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North Carolina Has One Of The Best Ice Skating Rinks In The U.S.

Author Jeff Gorra

To some, the winter season means the return of certain seasonal sports, like ice skating or ice hockey. For others, ice skating is a year-round sport. Regardless, Flight Gift recently detailed the best outdoor ice skating rinks in America, and a North Carolina destination made the list.

“There’s an ever-growing sense of anticipation for ice skating in the winter since it means gliding over large bodies of water where you normally couldn’t,” they explain.

In North Carolina, the success of the Hurricanes in the NHL has certainly increased the interest in hockey. The state is not always one of the first you think of for typical cold-weather, outdoor winter activities. Nonetheless, based in Raleigh, this team currently sits in second place (behind the New York Rangers) at 12 wins and 8 loses. Of course, the team’s Stanley Cup championship in 2006 did not hurt the growth of ice skating in North Carolina.

If you head west on Route 40 from the PNC Arena, you will arrive at the North Carolina destination named among the best outdoor ice skating rinks in the country.

Sugar Mountain Resort

Known for its great ski conditions, Sugar Mountain Resort in Sugar Mountain also has excellent ice skating options. “Sugar Mountain’s ice skating rink, with its endless rows of pine trees, is a must-see attraction in the US,” Flight Gift said, explaining how this skating area overlooks the beautiful Smokey Mountains. The ice rink at Sugar Mountain is a 10,000-square-foot refrigerated outdoor rink.

You do need to purchase a ticket to enter the ice skating rink (approximately $25). In addition, you can take lessons here. Better yet, this rink is near the tubing park if you want to hit both thrilling activities.

The Sugar Mountain Resort ice skating rink is open now. They offer sessions at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, and 4 pm.

North Carolina Has One of the Cheapest Christmas Vacations

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.

Cheapest Christmas Vacations in the U.S.

  • Frankenmuth, Michigan

    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.

    Clock tower telling the story of the pied piper in Frakenmuth Michigan.

    Getty Images / Michael Deemer

  • Lancaster, Pennsylvania

    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.

    Rowhouse in Lancaster, PA

    Getty Images / 2windspa

  • Las Vegas, Nevada

    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

    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

    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.

    Charlotte, North Carolina, USA Skyline

    Getty Images / Sean Pavone

  • Boston, Massachusetts

    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.

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.

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