6 Winter Weekend Getaways in North Carolina

Winter months can often feel long. Some might even say depressing. What better way to break up the perpetual motion than to book a weekend getaway? Here are 6 winter weekend getaways in North Carolina to spark your interest.

Sugar Mountain

Looking for a little winter adventure. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort has it all. Not only can you hit the slopes for a day of skiing and snowboarding. You also have the option of snow tubing and ice skating. A full weekend of snow much fun!

If you are hoping to get a little hiking in as well. I highly recommend checking out the Linville Gorge Wilderness area 20 miles south of the resort. Depending on the weather there are beautiful waterfalls to hike to. Also, an amazing overlook as seen below.   

The Linville Caverns are a fun adventure into the underground. Make sure to book tickets in advance they sell out quickly, even in the winter.

If you would like more details about this fun adventure check out this blog post.

Great Smokey National Park

There are many towns you can stay in close to this amazing park. Where you can not only enjoy the park but take in some of the Appalachia Mountain culture.

To name a few; Cherokee, Maggie Valley, Bryson City, and Waynesville. You could even cross state lines into Tennessee and enjoy the National Park from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area.

Take part in winter activities like skiing and snow tubing. Gamble at Harrahs Cherokee Casino. Take in a few breweries and wineries. Enjoy local artists. Always enjoy some delicious homestyle cooking.

Within the park not only will you find beautiful overlooks, hikes, and waterfalls. You also have to opportunity to see wild elk and black bears. To some that might seem scary. However, if you mind your distance they are fascinating creatures to watch.

Asheville

If you are looking for a little more city-mountain life, then Asheville is a wonderful choice. With endless amounts of breweries and wineries to keep the fun going.

Asheville is known for its very strong art scene. After recently visiting Austin, TX I see a lot of similarities in style and culture. So, if you’re a fan of Austin then you will want to check out Asheville and vice versa.

 Then the Vanderbilt’s beautiful Biltmore Estate is close by and of course many outdoor exploration opportunities.

Wilmington

An historic port city. There are so many options to choose from at this location. Take in the battleship, stroll down historic downtown, eat riverfront, and watch the barges come and go.

Then, of course, Wrightsville Beach is just a few miles away. There is something truly magical about the beach in wintertime. With all the summer activities out of the question, the beaches are less crowded but usually still warm enough to stroll down the soft sand or sit and take in the quiet beauty.

Morehead

These crystal blue waters will have you coming back again and again. Atlantic Beach is just over the bridge and has beautiful white sandy beaches. Then just to the north you have Beaufort which has a quainter cottage charm feel to it.

This area is known for its fishing opportunities and therefore has some of the freshest seafood around. I suggest planning a healthy restaurant budget when visiting here because you will want to try many local spots along the waterway.

If you are a chocolate lover, then be sure to check out the Carolina Chocolate Festival held in Morehead each February.

Outer Banks

This stretch of barrier islands packs a large wintertime fun punch. May I suggest starting at the top and working your way down the islands. Stopping to visit the 5 different lighthouses and 10 small villages along the way.

This was the very first trip my husband and I did together and to this day it is still one of my favorite trips.

If you like to fish make sure to take some surf rods and a 4WD vehicle so you can explore the beaches.

Head to Jockey’s Ridge State Park to see where the Wright brothers took off on the infamous first flight. Likewise, with Outer Banks persistent wind kite flying is always a favorite past time.

Ocracoke is my favorite island in the chain and if you would like to know more about what this island has to offer be sure to check out my ultimate guide to Ocracoke.

Takeaway

While this list contains a few winter weekend getaway ideas in North Carolina. There are countless others. North Carolina provides so many great options from the coast to the mountains.

Go out and explore. Sometimes the destination doesn’t have to be grand. As long as you’re with the right people in the right destination.

Need help getting this trip booked? Snag my 6 Key Decisions to Quickly Get Your Next Trip Booked worksheet to help you get planning today. Trip planning doesn’t have to be hard. You just need to know what you want and get the ball rolling.

That getaway is not going to book itself after all! ; P

Until our next adventure…keep planning your biggest dreams.