Golden Eagle visiting the area

[eagle83]

Hey guys, I plan on taking my wife on a ski trip to Sugar Mountain and figure you guys would give the best advice on where to stay/what to see.

It doesn't look like there are many hotels (especially in my price range) right in Banner Elk. I found a Holiday Inn Express in Boone for dirt cheap though.

Any comments on how easy it will be to get to Sugar Mountain ski from there, how the hotel/area is, how is sugar mountain especially in late Dec. to early Jan., good places to see/eat, and any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

I hope to ride through your campus while I am there. I've always respected your program, and was hoping Southern Miss would steal Charlie Cobb away from you a couple years ago when we were searching for a new AD.

[biggie]

I'm sure others will chime in.

Shocked that hotel is cheap, doesn't seem any around there are anymore.

That hotel will be about 15-20 mins to get to Sugar Mtn (depending on traffic, its mostly 2 lane up to Banner Elk).

I haven't eaten or been to much around Banner Elk in recent years, but would recommend about anything you want in downtown Boone for food. I like Black Cat Burritos. Mellow Mushroom is a chain but a cool place and good brews on tap.

I also don't do much tourists type things up there, so not sure what you'd be interested in. All three (Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, and Boone) will have good shops in their downtown areas.

During the holiday time it will be busy up there, especially on the slopes. I usually don't try to go skiiing until after MLK day. But I hate crowds on slopes.

[eagle83]

I think the Holiday Inn was $84. Compared to the other hotels in the area it was cheap. I couldn't find many in Banner Elk, and the ones I did find were $130+. They looked a little dated too. The Holiday Inn looked nice.

My wife's never been skiing so I'm trying to make the rest of the trip enjoyable in case she doesn't take to skiing very well.

We are thinking about pushing the trip back to mid January since rates increase around the holidays, and I'm sure it gets congested. What are the chances of getting some real snow that time of year?

[JonW]

Is it just the two of you? You may want to check out www.vrbo.com for the Banner Elk area. If you don't need a large cabin, let me know, I have a friend who rents her cabin out at a pretty low rate but it isn't very large.

Anywhere in downtown Banner Elk is a great shot for food; I highly suggest going to Zuzda for dinner one evening.

[biggie]

Jan and Feb are the best chances for snow. But no sure thing.

I am hoping and there are good signs for a snowy winter though.

From teaching skiing it takes going 3 times to get addicted to it. Most who won't do it again give up on the first trip and never go again.

[pkasu]

If your wife has never been skiing – I would suggest a day at Appalachian Ski Mt. they have the best ski instructors around….

[eagle83]

I've been skiing 4 times. Well snowboarded one of those. Sugar mtn, snowshoe, Aspen, and Tahoe. Not many people addicted to snow skiing here in MS, but I love it.

I plan on getting her skiing lessons. I'll look into App. ski mtn. This isn't typically her type of thing, but I'm hoping it will be a pleasant experience, and she will fall in love with it too. If we luck up and get some snow, at least I know she will love the scenery.

Thanks for the advice so far!

[eagle83]

Where should I rent ski/snowboard?

[biggie]

Sorry for the slow reply.

If you got to App I would rent there or First Tracks in Boone.

If Sugar or Beech I like Ski Country across from the entrance of Sugar.

[appbio91]

Best Western Mountain Lodge in Banner Elk is actually not bad. I used to stay there a lot during football season. Banner Elk Cafe, Stonewalls in Banner Elk both worth your $. I agree though you would enjoy Boone more.

[eagle83]

Okay I have lodging, and eating pretty much figured out. How bout sightseeing? Grandfather mtn. swinging bridge? Any nice waterfalls to see in the winter close by?

[TheMoody1]

Okay I have lodging, and eating pretty much figured out. How bout sightseeing? Grandfather mtn. swinging bridge? Any nice waterfalls to see in the winter close by?

Check out Linville Falls.

http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/lin1.htm

Linville Caverns

http://www.linvillecaverns.com/

[APPRIDE]

Okay I have lodging, and eating pretty much figured out. How bout sightseeing? Grandfather mtn. swinging bridge? Any nice waterfalls to see in the winter close by?

http://blueridgencguide.com/2011/04/10/ ... e-parkway/

Google "Rough Ridge Trail", part of a longer trail below Grandfather Mtn. off the parkway...it starts at the Rough Ridge parking area and is a vertical climb, but very manageable and takes about 20 minutes to get up to some of the most expansive views found on the parkway. Wilson Creek area, the Linn Cove Viaduct (the last piece of the parkway to be completed, mid 80's and an engineering masterpiece) as well as views of Grandfather Mtn. up above.

