Looking for consignment sales near Greenville, SC? There is just no better bang for your buck on kid’s clothing and gear than local consignment sales. We have all the local consignment sale details for sales in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson, SC so you won’t miss a thing!
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Posts Tagged ‘Winter’
This Ski Slope Makes Learning How to Ski Affordable and Fun With Homeschool Deals and More!
Looking for an affordable place to ski with the family? KAG Contributor Lacey Keigley took her daughter to Appalachian Ski Mountain. While this review was written a few years ago, the post has been updated for the 2022-23 season.
(more…)Have an Epic Snow Tubing Adventure in Sapphire Valley: Frozen Falls Tube Park
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to go snow tubing, Sapphire Valley is the perfect option. Kidding Around contributor Kristina took her kids and had quite the adventure, which she is sharing with our readers.
Media tickets were provided for the experience.
Having already gone snow tubing once with my kids, they were more than thrilled to learn we were going to do it again, this time at a place where our family has vacationed twice – but only in the summer. Experiencing the Sapphire Valley in Cashiers, North Carolina has a whole other feel in winter and just as fun!
(more…)7 Amazing Winter Hikes for Families Near Greenville, SC
Does your family love to go hiking? If you are looking for hiking near Greenville this winter, you’ve come to the right spot! Here’s where to go hiking around Greenville this winter and what to bring.
For even more hiking suggestions see our Full Guide to Hiking in Greenville.
Taking your kiddos on a hike in winter may seem like a crazy feat, but if the unpredictable upstate weather is in your favor it can be one of the best times to go. Cooler temperatures bring broader views, a change of scenery, less sweat, and fewer bugs. It makes hiking the tougher trails just a bit easier and also allows you to choose hikes that offer a view, rather than a water feature, as a payoff – something you wouldn’t opt for in the summer months. Get your camera ready and read on for a list of tips to help you and your little troops make the most of your adventure.
This article includes:
Winter Hiking: What you’ll see
Choosing a Winter Hike
What to Bring on a Winter Hike
What to Wear on a Winter Hike
7 Perfect Winter Hikes Near Greenville, SC
Spanish Translation of the Article
13+ Places to Ski, Snowboard, & Snow Tube: North Carolina & Beyond (2023)
Looking to hit the slopes near Greenville, South Carolina this winter? Heading up into North Carolina you’ll find so many great ski and snow tube options from full North Carolina ski resorts to super family-friendly North Carolina snow tubing parks.
We also have some great options for snow tubing in Tennesee, including America’s first indoor snow tube park!
So, the cold weather is here and though some may not love it, winter can bring a whole lot of fun if you like to ski, snow tube, or snowboard. If you’re one of those people who see cold temps coming and immediately dream about a ski resort on top of a mountain somewhere, you’re in luck.
We have a list of the closest ski resorts, slopes, and snow tube runs to South Carolina including North Carolina slopes, plus some in Tennessee and Georgia.
Use our list to find the best snow ski slopes for your family!
Snow Tubing Tips & Tricks
Since we’re in the South, it’s not like we have a long snow tubing season so getting prepared for a snow tubing may seem daunting. But fear not, it’s not a big deal at all and we are going to help you with some quick tips & tricks on making the most of your snow tubing trip:
- Be sure you check out the place you want to go on social media/on their website/through a phone call before you make the drive. Snow tubing places are dependent on the weather and weather is fickle here in the mountains. If it’s raining, it’s likely some places won’t open so check before you go.
- If your desired place takes reservations, make them. And fill out the waiver online so you can get tubing when you get there. If your desired place doesn’t accept reservations, get there a little before they open or you’ll likely be waiting for hours for a spot.
- You don’t need any special clothing like ski pants or a a snow bib. I’ve gone snow tubing many times wearing leggings or jeans. It’s totally fine, just wear things that are warm.
- Bring hats and gloves and if you/your kids’ extremities get cold, bring hand warmers.
- Bring a change of clothes or just a change of pants. If the snow is wet or it’s a little warm out, your pants may get a little wet or muddy. Sometimes it’s just more comfortable to change your clothes before you ehad out.
