Overlooking the ski slopes on one side and the Blue Ridge Mountains on the other, this outdoor ice arena is fully lit for skating under the stars seven nights a week. Warm up between skate sessions at a rink-side bonfire.
940 Ski Mountain Road
(828) 295-7828
appskimtn.com/ice-skating
From mid-November through mid-February, the Upper Pond of the Whitewater Center is a grand 17,000-square-foot ice rink that includes an ice trail and a free-skate area. Skaters can stop for a hot or cold beverage from the Airstream in the center of the frozen pond.
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
(704) 391-3900
whitewater.org/activity/ice-skating
Take an icy spin around the South End area of downtown. Before or after stepping onto the ice, stop for a beer, a meal, and a game or two at nearby Southend Brewing or Boxcar Bar + Arcade.
123 Barnhardt Street
(336) 379-0060
piedmontwinterfest.com
This family-friendly outdoor center, a short drive west of Highlands, offers ice-skating, snow tubing, and rides on a 4,000-foot-tall mountain coaster. After the activities, enjoy a meal at Annie’s Café or a sweet treat — fudge, candy, or ice cream — from the on-site Bartram Market.
7420 Dillard Road
(828) 526-3737
scalymountain.com
If skiing isn’t your style, the 10,000-square-foot ice-skating rink at this resort can give you some fun outdoor entertainment. With the sports shop annex and the resort restaurant located nearby, hot chocolate and a hearty meal are steps away.
1009 Sugar Mountain Drive
(828) 898-4521
skisugar.com/skating
From fossil pits to a helicopter simulator, the littlest Carolinians will discover wonder at these one-of-a-kind museum exhibits across the state.
Don’t just drink your Cheerwine — eat it, too! From cakes to pies to cocktails, you can incorporate this crimson Tar Heel treasure into your next kitchen creation.
Local NC Cooperative Extension experts preserve cherished recipes and introduce kids to the thrill of summer camp — and that’s just a taste of what they provide to their communities.
One of our state’s most common fishes has a rare talent. In the fresh, clear waterways of the mountains and Piedmont, bluehead chubs build nests for their young, stone by tiny stone.
