A Journey through the High Country is One Worth Taking

From the excitement of the powdery slopes to the countless adventures of the rugged terrain, North Carolina’s High Country is a land for every outdoor adventurer. All you need to do is grab your ski boots (or hiking shoes) and go for an excursion you won’t soon forget.

With four spectacular ski resorts only a few short miles from most High Country rentals, you can enjoy a day of downhill action and then set out for an entirely new experience the next morning. When searching for the most convenient winter home base, consider Banner Elk since it rests right in between the Sugar Mountain Resort in Sugar Mountain and the Ski Beech Mountain Resort in Beech Mountain.

However, don’t limit yourself to just two of the ski areas, particularly since the Hawknest Resort in Seven Devils is perfect for families with the largest snow tubing park in North Carolina, 12 trails, and a terrain park. The Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock is another excellent selection, so be sure to keep your options open to any of the great snow-filled sports and sights.

While winter is certainly breathtaking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the warm weather months are overflowing with activities that are almost too numerous to list. Hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, whitewater rafting, and golfing are just the tip of the iceberg in the High Country, but no matter which ones are set on your itinerary, the real attraction of any adventure is the undeniable beauty of Mother Nature.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is always the best place to start since it passes right through the High Country and offers some of the best views and parks off its route. Grandfather Mountain near Linville, the massive Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, Mount Mitchell State Park in Burnsville, and the New River State Park in Ashe County are just a few of the places that offer breathtaking, scenic vistas that will have you coming back year after year.