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.
208 North Davie 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 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
Tucked into a historic neighborhood, a backyard in Forsyth County holds hundreds of Southern wildflowers collected by one wild flower woman.
John Champlin has traveled across the state — and the nation — in search of hard-to-find spots that serve an unforgettable hot dog. After 11 years, what he’s discovered goes way beyond the bun.
In the early 20th century, textile mill owners sponsored baseball teams, providing entertainment for their employees and nurturing a passion for the game that’s been handed down through generations of North Carolinians.
Our writer reflects on where his love of vinyl began, and how the snap, crackle, and pop of a needle sliding across a turntable will always satisfy his soul.
