Hit the Slopes in North Carolina Mountains Before Season Ends

With Excitement of Winter Olympics Upon Us, Enjoy Some Snow Time Yourself at Cataloochee Ski Area

FEBRUARY 2009—As the Winter Olympics begin, reminding us of the fun and excitement of snow sports, now's the time to get in on the action. You don't need to spend an exhorbitant amount of money or an entire day just traveling to fulfill that need for speed.

Centrally located and easily accessible by car from many locales in the Southeast, Maggie Valley, North Carolina, is home to Cataloochee Ski Area. So don’t delay and miss out on one last weekend of great fun and runs on the slopes; log onto www.VisitNCSmokies.com today to find the perfect accommodations and any other information you'll need to make your trip to Haywood County, N.C., a memorable one.

"This really is a great time to come to Haywood County," said Lynn Collins, executive director of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. "For many people in the region, we're only a few hours away, at most, by car, and enjoying some great skiing or snowboarding, along with some great scenery, makes for a fun, affordable getaway."

Consistently one of the first resorts in the Southeast to open the ski season and the last to close, thanks to its technologically advanced snowmaking capability (along with a bit of assistance from Mother Nature this year), Cataloochee Ski Area is a winter playground for the entire family. With 14 slopes and trails, Cataloochee Ski Area offers mountains of fun for everyone, from skiers to snowboarders, from novices to veterans.

Beginners can get a feel for things on a couple of smooth, gentle slopes (classes and private lessons are also available), while the more adventurous can head to the ramps, rails and boxes at the Cat Cage Terrain Park. For those with a need for speed, there’s plenty of steepness on this mountain. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, the surrounding views are magical. When you need a break or have taken the skis off for the day, check out the lodge, where you can warm up by the double-sided fireplace, enjoy some good food and drink, and perhaps even listen to a live band.

For more information and current conditions, visit www.cataloochee.com. Check out www.youtube.com/smokymountainsnc and get a glimpse at "Great Skiing in the Great Smokies."

Always on the cutting edge, Cataloochee Ski Area has added another activity to its arsenal of fun ways to enjoy the powder: airboarding. Airboarding involves riding the slopes on a specialized, inflatable board that also has runners on the bottom, making it both comfortable and maneuverable. Since it's inception in Switzerland in the late 90's, the sport has continued to spread, though only a hand full of resorts in the US have begun to tap into its potential. One of only three East Coast resorts to offer airboarding, Cataloochee Ski Area provides instruction on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., along with lift ticket, airboard instruction, airboard, and boot and helmet rental, for $59.

Be sure to log onto www.VisitNCSmokies.com to learn about all the other things to do on your late-winter getaway, from shopping in quaint downtown Waynesville to exploring 46 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway.