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5+ Places for FREE Sledding: Charlotte, NC

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Hoping for some snow for a little sledding? Charlotte, NC doesn’t get a lot of snow so if you’re tired of waiting, you can plan a totally free little day trip up to the mountains for some sledding. Really! These spots are just a couple of hours’ drive from Charlotte, and they are A LOT more likely to have snow.

Places for Snow sledding, Charlotte, NC

Of course, if you want a “guaranteed” snow-ish experience you can visit any of the snow tubing places near Charlotte, NC. But if there’s snow in the mountains, and you come armed with a sled and a good sense of fun (and maybe a thermos of hot cocoa and some favorite snacks) you can have a great time without spending any more money than the gas it takes to chase down that snow.

Check out these free sledding hills you can visit.

Free Sledding Hill in Beech Mountain, North Carolina

About 2 1/2 hours from Charlotte, NC

In addition to the Beech Mountain Ski Resort, the city offers a free sledding hill behind the Brick Oven Pizzeria at 110 Bark Park Way, Beech Mountain. This new sledding hill location is considered much safer than the previous hill behind the visitor’s center. There is more parking, the hill is fenced in, and there is no longer a power pole in the middle of the run. You’ll also find a bathroom and playground, so you can stay all day.

The Sledding Hill is open seven days a week, weather permitting. And, the city will often make snow for this hill, giving you lots more opportunities for sledding even if nature isn’t being cooperative. This is the only free sledding hill we know about that makes snow.

Blowing Rock, North Carolina Sledding

1 hour and 45 minutes from Charlotte, NC

Blowing Rock, North Carolina has several parks that offer a great opportunity for snow play!

Boone, North Carolina: Sledding Spots

2 hours from Charlotte, NC

Boone, NC sees a fair bit of snow, which means they have several parks used for winter fun. If snow is on the ground, these parks would be fun to visit for sledding. Of course Boone is a fun town for a day trip anyway, so just pack your sleds and boots and be ready for an adventure.

Check conditions before you go: Use the town of Boone’s webcam so you can check up on the snow status in real-time!

  • Moses H. Cone Memorial Park: Hills for sledding and even cross-country ski trails
  • Daniel Boone Park is a public park that offers sledding on Strawberry Hill. (Be sure to stop for a bathroom break before you head to the park because the restrooms are closed during the winter months.

Getting to some of these spots can be a challenge at times due to weather. The Blue Ridge Parkway often closes during inclement weather, making spots along this highway difficult to access.

But, this road closure can actually be really fun. When the road closes to traffic, it is open for walking, using snow shoes, and it even offers families a unique opportunity to sled right on the road. For road closure information, visit the Road Closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway page. To take a peek at what Milepost 241 on the Parkway looks like, head to the Bluffs Restaurant Webcam.

For more safety tips and info about The Blue Ridge Parkway in winter, head to the Blue Ridge Parkway Facebook page.

Brevard, North Carolina: Sledding Spots

2 1/2 hours from Charlotte, NC

Enjoy Winter in Charlotte, NC: The Premier Guide

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Are you looking for things to do this winter in Charlotte, NC? Winter has arrived! That means it’s time for all the activities the cooler weather lets us enjoy, from winter hikes to snow tubing, great family dining to awesome indoor play places. We created our Kidding Around Charlotte Winter Guide to help you plan your family’s fun! No reason to stay home and be bored!

Charlotte, NC Winter Things to Do

Outdoor Things to Do This Winter: Charlotte, NC

Snow Tubing

The ultimate family-fun winter day, snow tubing. There are lots of places about a 2-hour drive from Charlotte where you can head for a day of winter fun on a snow tube.

Here’s our list of places to go snow tubing near Charlotte, NC.