[mtnjax]

if you're wife has never skied before, I would suggest going to App Ski Mtn as well. it is a smaller mountain and more conducive to first timers. Sugar or Beech would be better for you though since you sound like an avid skier, like myself

[eagle83]

if you're wife has never skied before, I would suggest going to App Ski Mtn as well. it is a smaller mountain and more conducive to first timers. Sugar or Beech would be better for you though since you sound like an avid skier, like myself

I've only been skiing a handful of times, but took to it quick. I like having a lot of trail options so I was thinking hitting sugar 2 days and beech 1. We will see how they treat her though.

[asucrutch23]

eagle83, what are your thoughts on our home-and-home football series starting next season? From perusing message boards, it looks like your fans are much more excited about playing us than Akron fans. There was the occasional "I didn't even know they were moving up," but mostly respect for our program. From our end, I think it is a great opportunity. Any time you can get a name like Southern Miss to come to your house I think you are doing things right. I also like that it fills the geographical gap in our away schedule . We are playing in Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia, might as well add Mississippi!

[eagle83]

To be honest at first I thought they were crazy. At the time it looked like we were facing 0-24. I had forgotten that you guys were moving up to FBS, and did not realize you were struggling recently. My initial reaction was great now we are going to get our butts whooped by an FCS school.

Southern Miss looked in old form in our last game against UAB though. I look for a lot of progress next year. Ellis Johnson did more damage to our program than anyone on the outside realizes. He brought in a real estate agent as a strength coach, and we struggled with the effects of that all season. Monken brought in what I believe to be a good strength coach, but I think it is going to take more time than we realized to get that year of conditioning back. Hopefully by next season they will be there.

I've always seen App State as a younger version of Southern Miss. We were once known for knocking off the big boys. Southern Miss was one of two schools to beat Bear Bryant in Bryant Denny Stadium (the other being Florida). In fact we beat them then he coached their bowl game and retired. 1 month later he died, so I like to say we killed the Bear. We have a lot of big wins against schools like Alabama, LSU, Miss. State, Ole Miss, Fla. State etc. App State has been trending toward being the giant killer we once were.

Not to mention we are both in a smaller market, with black and gold colors, and we both play in "The Rock". I've always seen the similarity, so I'm excited about playing. I'm also hoping for a fall/winter game in Boone. Depending on how my finances are at the time I may come up for the game. Being that we play Miss. State, and Alabama away, and have a cupcake game against Alcorn State, I think this game is a perfect fit for next year. An upstart FBS school known to play people tough.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Okay I have lodging, and eating pretty much figured out. How bout sightseeing? Grandfather mtn. swinging bridge? Any nice waterfalls to see in the winter close by?

My favorite waterfall is Cascade Falls. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 272 or so.

http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/cascade1.htm

I think it is around 10 miles or so from the Deep Gap entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I was up there in the middle of winter while I was a student and the falls was frozen over. Not a huge waterfall of course, but seeing what should be pretty much a vertical drop of running water frozen was a sight especially this far south. I have never been able to get back and see that again, and of course I had no camera on me at the time, and I was by myself so no witnesses either. Though I am sure I was not the only one to see it that day and it has to have happened other times.

[ASUPATCH]

If your headed to Sugar there are at least 5-6 private ski rental places much cheaper than renting at the slopes themselves. I disagree however that App Ski is the best for learning. I feel Sugar had the best bunny and bunny/intermediate slopes to learn on. Plus the runs are 3 to 4 times the length.....hence more learning per lift ride. Also of note is the fact that App ski doesn't serve adult beverages. As far as eating near Banner Elk, Puerto Nuevo is great for mexican and the Sushi club is great if your into sushi. If you like finer dining I am a big fan of Jackalopes View(get the escargot appetizer) roughly 6 minutes from Sugar and half way to Beech Mt.

Later January will be cheaper lift tickets and much more likely to have snow. Sugar and Beech average roughly 4 and 6 feet of snow a year respectively and the vast majority of it is in January and early Feb. You might not see a single flake but you may very well see a 12-18 inch snow in one night.

[AppAlum1]

G.E.:

There is a GREAT restaurant in Banner Elk - the Louisiana Purchase. On the right as you drive into "downtown". It's pricey, but the food is something else.

It's been there a while. It's a favorite of my wife and mine because back in Jan. of 1986 I proposed during dinner there. There are a few other restaurants worth checking out too; Zuzda's (if still there) serves tapas fare. And, if you end up dining in Boone, there are lots of choices. Our after-game favorite is Makoto's Japanese Steakhouse.

Anyway, enjoy skiing. We're looking forward to the home & home with So. Miss. If you or your wife are beginners, you cannot beat App. Ski Mtn. They will even do skiing lessons first thing in the mornings. And, don't expect dry, fluffy snow around here. It's usually somewhat crystalyzed. But, if you can learn to ski around here, you can ski anywhere.

Except for knowing that So. Miss. has beaten App before, (7 - 3 back in 1937), I know very little about you guys. But, we're planning a trip down there next year (Sept. 19?). Good luck & have fun!