- If you bring a bag, try to make sure you it is secure. Same with a phone. I have a crossbody bag I use and hang onto my phone really tight when shooting videos. I’ve seen people lose phones, hats, bags, you name it, on the mountain. If it’s busy, you may not be able to get your stuff back right away.
- Bring cash. Some places, like Moonshine Mountain, only accept cash. Be sure you have enough for your family just in case.
- Lastly, always check the height and weight requirements of your intended snow tubing place. You don’t want to drive all the way to some place only to be told your toddler is too short. These are big liabilities for snow tubing places and they can’t budge on these rules.
South Carolina Ski Resorts and Snow Tubing
Are there places in South Carolina to ski or snow tube? Where are the ski slopes near me?
The short answer is “No.” If you want to ski, snow tube, or snowboard you’ll need to head out of South Carolina. But, the good news is that there is most definitely skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing very near South Carolina. You’ll just need to head up to North Carolina for most of it.
There are some great spots just an hour or two from Upstate, SC, and two to three hours from the Midlands, SC.
This article includes:
Ski Slopes and Snow Tubing in North Carolina
Slopes in North Georgia
Ski Resort Vacation Destinations on the East Coast
Quick Guide: Ski and Snow Tube Near You!
Here’s a quick list of locations by activity. Scroll down for a description of each park and resort!
Where to go Snow Tubing in North Carolina
- Wolf Ridge, Mars Hill, NC
- *Moonshine Mountain, Hendersonville, NC
- *Black Bear Snow Tubing, Hendersonville, NC
- Frozen Falls Tube Park at Ski Sapphire Valley, Sapphire Valley, NC
- *Zip N Slip, Mars Hill, NC
- Highlands Outpost at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center, Scaly Mountain, NC
- Tube World, Maggie Valley, NC
- *Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing, Jonas Ridge, NC
- *Hawksnest Snow Tubing Park, Seven Devils, NC
- Sugar Mountain, Sugar Mountain, NC
- Beech Mountain, Beech Mountain, NC
Where to go Snow Tubing in Tennessee
- *Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark, Pigeon Forge, TN
- *Pigeon Forge Snow, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Ober Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, TN
*Tubing Only Parks
Ski Slopes in North Carolina
- Wolf Ridge, Mars Hill, NC
- Ski Sapphire Valley, Sapphire Valley, NC
- Cataloochee Ski Area, Maggie Valley, NC
- Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock, NC
- Sugar Mountain, Sugar Mountain, NC
- Beech Mountain, Beech Mountain, NC
Where to go Snowboarding in North Carolina
- Wolf Ridge, Mars Hill, NC
- Ski Sapphire Valley, Sapphire Valley, NC
- Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center, Scaly Mountain, NC
- Cataloochee Ski Area, Maggie Valley, NC
- Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock, NC
- Sugar Mountain, Sugar Mountain, NC
- Beech Mountain, Beech Mountain, NC
Lots of Winter Family Fun at Black Bear Snow Tubing in Hendersonville, NC
Are you thinking about snow tubing at Black Bear Snow Tubing in Hendersonville, NC? Western North Carolina has great snow tubing and Black Bear Snow Tubing is a stellar option for families! They have a huge mountain to get your winter in high gear with a fun snow tubing trip for the whole family! We took a trip up to try out that snow-tubing mountain and it was so much fun! Now we have all the details to share so you can plan your trip!
Media tickets were provided for this review and the opinions are solely those of the author.
While there aren’t any places to snow tube in the Upstate, SC, there are definitely options nearby and one of them is Black Bear Snow Tubing in nearby Hendersonville, NC, just over an hour from Greenville, SC. The snow tubing family-owned operation has been in business for seven years and they really have a good thing going there, which I’m going to tell you all about in this story.
Snow Tubing at Black Bear
The slope at Black Bear Snow Tubing is 600 feet long with an 80-foot drop and it’s pretty fast. They make their own snow (unless they get a big snowstorm, which doesn’t happen too often) and the hill is well-maintained by their attentive staff.
How it works is that when you get to Black Bear, you go to a little shed to watch a short safety video, where you learn how to get out of your tube on the run and not to start snowball fights, sign a waiver, and head inside the cozy lodge to pay. Then you get your tubes and head to the hill.