Ice Skating

Charlotte’s Whitewater Center is the place to go for ice skating in the winter. They offer skating from mid-November through mid-February, making it a true winter season offering. Day tickets for skating are $25 and that includes the skate rental and use of the 24,000 square foot skating space. The ice is unlike other rinks and is made up of 4 distinct skating areas, connected by ice trails.

Ice skating at the Whitewater Center

Sledding

Even if there’s no snow on the ground in Charlotte (and let’s face it, there probably isn’t), you can still enjoy some free winter fun with a day of sledding. You’ll just have to drive into the mountains a bit. So toss those sleds in the car and grab the kids’ winter coats. It’s time to go find some snow.

❄️Here’s where to go sledding near Charlotte, NC.

Winter Hikes

Cooler weather can make for some much more enjoyable hiking conditions- less sweat, no humidity, and open views without leaves on the trees. There are places near Charlotte where you can enjoy a cooler weather hike or walk, and of course there are some fabulous day trip hikes you can take in the mountains.

Want to check out some of our winter hikes and see what you’re in for? We made a video for that, because these hikes are seriously gorgeous.

Indoor Things to Do This Winter: Charlotte, NC

Unwind Indoor Play Cafe

With a climbing wall, sandbox, and loads of sensory spaces, the Unwind Indoor Play Cafe is definitely a spot to check out for indoor play time. They even have snacks, coffee and other tdrinks available for purchase so you can make a whole afternoon of it.

Kidding Around Charlotte got to visit to review the play cafe, and we had a great time! Check it all out in our review: Unwind Indoor Play Cafe

Ninja Nation

Head up to Huntersville, NC for open gym time at Ninja Nation. Kids (and adults) can try out all their ninja skills on Ninja Nation’s course equipment in their super clean gym. We loved the friendly staff.

Here’s our full review of Ninja Nation.

Open Gym at Ninja Nation is for ages 5 and up. They offer open gym Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm, Monday through Thursday from 4 pm to 7 pm and Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Open gym prices start at $20 for an hour of gym time with options for 2 hours and a full day pass.
14120 Statesville Road Huntersville, NC 28078

Discovery Place Science Museum

Any Charlotte area indoor list would not be complete without Discovery Place. The kids (and adults) will enjoy playing and learning here for hours.

You’ll save a few dollars if you purchase your tickets online. If you plan to visit more than once, a family membership is probably the way to go.

Online ticket prices: $18-19 for children, $23-24 for adults (Children under 2 are free)
Buy tickets online
301 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte

Gibson Mill

Get everyone something to eat that they’ll love at the food hall at Gibson Mill. Hang around and play games or visit the small arcade for a little family fun.

Gibson Mill outdoor seating

Here’s our full review of Gibson Mill.

Still Need More Options?

Things to Do in Charlotte, NC

Discover lots more things to do in our HUGE Charlotte, NC Things to Do Guide

Lots of Winter Family Fun at Black Bear Snow Tubing in Hendersonville, NC

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Are you thinking about snow tubing at Black Bear Snow Tubing in Hendersonville, NC? Western North Carolina has great snow tubing and Black Bear Snow Tubing is a stellar option for families! They have a huge mountain to get your winter in high gear with a fun snow tubing trip for the whole family! We took a trip up to try out that snow-tubing mountain and it was so much fun! Now we have all the details to share so you can plan your trip!

Media tickets were provided for this review and the opinions are solely those of the author.

Snow tubing at Black Bear in Hendersonville, NC

While there aren’t any places to snow tube in the Upstate, SC, there are definitely options nearby and one of them is Black Bear Snow Tubing in nearby Hendersonville, NC, just over an hour from Greenville, SC. The snow tubing family-owned operation has been in business for over seven years and they really have a good thing going there, which I’m going to tell you all about in this story.

Scenes From the Slope

Take a sneak peek at this video at Black Bear Snow Tubing.

Snow Tubing at Black Bear

The slope at Black Bear Snow Tubing is 600 feet long with an 80-foot drop and it’s pretty fast. They make their own snow (unless they get a big snowstorm, which doesn’t happen too often) and the hill is well-maintained by their attentive staff.

