Winter is a wonderful time to visit Western North Carolina for a getaway! Outdoor enthusiasts (and those who don’t mind a little cold) will enjoy activities like skiing, tubing, and winter hiking. Foodies can warm up with hot coffee and cocoa, and visit the bakeries, restaurants, and breweries scattered throughout the area. Best of all, visitors don’t have to navigate the large summer and fall crowds – and The Yellow House is a perfect home base for your winter adventures! Here are some of our top winter getaway ideas.
Outdoor Activities
Located just north of Maggie Valley, Cataloochee Ski Area is one of the Haywood County’s most popular winter destinations. The ski area features 18 excellent trails to delight every level of skier or snowboarder. Their onsite rental department offers all the necessary equipment for a great day of skiing or riding. Lessons are also offered for a variety of ages and skill levels. In addition to regular daytime skiing, all runs feature lighting to allow for night skiing during peak season. Since weather impacts the schedule at Cataloochee, be sure to plan ahead! We recommend using Cataloochee’s weather planner and snow report, both of which are updated each day during the winter season.
If you are looking for an alternative way to enjoy a little speed on the snow, be sure to check out Tube World. With specially groomed slopes maintained for inner tubing, their 1 hour and 45 minute slope pass should tire out even the most avid tubing enthusiast. Better still, their moving carpet lift makes it easy to get back to the top of the slope, letting you save your energy for each downhill run.
Winter hiking is another popular activity here in the region. While some of the higher elevation trails are inaccessible in the winter, other trails remain open to visitors. Without the crowds of Spring, Summer and Fall, popular trails like Lovers Leap and Max Patch are less busy, allowing guests to enjoy these spaces while maintaining their distance from others.
Keeping Warm and Cozy
If coffee is your thing, Smoky Mountain Roasters is located just a few minutes from The Yellow House. In addition to excellent coffee, they also have incredible hot chai and tasty baked goods. In downtown Waynesville, Orchard Coffee provides wonderful made-to-order coffee and hot and cold beverages, as well as breakfast items and lovely artisan baked goods. A bit further afield, Canton boasts Papertown Coffee, an artisan coffee shop with a rotating menu of baked goods and handmade coffees. All three also sell roasted coffee beans in case you want to give a gift of coffee this season.
Are you craving a freshly-baked treat after a day on the slopes? Check out one of our local bakeries. Nettie’s Bakery and Tea House is a local favorite for homemade baked goods; in addition, they also serve lunch and a full afternoon tea or high tea (advance reservations required). If sweet treats are your thing, Kandi’s Cakes and Bake Shop has amazing cookies, donuts and pastries to satisfy every sweet tooth. For something a little different, Wildflour Blue has an array of innovative cupcakes, gorgeous screen printed cookies, and delicious brownies.
For a delicious seasonal brew, there are multiple ways to enjoy some local beer. Boojum’s, located in Downtown Waynesville, has an excellent rotating beer menu. (They also have an incredible food menu including their Breuben sandwich, which features bacon-infused sauerkraut). Frog Level Brewing also has an excellent array of beer, as well as appetizers and meals. (For a winter warmer beer, try the Night Vision Goggles, their roasted peanut butter stout.) If you are over in Maggie Valley, be sure to also visit the new creekside location of BearWaters Brewing.
Relax in Luxury
Best of all, guests at The Yellow House come home after a busy day to enjoy our wonderful amenities. Each day features freshly baked treats in the afternoon, warm fireplaces and comfortable beds in each room, and our homemade three-course breakfast every next morning. Consider us for your winter getaway to the mountains!
We hope to see you this winter!
