Top things to do in the High Country this winter
Each year the mountains of the High Country turn into a winter wonderland when the cold wind blows and snow blankets the trees. This may be the best place to be during the winter, but what are the best things to do to take advantage of the most wonderful time of the year?
Let this list of the top things to do in the High Country this winter be your guide to the snowy season in and around Banner Elk.
Shred the slopes
One of the best parts about being at Lees-McRae in the winter is that we are positioned between two of the state’s best ski mountains. Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Resort offer top-of-the-line ski and snowboard routes. Both mountains are open now for the season.
Go out to Beech Mountain on Tuesdays throughout the season to take advantage of their student night discounts or show your student ID to get a discount at Sugar Mountain throughout the week!
Sled the slopes
If you’re looking to take it a bit easier on the slopes, skip the skis and opt for a snow tube instead at Hawksnest Snow Tubing. This alternative snow sport is typically cheaper and more accessible to a variety of people who want to enjoy the slopes but may not know how to ski or snowboard—or who just want a different perspective going down the mountain!
Snow tubing at Hawksnest is available to guests of all ages, making it a great activity to do with friends or family this season.
Enjoy some live music at the Beech
Not into skiing or sledding? Lucky for you, Beech Mountain also offers winter activities for those who prefer to stay cozy inside and enjoy some live music. The resort’s Winter Music Series offers performances in the Beech Mountain Brewing Co. Taproom and Grill multiple days a week throughout the season. Many of the performances are free to the public.
This year’s series features performances from North Carolina-based indie rock band Barefoot Modern; folk-Americana band The Wildwoods; Atlanta’s rock-n-roll group Bird Dog Jubilee; Wilson Springs Hotel, a self-described “genreless” band from Virginia, and many more.
Celebrate seasonal sports at Mountainfilm on Tour
Attending Mountainfilm on Tour, a part of the college’s High Country Adventure Film and Speaker Series for this year, is another great way to appreciate the adventure of snow sports without hitting the slopes yourself. This year’s Mountainfilm on Tour event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8 in Hayes Auditorium.
Mountainfilm on Tour will feature a collection of culturally rich, adventure-packed, and engaging documentary short films that align with Mountainfilm’s mission to use the power of film, art, and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Ice skate at App Ski Mountain
Just down the mountain from Lees-McRae is Appalachian Ski Mountain, another great destination for skiing and snowboarding. In addition to those traditional offerings, however, Appalachian Ski Mountain also features an ice-skating rink, which is open to the public.
The rink is open seven nights a week and skates are available for rent on site. Test out your “ice legs” then take a break and cozy up by the rink-side bonfire.
Enjoy snow-topped mountains from above
Visits to Grandfather Mountain, specifically to cross the mile-high swinging bridge, are a popular destination during the warmer months, but did you know the park is open year-round? With the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, Grandfather Mountain offers its full range of activities throughout the winter.
Walk across the bridge to appreciate a good snowfall from a different point of view or observe the animals in Grandfather’s wildlife habitat as they frolic through the flakes.
Catch a performance of the Scottish play
From Thursday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 1 the Lees-McRae Theatre Arts program will run one of the most iconic Shakespearean tragedies, “Macbeth.” Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” reveals to us the danger of ambition, crafting a terrifying parable in which great people are destroyed by the power of their own success.
There will be evening and matinee performances of this storied play, and tickets for all performances of the production will go on sale in the new year.
Learn more about this Theatre Arts season
