I flew in to help assist with families and kids during hurricane Helene. What shannon and her team…read moredid here/continuing to do during this time for the community is heroic. This team has put up linemen, relief workers, and community members. They are open for food, donations, supplies and more all while still trying to maintain their facility, fix plumbing issues, and other things. Stephanie at the front desk was lovely and kind, and all the staff we encountered were great. Rooms were spacious and clean. Located close to some shops and restaurants. If I ever come down to Banner Elk again I'd support this business again! Thankful for people like them during a time of need! restores your faith in humanity!

Special shout out to this hotel! They have opened their facility to help Hurricane Helene rescue…read moreworkers (Not corrupt FEMA!). I will happily support and stay here again! Thank you for taking care of your neighbors & volunteers during such a time of need. Please support the Best Western Mountain Lodge!

Fantastic sunsets and views. Summertime temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s are great. Love…read morethis place. Martin

One of the most incredible locations and views I have ever been to. You can see for miles and…read moremiles. All the way to Tennessee, Linville gorge, grandfather Mountain and more. Inside pool and hot tub were a very nice delight. Staff was very friendly, we will definitely return

Our kids try skiing and tubing and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort delivered on the activities with a few…read morecaveats. If you're expecting a ski-town vibe like Breckenridge, Colorado, this isn't that. Sugar Mountain is a practical ski resort. The skiing terrain is best suited for beginners to intermediate skiers and is not ideal for Olympic-level skiing. Most people on the mountain appeared to be beginners, which actually made the environment feel low-pressure, relaxed, and family-friendly. We enrolled our kids in ski lessons through the ski/snowboard school and that was a highlight of the trip. The instructors were patient, knowledgeable, and very kid-friendly. The kids also went snow tubing, which they really enjoyed. Ski/ snowboard school spots and tubing sessions fill up quickly. Book in advance. It's also a good idea to pick up rental equipment the day before lessons to avoid long lines. Kids get a cubby at ski school, so sending them with a water bottle and an extra snack is helpful, especially for the 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM sessions. Parents can watch from the upper deck or the Last Run Lounge, which serves adult beverages and has excellent views of the ski school area. It's a great spot to watch the kids while enjoying a drink and a meal. The resort does get crowded for its size, and parking fills up quickly, so arriving early is important. You are allowed to bring your own food and drinks, though food options are available on site. Pro tips: wear sunscreen and UV-protective sunglasses or ski goggles (even if you're just watching), and bring small bills if you plan to tip the shuttle drivers. Overall, Sugar Mountain is a beginner-friendly, family-oriented resort that works well if you plan ahead and manage expectations.

Sugar Mountain Ski resort is a no-frills ski mountain, so if you're expecting a ski town vibe like…read moreBreckenridge, you'll be disappointed. Sugar is no pressure, most people out here look like they're beginners. We enrolled our kids in ski lessons through the ski/snowboard school. The instructors were patient, kid-friendly, and knowledgeable. Kids had a blast. Kids also went tubing, which they enjoyed. Both tubing and ski lessons must be booked in advance, and for ski school it's best to pick up rental equipment the day before to avoid long lines. Kids get a cubby at the ski school, so send them with a bottle of water and an extra snack if they're doing the ski school from 10 AM to 3 PM. Parents can watch their kids while in school from the upper deck or stay warm in the cafeteria. Upstairs is Last Run Lounge (adults only). The resort does get pretty crowded for its size, so plan accordingly. Parking fills up fast, leaving early helps. You're allowed to bring your own food and drinks, though there are food options available for purchase on site. Pro tips: wear sunblock and UV-protective sunglasses or ski goggles (even as a spectator). Bring cash (single dollar bills) tip the shuttle drivers. Overall, Sugar Mountain is a practical, beginner-friendly option that works well if you plan ahead and manage expectations.

Banner Elk is an area that is in the mountains nice any time of the year. It has a variety of…read morethings to do , and great places to eat!

We stayed at Blue Ridge Village (BRV) in the last week of March and it was our first visit. We…read moreenjoyed our time, check in was easy and the staff was friendly. Our room was great with no issues, everything worked fine and there was plenty of space for all 5 of us, 3 boys, 10, 7 & 4. To see a video of our 1 bedroom villa check out my video on YouTube (https://youtu.be/hBiVuzv7HB8). The bedroom was huge and the walk in closest good honesty be a study or they could make the 1 bedroom into two with a smaller closest, plus the bathroom was huge as well, seriously watch the video. We were thankful we had a view of the lake and the mountains, I believe all rooms face the lake somehow, but doesn't mean they all have a view of the lake. The resort is being refurbished, so there is some construction going on, and they recently got rid of the pool (there are plans for a new one). There are also plans for a new miniature golf course (this is very needed), the one they have now is in dire need of retirement. When the weather is warmer you can take out paddle boats and there are also tennis courts and some nice pavilions with grills and even a blue tooth speaker, the fire pit behind the hospitality house is very impressive and very secluded would be a great place or a relaxing evening. We took advantage of the hammocks by the lake and enjoyed relaxing in them too. We loved all the little touches around the resort and once all the construction is done it's going to be even better. The hospitality house has free coffees, and lots of movies and games you could rent out, there was also an activity center that has fun stuff going on everyday. BRV is in a great location about 20 minutes from downtown Boone, 5 minute from downtown Banner Elk, very close to two or three ski resorts and 15 minutes from GrandFather mountain. Asheville 1.5 hours away too, so it's doable for a day trip as is the Biltmore. There is so much more to do than what I've mentioned, plenty of places to hike and explore. breweries, wineries, stores, good restaurants and attractions. You'll love your time here and can't wait to see the updates they make to BRV, I'm sure I'll give it a 5 star when those changes are made. Enjoy your visit and we look forward to visiting again soon, the 2 bedrooms and the loft units look awesome.

