While milder temperatures may be on the way, don’t put those skis away just yet. In fact, the conditions are just right for a final trip up the mountain to hit the slopes. There is no better way to do that than with a visit to Haywood County, NC and it’s five towns of Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, Canton and Clyde.
Home to one of the best ski areas the southeast, Cataloochee Ski Area is located at an elevation of over 4,000 feet high on Fie Top Mountain in Maggie Valley. Cataloochee boasts 18 total slopes ready to take you on and you know the Upper Omigosh at 5,400 feet is calling your name. Snowboarders and skiers alike can get their kicks at the Cat Cage Terrain Park, offering 10 total features to flip tricks on. You will also be happy to know that Cataloochee Ski Area reigns king for offering one of the longest running ski seasons in the region. 
With plans to stays open until late March, so you still have plenty of time make the trip, or even several before spring arrives. The ski area offers a variety of packages and sweet deals, like the Slide in Five where upon the completion of five lessons you can snag your very own free pair of Elan skis with bindings. 
If you’ve got fellow winter enthusiasts in your party who aren’t quite ready to take the leap into skiing and snowboard, Cataloochee Ski Area also offers snow tubing. Located just down the mountain from the main ski area, Tube World offers multiple snow tubing runs that are perfect for the whole family, from the youngest snow bunny to oldest “big kid”.
You can even find live entertainment at several them on the weekends. Haywood County is also home to a long list of locally owned and operated restaurants ranging from down home southern cuisine to upscale farm-to-table and beyond. 
Now all you need is the perfect basecamp to launch your adventure from. Haywood County offers a variety of accommodations from hotels and motels in the heart of the action to cozy cabins with sweeping views of the Great Smokies. To learn more about the accommodations, activities and all the Haywood County has to offer, check out visitncsmokies.com.
