Looking for perfect winter vacation (Hickory, Boone: ski resorts, for rent, hotel)

[FLnot4ME]

Hi there,

I am not a frequent poster, but a very frequent reader of the posts on the city-data forums. Great info overall. Great site. Anyway..

My husband, 6 year old daughter, and I are taking a small mini-vacation the first week of January because my daughter would like to see snow. What we really want is to visit a small(ish) town with good winter entertainment and shopping. I don't mean "mall" shopping... I mean like cute small town store types. We're not very athletic and don't really want a ski vacation. I guess we want to pretend we live in the mountains for 4 days and have a good time. Any suggestions on towns? Lodging?

Any ideas would be appreciated. PS. We are not particular about the area. I posted on the West NC forum just because I thought it would be a good starting place... but we're open to anything in GA, TN, NC. We don't want to go further north because we will be driving there from S. Fl.

thanks.

[Asheville Native]

Snow is becoming scarce due to the drought, now 2 or 3 years long, and warming. It does snow at times, but is gone in a day or so. The ski resorts do make snow, but it can also be warm enough where the slops are bare. A trip to NC to see snow will be a crap shoot, maybe you will see some, and maybe you won't even need a jacket to stay warm.

[mdp_az]

We went to our vacation home in Ashe County every other weekend last winter, and for the entire week after Christmas and saw nothing more than a light flurry...and I bought my wife snowshoes for Christmas last year! Thankfully we travelled to Idaho for a real winter vacation and she used them out there!

[skymax_taf]

The other responses to your question were quite correct. Seeing snow in the NC mountains is a crap shoot due to the lack of rain we have been experiencing and the warm winters. To further answer your question, I would recommend Blowing Rock, the two Jeffersons, Mountain City Tennessee and fontana dam. Based upon what you said you wanted, these towns have unique properties (shopping and quirkiness) that say Boone or Hickory do not give since they are more mainstream.

[mdp_az]

I guess I really didn't offer any recommendations before, however I'd echo the recommendation of the Jeffersons, and really anywhere in Ashe County. West Jefferson is the heart of the county and is an incredibly charming little town w/ a real working downtown. There are shops, galleries, restaurants, and an awesome coffee shop! There are many cabins for rent throughout the county and most can be had for around $125-150/night. You can get to fairly reliable snow from Ashe rather quickly by heading north to Grayson Highlands State Park in VA, which has elevations approaching 5000' and much colder weather than the surrounding towns. Its only about a 45 minute drive from West Jeff.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by mdp_az

I guess I really didn't offer any recommendations before, however I'd echo the recommendation of the Jeffersons, and really anywhere in Ashe County. West Jefferson is the heart of the county and is an incredibly charming little town w/ a real working downtown. There are shops, galleries, restaurants, and an awesome coffee shop! There are many cabins for rent throughout the county and most can be had for around $125-150/night. You can get to fairly reliable snow from Ashe rather quickly by heading north to Grayson Highlands State Park in VA, which has elevations approaching 5000' and much colder weather than the surrounding towns. Its only about a 45 minute drive from West Jeff.

This is actually a great suggestion - it you head to Grayson Highlands, which is a very easy drive from Jefferson, you would most likely find some snow in January - plus it's just a beautiful drive to get there

[migee]

I cannot say that you would see snow there - But for a 4 day stay, with a 6 year old - I'd say for both you and your child the aquarium and other things in the area would certainly be great (I'm over 50, and I was awed by the aquarium).

And, you can take a day trip to find some snow, a nice forest...

I spent a few days there and found it great...Walking around looking at the shops...I do not know if nearby Dollywood is open at that time, but there is plenty other things to do there...And, I found the hotel rates to be very reasonable...You can even get a log cabin nearby...

[mdp_az]

Another place you can drive to pretty reliable snow is up at Roan Mountain near the NC/TN state line. Its only about a 30 minute drive from Banner Elk and the elevations approach 6,000'. The AT passes through there and its an absolutely beautiful spot. You could also drive up Mt. Mitchell and reach the highest elevations in the east with some pretty reliable snow in winter. Be forewarned though, that the winds on that ridge in winter can be ferocious!

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by mdp_az

Another place you can drive to pretty reliable snow is up at Roan Mountain near the NC/TN state line. Its only about a 30 minute drive from Banner Elk and the elevations approach 6,000'. The AT passes through there and its an absolutely beautiful spot. You could also drive up Mt. Mitchell and reach the highest elevations in the east with some pretty reliable snow in winter. Be forewarned though, that the winds on that ridge in winter can be ferocious!

and occasionally the road is closed.

[spunky1]

What about Vermont? It has much of what you are looking for, and a much better chance of the white stuff.