Where to go for snow ⛷️

10 places to ski, snowboard, and tube near Raleigh

A group of three in snow gear riding a ski lift.

Hatley Pointe’s slopes are powder fresh in the Blue Ridge Mountains. | Photo provided by Hatley Pointe

You may already be aware that the City of Oaks is not exactly the city of slopes, but a winter sports trip may not be as far from home as you think. We’ve rounded up 10 resorts to ski, snowboard, and tube within five hours of Raleigh to inspire your next snowy adventure.

Appalachian Ski Mtn., 940 Ski Mountain Rd., Blowing Rock, NC | ~3 hours from downtown | Season: December-March | Skiing (13 trails), snowboarding, ice skating

Sugar Mountain Resort, 1009 Sugar Mountain Dr., Sugar Mountain, NC | ~3.5 hours from downtown | Season: November-March | Skiing (21 trails), snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing

Hawksnest Snow Tubing, 2058 Skyland Dr., Seven Devils, NC | ~3.5 hours from downtown | Season: November-March | 30 lanes of snow tubing, from 400 to 1,000 ft

Ski lifts at Sugar Mountain. — Ski the slopes of Sugar Mountain.

Beech Mountain Resort, 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy., Beech Mountain, NC | ~3.5 hours from downtown | Season: November-March | Skiing (17 trails), snowboarding, terrain park, tubing, snowshoeing, sledding

Wintergreen Resort, 39 Mountain Inn Loop, Nellysford, VA | ~3.5 hours from downtown | Season: December-March | Skiing (27 trails), snowboarding, tubing

Winterplace Ski Resort, 100 Old Flat Top Mt. Rd., Ghent, WV | ~3 hours 45 minutes from downtown | Season: December-March | Skiing (28 trails), snowboarding, terrain park, tubing

A women skiing down a mountain. — Beech Mountain Resort also has amenities like a skybar, brewery, and scenic lift rides.

Hatley Pointe, 578 Valley View Cir., Mars Hill, NC | ~4 hours from downtown | Season: December-March | Skiing (20 trails) + snowboarding

Black Bear Snow Tubing, 373 Kerr Rd., Hendersonville | ~4 hours from downtown | Season: December-March | 500 ft of snow tubing

Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing Park, 5865 Willow Rd., Hendersonville | ~4 hours from downtown | 600 ft of snow tubing

Cataloochee Ski Area, 1080 Ski Lodge Rd., Maggie Valley, NC | ~4.5 hours from downtown | Season: November-March | Skiing (18 trails), snowboarding, terrain park, tubing

Did we miss your favorite spot? Let us know.

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Friday, Jan. 6

Early Birds at Prairie Ridge | Friday, Jan. 6 | 7-9 a.m. | Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr., Raleigh | Free | Bring your own binoculars or camera and stop by before opening to enjoy early morning birds.
NC Chinese Lantern Festival | Friday, Jan. 6-Sunday, Jan. 8 | 6-10 p.m. | Koka Booth Amphiteatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary | $11-$35 | It’s the last week to see this collection of 40+ displays, all crafted by Chinese artisans and comprised of hundreds of parts and thousands of lights.
First Friday | Friday, Jan. 6 | 5:30 p.m. | City Plaza, 443 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | Head downtown for First Friday celebrations featuring free outdoor group fitness classes, a walking route through art installations, non-alcoholic cocktails, and more.*

Saturday, Jan. 7

Winter Farmers’ Market | Saturday, Jan. 7 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Commons at North Hills, 4191 Main at North Hills St., Raleigh | Free | Shop produce, seafood, meats, and baked goods at this mini market.
Winter Wedding Show | Saturday, Jan. 7 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Jim Graham Building, 4285 Trinity Rd., Raleigh | $15-$60 | Plan your wedding with help from local professionals, watch a runway fashion show, and explore displays featuring popular trends.
Voices of the Carolinas Artist Exhibit Opening Ceremony | Saturday, Jan. 7 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | The Chapel at Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr., Raleigh | Free | This curated, month-long exhibition by the Raleigh Film and Art Festival showcases unique artistic expressions from across NC.

