We were ready to quit skiing forever…read more Our first attempt (at Sugar Mountain Resort) was chaotic, overcrowded, and discouraging. As beginners, we felt lost and unsupported, and by the end of that day we were convinced skiing simply wasn't for us. Then we tried Appalachian Ski Mountain -- and everything changed. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this place understands beginners. The booking process was smooth and available online. The staff were organized and welcoming. Although we had only booked one instructor online, they arranged two more so each of us could have a proper private lesson. Scott, Amelia, and Dean were phenomenal. They were calm, encouraging, and methodical. They explained the true basics - balance, stance, safe falling, snowplough (pizza) stopping, and controlled turns - step by step. They made sure we understood before moving on. In just one hour, we were skiing green runs with control and confidence. More importantly, we were smiling. Appalachian Ski Mountain didn't just teach us technique - they changed our entire perception of skiing. If you're a beginner, save yourself frustration and start here. It can make all the difference between giving up and falling in love with the sport.

App Mtn is a small resort that definitely caterers to families. They are cashless and it's kind of…read morea pain in the ass that you have to reserve everything in advance, including your arrival time. The RIFD card is used for everything. It's a nice resort and everyone is helpful & friendly. Not challenging terrain but enough if you are just trying to get a nice 1/2 day of skiing. The cafeteria is nice with good food choices. A good place for snowboarding. Three parks to choose from. Reasonable lift prices.

THE place to learn to ski and snowboard. The instructors are well trained and are friendly. You…read morewon't regret taking a lesson. Make reservations for group and private lesson online.

Great time at Sugar Mountain! Been 2x so far this year. Of course it's an east coast ski resort but…read morethe best in NC in my opinion. Was fortunate to have some good snow. Most runs are now open, the bartenders are friendly, the food is OK. Tuesdays are the slowest days. Weekends and Mondays are packed with long lift lines starting around 11:30 am. My fave time to go is Tuesday/Wednesday mornings if you have the flexibility. Ready for my 3rd this season!

The ski patrol needs to get off their high horse of power. They took a guys pass for the entire day…read morebecause he accidentally nicked his ski. Talk about ruining someone's day and taking money out of their pockets.

J- Bear employees make use of corporal punishment against children, as well as verbal and mental…read morediscipline. They are deprived of things such as water when they ask. When it is hot outside, the children are denied water until a set time when they give water to all students at once. This can be up to an hour of denied access to basic necessities. Children are not safe or properly care for at this school. Physical discipline is used in classrooms on a daily basis.

My wife and I have tried 1 other daycare that happened to be a corporate daycare. They corporate…read moredaycare couldn't care less about our children. At J-Bear they have teachers that actually care about your kids. They have specialist that help with speech and fine motor skills. I have noticed a big difference with my son and now my daughter.

Got lucky with a clear day at Sugar after a day of snow & wind. Had to park in the lower lot,…read moreshuttle bus takes you up to base. Runs every 15 minutes. No issues getting a lift ticket. They only had the lower lifts running until 11am. Opened the summit lift and you could ski everywhere. Nice runs, friendly service, a perfect way to spend the morning. It started to get busier after 12n. If you can ski mid week Sugar is fun with runs for everyone.

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.

We love Stephen's camps. He works with each child at their respective level and helps them…read moreadvance. Private lessons with Stephen are also excellent. He continues to help my son advance and reach his goals.

From the owner: Private Wakeboard/Wakesurf Lessons. Adult and Kids Camps. Call Today!read more

We rented paddle boards for our recent family vacation on LKN. We had an amazing experience…read more playing on the water together as a family. Aloha delivered and retrieved quality boards and paddles. We will definitely be renting from them again.

There's not a lot of places to kayak on lake normal surprisingly but if you can get a reservation…read moreat aloha it is always a great experience. It's quick and easy. You walk about 20 yards from the parking lot to sign in and then another 30 yards to hop in your kayak and go. Absolutely beautiful spot on the water and you can cruise around as long as you want. So tranquil.

I have never been to Charlotte NC before, and as I did my research on what to do, the US National…read moreWhitewater Center often came up as 1 of 2 must-visit attractions. Not being a real outdoorsy person, and only having whitewater rafted once, I felt the $89 day pass was very reasonable. I arrived at the USNWC at open time, and paid $13 for parking. Once parked, I lined up at the Outfitters center to sign up for activities. It was already busy, so I was probably in line for about 20 minutes to get my spot for whitewater rafting. They make it sound like you can only do whitewater rafting once, but after speaking to my guide, you can only have one reservation at a time. Once you finish you trip, you can immediately sign up again if there are spots. As I was there relatively early, I was schedule for a 10am rafting start, which gave me plenty of time to walk around the check out the area before getting to rafting. My general thoughts: - Whitewater rafting was terrific. It was the main focus of my visit, and completely made my day pass worth it. My guide was fun and informative. The conveyer belt bringing the raft back up was operational while I did it, but later in the day, it looked like the conveyer was out of service, so everyone had to carry the rafts back up, which is quite a bit of extra work. Between the heat and extra carrying, I decided not to go back, otherwise I would have. - The bin storage service made it easy to rent a bin to store my gear. It often had lines, so I would recommend minimize the number of times you need to access it. You can access as many times as you want. - I did the kayaking at the flatwater area. It was a much more relaxing area that you can go at your own-pace. - The ziplines were a bit disappointing, unless you pay extra for the longer lines. The lines that don't require reservations are very short, and frankly, not worth doing unless it's your first time trying it. - Most of the rock climbing areas were closed off, and the few areas open was packed with small children. So I decided not to try it. - Because by late day, it was getting uncomfortably hot, so i decided not to do the rope courses, but they looked pretty good. - Entry to the area is free, so a good number of visitors hang out just to have picnics and watch. Overall, I enjoyed my visit, only because of the whitewater rafting. It's much more affordable then what I could do back at home. The ziplines are good for first timers. Ropes courses looked good, and flatwater activities are nice to move at a more relaxed pace. I can see why it's a popular place.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a massive 1,300-acre…read morenon-profit outdoor recreation facility and an official U.S. Olympic Training Site. Located along the scenic Catawba River, it stands as the largest multi-sport outdoor adventure center in the world. The Water Features World's Largest Man-Made Whitewater River: Using a massive recirculating pump system holding 12 million gallons of water, the park features two distinct concrete channels providing Class II to IV rapids. Visitors can go whitewater rafting with a guide or tackle the rapids solo via whitewater kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Flatwater Activities: For a calmer pace, the center provides direct access to the adjacent Catawba River for serene flatwater kayaking and paddleboarding. Deep Water Solo: A highly unique 45-foot-high artificial climbing wall with multiple difficulty paths. It features no ropes or harnesses--if you lose your grip, you plunge directly into a 20-foot-deep pool below. Land & Aerial Adventures 40+ Miles of Trails: A massive, interconnected network of single-track trails woven throughout the forested property. It is heavily utilized year-round for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. Ropes & Ziplines: The park features over 20 different aerial ropes challenge courses, suspension bridges, and multiple ziplines stretching up to 1,500 feet long that glide high over the water canyons. Rock Climbing: A comprehensive climbing center that offers traditional bouldering and top-rope climbing walls. Community Lifestyle & Kids FeaturesWildwoods: A multi-acre, tree-canopied challenge and play area specifically engineered for younger kids and families.Festivals & Yoga: The center acts as a major local social hub, hosting massive seasonal festivals, over 400 yoga practices annually across various lawns, and the popular River Jam live music concert series.