How it works is that when you get to Black Bear, you go to a little shed to watch a short safety video, where you learn how to get out of your tube on the run and not to start snowball fights, sign a waiver, and head inside the cozy lodge to pay. Then you get your tubes and head to the hill.

They have a pulley system to get you to the top of the hill, which works by slipping the handle of your tube on a cable that takes you, while sitting inside your tube, right up the hill to the top. Once at the top, you’ll wait for a few minutes before being situated into your group by the staff and then sliding down the hill.

On the snow tube pully at Black Bear in Hendersonville, NC
Black Bear Snow Tubing Pulley System

Why Black Bear is Different

I’ve snow tubed at many places in our area and I think Black Bear Snow Tubing is pretty fantastic. Here’s why:

  • You can (and should) make a reservation ahead of time, which is crucial for us in Greenville who need to travel out of state to go snow tubing. It’s quite a bummer to get to our snow tubing place and either find out that they are sold out or having to wait hours for an open slot.
  • The staff is attentive and efficient. They were always around watching the hill to make sure things were running smoothly and safely. When there was a slight backup at the top of the hill, they figured out how to manage to get us all down the hill and back up to keep snow tubing without interruption.
  • The lodge is super cozy and warm and has reasonable concessions. I got a $2 hot chocolate and it was amazing. Plus, they have food, including apple cider donuts, that is affordable and you can get warm by the wood-burning stove inside or watch on the deck if you don’t want to go tubing.
  • The setup takes into account smaller kids. There is playground next to the place where you wait in line to go up the hill so smaller kids can get out their energy and there is a big fire pit also near the waiting area where you can warm up.
  • If you forgot a hat or gloves, they have them for sale inside the lodge. I feel like us parents can relate when our kid gets out of the car to go snow tubing and forgot his or her winter hat.
  • The check-in is fast. This is important because you want to get on the hill and start having fun as soon as possible!
  • Black Bear has excellent communication. They post daily on their Facebook page about current snow conditions, which is super helpful when you’re unsure about the weather.
  • The snow is real. They don’t have any synthetic chemicals in the snow – it’s the real deal.

My kids, ages 11 and 8, and I had such a blast snow tubing at Black Bear Snow Tubing. We went down the hill about 10 times (maybe more, I lost count honestly) and had so much fun together. I really love places where adults can carelessly be kids again. My kids are already asking to go back. The hill was super fast and seeing my kids faces light up with joy was special. I love those moments.

Tips on How to Enjoy Snow Tubing at Black Bear

Winter being winter, it’s usually cold when you go snow tubing. I’ve found that bringing hand and foot warmers is a really good trick to keeping everyone warm and comfortable. You can get them at Wal-Mart, Amazon, or most drug stores and they stay warm for hours.

Sliding down in a tube at Black Bear Tubing

It’s also really important to make a reservation when you know you want to go snow tubing. This is especially true during school breaks and holidays. Snow tubing is an awesome family activity on a day off but a lot of people also have the same thought. Don’t forget to make a reservation.

You don’t need to wear snow bibs or snow pants. I had on fleece leggings, hiking boots, and a couple layers of tops with a heavy coat (it was really cold when we went!) and I was fine. I saw people wearing all kinds of clothes that worked for them like pants, leggings, jeans, and sweatpants. The snow wasn’t wet at all when we went but if you go on a warmer day, you may want to bring a change of pants in case they get wet.

There are port-a-potties outside the lodge to use and no bathrooms indoors.

Double-check Black Bear’s Facebook page before heading out. Snow tubing is very dependent on weather, which changes often in the mountains. They will post current conditions and if they are open or closed most days.

Ticket Prices and Policies at Black Bear Snow Tubing

Tickets are $30/hour or $40/two hours for snow tubing. Kids must be 4 years old in order to go snow tubing. You can either sign a waiver when you get to Black Bear Snow Tubing or print one out online ahead of time. Either is fine.

