From downhill and cross-country skiing, snow boarding and snowshoeing to ice skating and tubing, seven ski resorts in North Carolina, one in Tennessee, two in Virginia and three in West Virginia provide a winter playground for area snow enthusiasts.Here’s a look at what the winter resorts closest to the Tri-Cities have to offer.NORTH CAROLINAAppalachian Ski MountainLocation: Blowing RockSlopes: 12Lifts: 6Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: NoTerrain Parks: YesIce Skating: YesUpcoming events: Smith Shred for the Cup Rail Jam on Jan. 5; K2Pop This!/Fresh Friday 2 on Jan. 10; Burton Ladies Park Session on Jan. 11; GNU/Libtech Shred for the Cup Big Air on Jan. 26.Contact: (800) 322-2373 or www.appskimtn.comBeech Mountain ResortLocation: Beech MountainSlopes: 15Lifts: 7Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: NoTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: YesUpcoming events: January is National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and Beech is offering affordable options for lessons and lodgingContact: (800) 438-2093 or www.beechmountainresort.comCataloochee Ski AreaLocation: Maggie ValleySlopes: 17Lifts: 6Night Skiing: Tuesdays through SaturdaysSnowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: NoUpcoming events: Military Appreciation Days are Jan. 23 and 24Miscellany: TubeWorld, located four miles from the ski area, offers five snow runs. New this season, Cataloochee offers online advance sales of Tube World tube session tickets in addition to regular daily lift tickets and rentals.Contact: (800) 768-0285 or www.cataloochee.com.Hawksnest Tubing ParkLocation: Seven Devils, between Boone and Banner ElkSlopes: Tubing only (20 lanes and two lifts)Snowboarding: NoTerrain Park: NoIce Skating: NoMiscellany: Recognized for having the largest snow tubing park on the East Coast, the resort has the longest zip line tour on the East Coast as well, featuring 20 cables, including four mega zips. The zip line operates year-round.Contact: (800) 822-4295 or www.hawksnest-resort.comSapphire Valley Ski AreaLocation: SapphireSlopes: 2 (beginner and intermediate)Lifts: 3Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: NoIce Skating: NoContact: (828) 743-7663 or www.skisapphire.comSugar Mountain Ski ResortLocation: Sugar MountainSlopes: 20 (15 with lights for night skiing)Lifts: 11Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: YesSnowshoeing: YesSpecial events: Crescent Ski Council Competition is Jan. 4 and 5; National Winter Trails Day is Jan. 11; High Country Junior Race Series Giant Slalom is Jan. 12.Contact: (800) 784-2768 or www.skisugar.comWolf Ridge Ski ResortLocation: Mars HillSlopes: 22Lifts: 5Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: NoContact: (828) 689-4111 or www.skiwolfridgenc.comTENNESSEEOber GatlinburgLocation: GatlinburgSlopes: 9Lifts: 4Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: YesUpcoming events: College Night is Jan. 9; Special Olympics Tennessee Winter Games 2014 is Jan. 27 and 28.Contact: (800) 251-9202 or www.skiobergatlinburg.comVIRGINIAThe Homestead ResortLocation: Hot SpringsSlopes: 9Night Skiing: 6-9 p.m., SaturdaysSnowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: YesMiscellany: The Homestead offers half-hour snowmobile toursContact: (540) 839-1766 or www.thehomestead.comWintergreen ResortLocation: WintergreenSlopes: 26Lifts: 5Night Skiing: Yes (14 slopes)Snowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: YesContact: (434) 325-2200 or www.wintergreenresort.comWEST VIRGINIASnowshoe Mountain ResortLocation: SnowshoeSlopes: 60Lifts: 15Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: NoMiscellany: Snowshoe offers three different ski areas — Snowshoe Basin, Silver Creek and Western TerritoryContact: (877) 441-4386 or www.snowshoemtn.comWinterplace Ski ResortLocation: Ghent/Flat TopSlopes: 27Lifts: 9Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: YesTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: NoMiscellany: Winterplace offers West Virginia’s largest snow tubing park with two super carpet liftsContact: (800) 607-7669 or www.winterplace.comTimberline Four Seasons ResortLocation: DavisSlopes: 39Lifts: 4Night Skiing: YesSnowboarding: YesTubing: NoTerrain Park: YesIce Skating: NoCross-country skiing: YesContact: (800) 766-9464 or www.timberlineresort.com
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