snowshoes are included in the activity fee. 

Of course, there’s also a huge 10,000 square-foot ice skating rink near the resort’s snow tubing facility. Skating sessions are offered daily with hockey or figure skates included. Details: Toll-free 1-800-SUG-ARMT or  www.skisugar.com.

Make it happen.  Boone Convention & Visitors Bureau 208 Howard Street Boone, North Carolina 28607. (828) 262-3516, toll-free 1-800-852-9506 FREE or www.ExploreBooneArea.com.