While Black Bear Snow Tubing does take walk-ups, it is much better to make a reservation ahead of time instead of getting there and finding out they are full. Online reservations are fantastic for this very reason so definitely make use of them.

And be sure to check Black Bear Snow Tubing’s Facebook page before heading out to double check they are open and running. Winter tubing runs mid-December through February usually depending on the weather, of course.

And if you want to tube during other times of the year, you totally can! They have warm-weather tubing in the fall.

Black Bear Snow Tubing
373 Kerr Road, Hendersonville, NC
828.685.1155

Want to spend the day in Hendersonville? We’ve got lots of ideas on what to do in this fun town!

Things to Do in Hendersonville, North Carolina

Hendersonville is full of family fun.
Check it out!

Kidding Around Guide to Hendersonville

Go Sock Skating at the Schiele Museum in Gastonia, NC

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Indoor “sock skating” at the Schiele Museum is just the thing for kids to get out their energy during colder months. Located in Gastonia, NC, the Schiele Museum is only about an hour from Greenville, SC, or 35 minutes from Charlotte, NC.

Sometimes you just come across something so fun and unexpected that you have to share it – which is exactly what happened when we visited the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, NC during a rainy day and to our great surprise, learned that our kids could go ice skating but with socks!

If you didn’t know sock skating was a thing, don’t feel too bad. We didn’t either until we happened upon it at the Schiele Museum. It’s exactly as it sounds: skating with socks on instead of use skates on ice. We’ll tell you more in this story, plus give you the dates when you can get free tickets to the museum. 

Sock skating for the 2023-24 season opens November 24, 2023.

About the Schiele Museum of  Natural History 

We have a whole Schiele Museum story about this amazing museum, which is worth a read. This museum has extensive exhibits on animals, plants, gems and minerals, and dinosaurs. They also have an outdoor farm and Catawba Village. 

Schiele Museum Dinosaur exhibit

If you love learning about the stars, don’t forget to see a show in the planetarium. You can reserve your seat when you buy your tickets at the entrance. 

Sock Skating 

During the wintertime, the Schiele Museum has a room dedicated to a winter wonderland of Sock Skating. The room is lit to look like it’s snowing, complete with a little snowbank and a wooden house with a Christmas tree in the window. We have a short reel if you want to see how it all works!

There are benches for parents to relax and watch their kids enjoy skating on a slippery floor. All kids need are socks and they need to be sure to bring their own as the museum does not have socks to lend out. 

Sock Skating is for kids ages 2-10 years old and you need to purchase a wristband for $3 for each kid to participate. When we went, it was a busier day and the front desk ladies gave us a timed entry ticket, which was fine. We were basically able to go when we saw there weren’t many kids inside and it worked out great. 

Sock Skating at Schiele Museum

My kids absolutely loved this and I thought it was such a creative and unique idea for indoor fun. We spent a lot of time at the other museum exhibits as well, which were awesome. This is easily a great day trip from the Upstate. 

Sock Skating at Winter Wonderland opened November 25th and runs usually through February.

Tickets to the Schiele Museum

Tickets to the museum are $7/adults, $6/kids 4-18 and kids ages 3 and under are free. Planetarium tickets are $5/each and farm tickets are $3/each. 

There are certain dates every month where admission to the museum is free, thanks to the support of Duke Energy. Free museum admission is available the second Tuesday and fourth Friday of every month from Noon – 4 pm. 

Do you have a Roper Mountain Science Center membership? The Museum is part of the same ASTC passport program as RMSC which means great news! If you have a RMSC membership, then you get in free to the Shiele Museum. The ASTC Passport program gets you free admission into partner museums all over the world. If you plan to travel, it can pay for itself in just one trip to a partner museum. 

Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium
1500 East Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia NC