This North Carolina City Is One Of The Best Ski Towns In North America

With the winter season on the way soon, it's about that time to hit the slopes! USA Today recently posted a list of the top 10 best ski towns in North America, one of which is right here in North Carolina!

Banner Elk, NC is ranked number 6 on the list (seen here). The article lauds Banner Elk for its "excellent mountain terrain" that makes for a fun ski sesh.

What's more, Banner Elk is also the only city in North Carolina to house two ski resorts. Skiers who visit the city will have their choice between the imposing and exhilarating trails of Sugar Mountain Resort, and the adrenaline-pumping slopes of Beech Mountain Resort.

Both spots have their own unique perks. In addition to many fun ski slopes with varying levels of difficulty, Sugar Mountain Resort also offers visitors guided snowshoeing tours. The resort also features an ice skating rink and snow tubing park for those neither bold nor graceful enough to ski (I'm mainly talking about myself here).

Standing at an impressive 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain Resort offers 95 skiable acres across the highest ski area in the eastern US. Besides the slopes, Beech Mountain Resort is also home to the 5,506 Skybar, which provides a breathtaking view for visitors looking to admire the landscape.

As immaculate and exciting as these resorts may be, they're not the only reason Banner Elk, North Carolina was named one of the best ski towns in the continent. USA Today also made note of many of Banner Elk's fabulous tourist attractions, such as the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster and the Banner Elk Winery. And of course, who can pass up the chance to visit the legendary Grandfather Mountain?

It's certainly not hard to see why Banner Elk was crowned as one of North America's best ski towns. For a full look at everything the city has to offer, you can visit their website to learn more and book a visit!

Christmas is a time to visit family and friends and get away from the daily grind. The holidays can be a wonderful time, but they can also be very expensive. From buying lots of Christmas gifts for family and friends to having to pay for plane tickets and travel, holiday expenses can really add up. But, the good news is that there are some affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S. that are available for a good deal. Also, North Carolina has one of the cheapest Christmas vacations in America.

One good thing about traveling during the winter months is that it's often the off-season for popular vacation destinations. Of course, the holidays are a busy travel time. That makes late December a difficult time to find a deal for travel. But, if you don't mind the cold and snow, some northern areas of the U.S. offer very good deals. That's true even during the Christmas season.

Some tips for finding a good deal for holiday vacationing include searching a lot of booking websites, comparing different hotel dates to find the most reasonable ones and finding bundle deals. Also, keep your eyes open for special deals on resorts and hotels that are just opening. That's because sometimes, during those opening months, new vacation spots try to attract a loyal clientele by offering special deals. One more tip is to search for airfare rates individually even if you are traveling as a couple or a group. If you put in a search for a group of tickets, the algorithms will often leave out information on one or two cheaper tickets being available. They'll just send you a group of tickets, sitting together, all at the same price. So, you might get a deal if you search for one ticket, instead.

So, what are the best affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.? Here are some popular spots that won't break the bank. One is in North Carolina.

Frankenmuth, Michigan, is the self-proclaimed Christmas capital city of the world. Okay, so many argue that Strasbourg, France, takes that honor, but Frankenmuth is close, and it's a lot cheaper to get there. No passport needed. The villiage's Franconian-style architecture has given it the loving name "Little Bavaria." Frankenmuth is also home to the world's biggest Christmas store.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it offers a beautiful view of snowy hills and Amish country. It's a very old-fashioned type of town, making it a charming winter getaway. There are plenty of fun, holiday-type things to do in Lancaster that won't break the bank.

You might never guess, but Las Vegas, Nevada, is a great spot for an affordable holiday trip. Think about it. Most people wouldn't think to go to "Sin City" for Christmas. Of course, it's much less the "sin" part these days, as Las Vegas offers fun activities for the whole family.

Fort Myers, Florida, is a popular destination for snow birds. But, that's doesn't mean to skip it during the holidays. If you want to get away from the snow and ice, Fort Myers offers a great escape over Christmas and for prices that are more reasonable than in many other areas of Florida.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great spot to visit in the holiday season, because it's not as crowded as other times during the year. It's also less expensive to visit during the holidays and offers beautiful decorations during Christmas. Don't forget the many holiday markets.

Boston, Massachusetts, gets cold in the winter, but it also has that classic Christmas charm. It's a big city with a smaller city feel during the holidays. What's more, it's a more affordable winter vacation destination than many other areas, and you won't have the fight the crowds.