I haven't been skiing in forever, and because our holiday cruise fell through, we chose to do a ski…read moretrip that was within driving distance to Atlanta, GA. Little did I know, or maybe I just forgot, that my girlfriend frequented ski resorts growing up, but hasn't been in over a decade. Having done extensive research, I chose Beech Mountain. This is a resort town and the surrounding areas felt like we weren't in the U.S. The quaint village was so welcoming and relaxing and it was amazing to hear several different languages at this resort - Ukrainian, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and more. We arrived after it had snowed so it was the perfect winter escape. I recommend renting your equipment, if you don't already have yours. We chose White Wolf lodge to rent our skis, poles, and boots and the process was quick and the workers were friendly. Heading to the mountains, we decided to do the twilight and the entire resort and property felt like a real vacation overseas vacation. They had various buildings and houses that operated as standalone restaurants, rental shops, and more. Additionally, we were so excited to be there we didn't realize we got on the wrong lift that took us up to the very top for a black diamond slope. Because I haven't been skiing as much as my girlfriend, I took her lead and followed her, which was a big mistake. Let's just say I have never had more fun then wiping out face first in front of experience skiers and snowboarders. Once we eventually made it down the slope we found a more user friendly slope that we conquered with perfection and then we upgraded to intermediate slope. We continued skiing for several hours and the night time views from the lift were stunning. The pictures here don't begin to reveal how beautiful it was. SIDE NOTE: for any beginning skiers, it is not as intimating as you may think. Just be confident, listen to instructions, and by all means don't be afraid to fall.

Amazing experience thanks to lovely people. Our ski instructor, Peter Soria, was absolutely…read morefabulous today. He demonstrated the utmost patience and exceptional guidance with our children. He truly went above and beyond to accommodate our family and ensure that our kids had the best day possible on the mountain. It was a very chaotic day, and without Peter, I can't imagine how it would have gone. Skiing with four young boys is challenging, to say the least, but Peter handled everything with calm, kindness, and professionalism. He is phenomenal and deserves to be celebrated all year long at Beech Mountain.

5 bedroom, 3.5 baths on one acre. Amenities include pool table, fully equipped kitchen, two 12 x…read more36' covered porches, hot tub and firepit. Close to all the top ski resorts of the High Country. In the summer this location provides easy access to Valle Crucis, Banner Elk's park with its many activities. Great cabin. Great location.

Excellent property! The owners keep it very clean. It is perfectly rustic with a breathtaking view…read moreof the mountains! My mom and step dad have stayed here many times before, but this was my first time. It was very cozy and welcoming. As much as I liked adventuring while I was there, I always enjoyed going back to the condo to rest.

It's a nice unit 4605 feet elevation with a beautiful view off the balcony. 103A is a two level…read moreunit with the master upstairs with a huge bathroom and loft area with a pull out couch. There's a fireplace too but we didn't use it, washer and dryer, and no air conditioning, but we didn't need it. King size beds in both bedrooms. Little things like a balcony door not locking, bedroom door misaligned so it didn't close properly, remote control inoperable due to not the same as tv, and coil style stove caused deduction of one star. Pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and exercise room, along with game room with pool table, ping pong table, Foosball table, and two gaming tvs on site as well.

We enjoyed our stay. We did stay in one of the refurbished buildings so there was no…read moreJacuzzi in our unit. However, we did enjoy the heated pool in the game building one evening. It did need to be cleaned but we swam anyway. The main comwas there were little bugs in the water. But we pushed them away and enjoyed it. The room was clean, and we felt safe. The drive up to the resort is twisting and curving and a bit unnerving.. however!! What else do you expect in the mountains!!?? We enjoyed our weekend and even lit a fire in the fireplace twice!! We had a lovely time and were thrilled to wake up to see Grandfather Mountain right out our living room!! We enjoyed our stay.

Thin blankets, thin walls I woke up to voices that I thought…read morewere coming from inside my room. I soon realized it was in the room next to me. I could hear everything including them walking around in their room.

We arrived only to find the proprietor challenging the stay package we secured with the…read morereservation. The bed was so unsupported, I slept on the couch for our stay. The provided 'breakfast' was small boxed cereals and grocery store donuts and muffins. The whirlpool jets on the bathtub did not work and the proprietor did not seem to have an interest in troubleshooting or repair. Overall, a very disappointing stay for the cost. Not much for us to recommend.

Great clean place and nice pool. Great little town with cute shops and close to banner elk for more…read moreactivities

Needs updated throughout. The rooms are okay and individually decorated. I was with a group of…read morepeople for a wedding and was able to explore a handful of rooms- Some are a lot nicer than others. The indoor pool is on the smaller size and there are a few sauna's in the same building that are nice to enjoy. Views are amazing and all areas are clean and well taken care of.