They have a pulley system to get you to the top of the hill, which works by slipping the handle of your tube on a cable that takes you, while sitting inside your tube, right up the hill to the top. Once at the top, you’ll wait for a few minutes before being situated into your group by the staff and then sliding down the hill.
Why Black Bear is Different
I’ve snow tubed at many places in our area and I think Black Bear Snow Tubing is pretty fantastic. Here’s why:
- You can (and should) make a reservation ahead of time, which is crucial for us in Greenville who need to travel out of state to go snow tubing. It’s quite a bummer to get to our snow tubing place and either find out that they are sold out or having to wait hours for an open slot.
- The staff is attentive and efficient. They were always around watching the hill to make sure things were running smoothly and safely. When there was a slight backup at the top of the hill, they figured out how to manage to get us all down the hill and back up to keep snow tubing without interruption.
- The lodge is super cozy and warm and has reasonable concessions. I got a $2 hot chocolate and it was amazing. Plus, they have food, including apple cider donuts, that is affordable and you can get warm by the wood-burning stove inside or watch on the deck if you don’t want to go tubing.
- The setup takes into account smaller kids. There is playground next to the place where you wait in line to go up the hill so smaller kids can get out their energy and there is a big fire pit also near the waiting area where you can warm up.
- If you forgot a hat or gloves, they have them for sale inside the lodge. I feel like us parents can relate when our kid gets out of the car to go snow tubing and forgot his or her winter hat.
- The check-in is fast. This is important because you want to get on the hill and start having fun as soon as possible!
- Black Bear has excellent communication. They post daily on their Facebook page about current snow conditions, which is super helpful when you’re unsure about the weather.
- The snow is real. They don’t have any synthetic chemicals in the snow – it’s the real deal.
My kids, ages 11 and 8, and I had such a blast snow tubing at Black Bear Snow Tubing. We went down the hill about 10 times (maybe more, I lost count honestly) and had so much fun together. I really love places where adults can carelessly be kids again. My kids are already asking to go back. The hill was super fast and seeing my kids faces light up with joy was special. I love those moments.
Tips on How to Enjoy Snow Tubing at Black Bear
Winter being winter, it’s usually cold when you go snow tubing. I’ve found that bringing hand and foot warmers is a really good trick to keeping everyone warm and comfortable. You can get them at Wal-Mart, Amazon, or most drug stores and they stay warm for hours.
It’s also really important to make a reservation when you know you want to go snow tubing. This is especially true during school breaks and holidays. Snow tubing is an awesome family activity on a day off but a lot of people also have the same thought. Don’t forget to make a reservation.
You don’t need to wear snow bibs or snow pants. I had on fleece leggings, hiking boots, and a couple layers of tops with a heavy coat (it was really cold when we went!) and I was fine. I saw people wearing all kinds of clothes that worked for them like pants, leggings, jeans, and sweatpants. The snow wasn’t wet at all when we went but if you go on a warmer day, you may want to bring a change of pants in case they get wet.
There are port-a-potties outside the lodge to use and no bathrooms indoors.
Double-check Black Bear’s Facebook page before heading out. Snow tubing is very dependent on weather, which changes often in the mountains. They will post current conditions and if they are open or closed most days.
Ticket Prices and Policies at Black Bear Snow Tubing
Tickets are $30/hour or $40/two hours for snow tubing. Kids must be 4 years old in order to go snow tubing. You can either sign a waiver when you get to Black Bear Snow Tubing or print one out online ahead of time. Either is fine.
While Black Bear Snow Tubing does take walk-ups, it is much better to make a reservation ahead of time instead of getting there and finding out they are full. Online reservations are fantastic for this very reason so definitely make use of them.
And be sure to check Black Bear Snow Tubing’s Facebook page before heading out to double check they are open and running. Winter tubing runs mid-December through February usually depending on the weather, of course.
And if you want to tube during other times of the year, you totally can! They have warm-weather tubing in the fall.
Black Bear Snow Tubing
373 Kerr Road, Hendersonville, NC
828.685.1155
Want to spend the day in Hendersonville? We’ve got lots of ideas on what to do in this fun town!
