A Note on Our Recommendations: We do not make the recommended vendors aware of our endorsement ahead of time and of course, we do not charge for our recommendations. All are based on the personal experience of Ronald Holland and my tastes may well be different from yours. We are always happy to hear feedback from our readers as well as restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues that would like for us to visit and check them out. - Ronald Holland To contact us, please use the following form.
Without question, at the present time Sugar Mountain is by far the best ski mountain in North Carolina when considering terrain, grooming, snow quality and just plain fun. Also, their weekend Oktoberfest is also my favorite here in NC although Helen, GA comes out ahead in size and length of the celebration as it goes for almost two months. They are usually the first resort to open and the last to close although in the fall of 2005, Cataloochee beat them at the starting gate.If you just want to ski and little else, this is the ski resort for you as their 1,200 feet vertical and the runs over a mile dwarf anything else South of Snowshoe West Virginia. They also have a fun bar on the premises and benefit from the great restaurant and nightlife opportunities available in Banner Elk and Beech Mountain.
Also if you are looking for a fun few days, Beech, Sugar and Hawksnest are all within 20 minutes of each other (on a low traffic day) and each resort has its advantages and differences from the others. Be sure to review Beech Mountain recommendations as these resorts are almost next door to each other and my preference is to stay at Beech for the mountaintop village atmosphere and ski at both resorts hence the reason for Beech and Sugar having the same recommended hotels and restaurants.
Favorite Hotels
Beech Alpin Inn - European old world charm sort of lost in a 70's small hotel. Although a cross between Helen, Georgia and Switzerland but still this is North Carolina not the Alps. Still the location is beautiful, it's convenient to the slopes and the inn can be romantic. It is always our second choice if the following Archers Mountain Inn is booked up and it often is.
Archers Mountain Inn - My favorite inn for romance in the mountains and you can't beat the exposed beams and the fireplaces in most of the rooms, not to mention the views. My choice for lovers to go from bed, to bar to restaurant or the other way around. Check it out along with the Jackalopes View restaurant.
Favorite Restaurants
Louisiana Purchase - My very favorite restaurant in the high country of western North Carolina. In fact, its my favorite restaurant in all North Carolina. They have an extensive wine list, great jazz music and the best Cajun food north of New Orleans and I once lived in New Orleans. The downside is it is located in a nondescript roadside shopping center on the way in to Banner Elk and I'm sorry to say I drove by it for years without stopping. By the way, the inside is fantastic and you'll actually find yourself thinking you're in New Orleans or New York instead of right between the ski areas of Sugar and Beech Mountain.
Jackalopes View - Great restaurant at the Archers Mountain Inn right on the South side of Beech Mountain facing Sugar Mountain. Great views and the food is excellent.