Sunday, Jan. 8

Pride Flow | Sunday, Jan. 8 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Current Wellness, 219 S. East St., Raleigh | Free | Join Current Wellness for a yoga class to support the LGBT Center of Raleigh.
Plant Sale | Sunday, Jan. 8 | 1-3 p.m. | The Optimist, 100 Brookside Dr., Raleigh | Free | Shop unique plants from Dirtbag Gardens and bring plants to swap with other shoppers.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

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Portrait of businesswoman standing against a wooden wall in office.

SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. | Photo by Dean Mitchell

Question: What if you could get professional financial advice so you’re set up to work smarter (not harder) and potentially retire early? Yes, please.

Newsflash: You can. SmartAsset — an industry-disrupting service created by a Princeton grad — offers a free, three-minute quiz that matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area, who can help you work towards financial freedom.*

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Weather

57º | Sunny | 2% chance of rain ☀️

Coming Soon

Another restaurant has been announced for the Main District Expansion project (currently under construction) in North Hills. The upscale Limani Grille, based out of New York, will serve Mediterranean seafood including traditional Greek specialties. Its menu features whole fish, filet mignon souvlaki, and a lamb shawarma sandwich. 🏗️

Civic

The City of Raleigh is seeking community input on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. Read: How do you want the city’s money to be spent? Take the Budget Priority Survey for a chance to win one of five $50 gift cards. Responses will be collected through Feb. 28. Pro tip: It took us ~10 minutes.

Concert

Grammy Award winner Sam Smith is bringing GLORIA the tour to PNC Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Tickets go on sale Monday, Jan. 9 at 9 a.m. 🎶

Eat

A’verde is hosting a five-course Top Chef Celebrity Dinner on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Chefs Katsuji Tanabe, Brittanny Anderson, and Brother Luck will collaborate to prepare creative dishes in their signature styles. Bonus: Cocktail pairings are included. Reserve your spot. 🔪

Try This

Twelve local eateries — including Sassool Cafe, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, and Little Blue Bakehouse — are participating in the Triangle Food Passport program. Get yours for $25 to redeem passport-exclusive offers and collect all 12 stamps. 🌎

Read

Earlier this week, local award-winning artist Dare Coulter and bestselling author Kwame Alexander kicked off their national book tour to promote “An American Story,” a new children’s book about slavery. The story explains American slavery through the voice of a teacher trying to help her students understand its place in history. (INDY Week)

Ranked

According to a report from the Inspection Support Network, Raleigh’s metropolitan area is expected to grow at the second-fastest rate in the nation. Raleigh’s population grew at a rate of 11.1% from 2016 to 2021. Wondering how this could impact the area’s housing market? Read our 2023 predictions for Raleigh real estate. 🏡

Seasonal

Don’t let chilly temperatures keep you from going to outdoor sporting events or enjoying local hiking trails. Stock up on HotHands Hand Warmers + keep the feeling in your fingers all season long. Or try this rechargeable electric hand warmer with three different heat levels.*

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Un-decking the halls sustainably ♻️

Recycling during the holidays in Raleigh, NC

Take your tree to the curb on yard waste day, but don’t put it in the bin. | Graphic via City of Raleigh

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to deal with that “Night of the Living Dead” tree in the corner. That doesn’t mean it’s dumpster-bound. Instead, here’s how you can recycle your Christmas tree locally.

Curbside pick up: The City of Raleigh will recycle your tree for you — just bring it to the curb on your neighborhood’s usual yard waste collection day before Feb. 6. Leave it on the ground, not in your recycling bin. The tree will be turned into mulch for city landscaping.
Drop off: Take your tree to one of the designated drop-off locations, now until Jan. 22. Your tree will be used to mulch trails at local parks.
Pro tip: To make sure your tree gets properly recycled, remove all decorations, lights, and the tree stand.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anne.

Editor’s pick: One of my goals for the year is to volunteer more — that’s why I plan to attend A Place At The Table’s next volunteer information session on Monday, Jan. 9 at 12 p.m. Bonus: It’s on Zoom so I can easily attend during my lunch break.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? A new alcohol-free bar is coming to downtown Raleigh.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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