Beech Mountain Ski Resort in North Carolina

Last weekend we were invited to Beech Mountain, NC  for a special blogger trip at Beech Mountain Resort. I was so excited to take the boys on their first ski trip! Drew has been fixated on learning to snowboard for some time, so he says I'm not allowed to call it a "ski" trip. After only two days, and at age seven, he was owning the slopes on that board. I'm still calling it a ski trip - just don't tell him that! (Honestly, I'm not sure what else you would call it - a winter mountain adventure?)

I'm incredibly grateful to our hosts, because if we had not been invited on this trip, I'm not sure when I would have had the courage to take it on my own. Even though I lived in Vail, CO for a year after college (and learned to ski AT Beech when I was 10), I simply have a hard time with cold weather now - and with visibility too. So I normally choose a warm climate when planning a vacation - the other kind of beach.  But if you can get your kids skiing (or snowboarding) at an early age, it's SO much easier for them to learn - they are fearless little things! And I'm glad I didn't deny mine the opportunity to get an early start. At age 5, Jack stayed on the bunny hill and practiced making pizza (see pic). He had two private lessons. He was a little tired after one day, but you can see by his expression that when he did get going, he had a blast! It looks like a "ski" trip will be an annual thing for our family now - especially if Drew has anything to say about it.

It's been about 12 years since I took to the slopes myself, and the "new" Parabolic skis are nothing like the ones I used to own. There's simply no comparison - it's so much easier to ski on shorter, more rounded skis (no criss-crossing!). I felt much more in control and turning was just so easy!  Of course, you can find much better clothing for outdoor sports these days as well, all the way down to your socks. Those $21 Smartwool socks are worth every penny. Also the Cold Gear Under Armourshirt I bought at Sports Authority made a huge difference! (It wasn't really even that cold in NC during the day, but I like to be toasty.)
First of all, Beech Mountain Resort is a fantastic place to take your kids to learn to ski. Prices are reasonable and great packages are available for lessons, rentals, lift tickets and more. And, it's only about a five hour drive from Atlanta - not bad considering Beech is Eastern America's highest ski area at 5,506 feet in elevation! (Higher than Vermont and not as cold!)

January $45 Learn to Ski-package - In conjunction with the resort’s 45th anniversary, Beech Mountain is offering a Learn to Ski Package for only $45. The package includes a mid-week (Monday-Friday) lift ticket, equipment rental, helmet, and a first-time beginner lesson. This package is available for beginners ages 8 and up only. If you have a free weekend this month, consider heading up on a Thursday night and taking advantage of this great offer!

January Skiing 101 - In conjunction with National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month in January, the Town of Beech Mountain is offering a basic course.  "Skiing 101 at Beech" is a program that provides one night's lodging, equipment rental, helmet rental, full-day lift ticket, and a beginner skiing or snowboarding lesson at Beech Mountain Resort. The month-long program is available Monday through Friday to anyone age eight or older. Cost of enrollment is $101 per person, double occupancy required. For more information visit www.BeachMtn.com/skiing101

Equipment & Gear Rental
Don't have equipment (I don't!)? You can rent it at Beech. That's not unusual of course, but what IS unusual is that you can also rent coats and ski bibs.  I used one of their coats and it was SO much warmer than than the one I owned - a definite plus. Also don't forget about helmets! Back in the day, no one wore helmets while skiing. These days it's pretty normal, and especially recommended for kids. If you don't have your own, you can rent helmets too (they also keep your head warmer which I loved). CLICK HERE for rates and more info.

Lessons for adults and Kids (Youth Learning Center) & Nursery for childcare
CLICK HERE for information on ski/snowboard lessons (group or private). Note you do not reserve a lesson in advance - you just show up with your gear and book it! For kids, one hour lessons are available. But a real bonus is the Youth Learning Center.

Programs at the Youth Learning Center are available for kids 4-12 years old. The full day program is $85 for skiing and $100 for snowboarding and goes from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Program includes lift ticket, equipment rental, instruction, snacks and lunch! (I can't get a babysitter for that price!). Please note, however, that this IS instruction - not daycare! As of this coming Monday, January 14th, there will only be a half-day option available for children ages 4-5. Their program runs 8:30am to 12:30pm ($65 ski only) and does not include lunch.

Are your kids to young to ski? Beech Mountain Resort does offer a nursery for infants and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years. A snack, hot lunch, a quiet crib room and a large playroom with lots of toys and games provide children with a safe, enjoyable day. The Nursery is available everyday. Reservations are required. Operating hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm. Full-day prices are $50.00 per child.

Drew took a group lesson on the first day (on the bunny hill only) and see him here on day two during his private lesson. Not bad! And he LOVED every minute of it. He was begging for another lesson. As you can see, he was very proud of himself when it was over too!





Snowmaking at Beech Mountain:
Beech may not get the volume of natural snow that Colorado does, but snowmaking sure has improved over the years! The resort now has 30 high-tech snow guns, combined with the more than 100 smaller guns to provide the best snowmaking capacity. So don't worry - there's plenty of snow!

Youth Sledding Hill Open Daily (and it's free!)
What kids don't love to sled? We don't get many opportunities to do so here in Atlanta, unless you visit Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain Park (or we have a very unusual storm). The Town of Beech Mountain has its own youth sledding hill offering free sledding daily for kids 12 and under. Plastic sleds are required - bring our own, or they're available for rent or purchase at nearby stores (around $10). For more details, visit www.beechmtn.com

Accommodations
We were guests of The Pinnacle Inn. The two-bedroom condo we stayed in was perfect for us. It was spacious, with two full bathrooms, fireplace, full kitchen and a much-appreciated washer and dryer (for drying those wet clothes after sledding!). There's also an indoor heated pool and rec area, and both an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi. Drive just over a mile to the ski resort (Sugar Mountain is just a short way in the other direction) or take the frequent shuttle bus. Note that all condos are individually owned. If you want a washer and dryer be sure to ask for a unit with one!
For information on other accommodations in general, CLICK HERE.



Many thanks to those who fed us too! View Haus at Beech Mountain Resort; Beech Tree Grill (on the mountain); Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria and Fast Eddie's Chicago-Style Hotdogs.

I wish we could have stayed longer, but a two-day trip was a great introduction for the kids, and a wonderful winter weekend getaway. We can't wait to go back!

CONTEST! The Beech Mountain Learn to Ski Challenge Poster Contest

*I was provided with accomodations, ski packages and dining in exchange for this article, however opinions are entirely my own.