The lap of luxury is… just outside your back door? Local business Glamp Raleigh is calling for a return to the great outdoors—only this time, you don’t even have to leave the neighborhood.
Pitch, please. If the thought of taking a trip to the backwoods with only a measly tent, a deflated air mattress and a disappointing campfire turns you off, maybe you’re better suited for the glamping life (air conditioning, an actual bed… ah, Mother Nature at its finest!). Enter Glamp Raleigh, a Raleigh-owned and -operated small business that’s kindling backyard campsites—Moroccan-palace style.
Glamp Raleigh’s ultimate glamping experience features spacious tents, luxurious bedding, premium mattresses, ambient lighting and beautiful decor—and you don’t even have to lift a finger. Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind date night, some not-so-forced family fun, a group getaway or a solo retreat, Glamp Raleigh has all you need and s’more.
After experiencing his own bout of work-life monotony, Glamp Raleigh founder Michael Cutts—born with entrepreneurial aspirations—started his glamping service in hopes of helping families and friends escape mundane life and create lasting (and, ideally, distraction-free) memories.
“I have always known that I wanted my own business,” says Cutts. “I knew I wanted to create something that made people happy. Glamping was the perfect way to step away from the desk life that never filled my cup and bring happiness to people.”
Now, we know what you’re thinking—it’s winter, and why on Earth would anyone want to spend a night outside in 30-degree weather. But before you go and get your tent all in a twist, Glamp Raleigh also offers heating and AC options for year-round comfortable glamps—because if you’re gonna bring a mattress, you might as well bring the heater too, right? Glamp Raleigh also “pitches” indoor glamps perfect for next-level slumber parties, birthday celebrations or, honestly, just some good ole mental stimulation—because we can all go a little stir crazy sometimes.
“I love the outdoors and all that goes along with it, but I also need and love creature comforts,” admits Cutts. “It’s nice to be able to combine the two.”
And if you’re really yurting to get away from the house this winter—who isn’t—Glamp Raleigh travels, offering remote glamps at city parks (no overnights), private farms, local campgrounds (Falls Lake), as well as other open spaces you’ve had your eye on.
As spring rolls around, dining alfresco and watching outdoor movies hosted by Glamp Raleigh are two other ops for weekend fun with fam and friends. And if you’re a business owner, Glamp Raleigh can shake up your annual retreat or luncheon.
So to get your glamp on stat, pro tip from Cutts himself: Book in advance! Even the winter months fill up quickly with people antsy to escape their usual four walls. And with spring fever on the horizon, well, as they say, “the early bird gets the worm.” Cutts also recommends considering your yard size before booking, as the tents—in all their luxury—need breathing room too, ya know.
So, if you need some fresh air—and perhaps a fresh perspective—and you’d rather not have to plan a vacation or organize travel plans (or, ahem, pitch your own tent), stay local with Glamp Raleigh and have all your childhood dreams (and adult needs!) taken care of… hassle-free.glampraleigh.com
While North Carolina’s rolling Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains attract visitors from across the country for their tranquil beauty and opportunities for hiking, camping, rock climbing and fishing, they’re not necessarily a top destination for skiing like the Colorado Rockies or the Adirondacks.
That said, however, North Carolina skiing is ideal for beginner skiers, as well as for families with young children.
In Blowing Rock, Appalachian Mountain’s gentle trails, modest altitudes and instructor-led classes for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and ages make for safe, fun skiing experiences for all. Rent all the equipment you need onsite, and if the kids are too little to ski, childcare is available.
For more experienced skiers, there are expert-level slopes, including three at Appalachian Mountain and several at the state’s tallest ski hill at Sugar Mountain, including the back diamond run, Whoopdedoo. With 120 skiable acres, Sugar Mountain also offers equipment rental, ski and snowboarding school for kids, private and group lessons, as well as opportunities for night skiing away from the crowds. Its Last Run Lounge is perfect for unwinding after a long day on the slopes.
At Cataloochee, near Maggie Valley, check out 16 trails suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers. Beech Mountain—the highest altitude ski mountain in the state at 5,500 feet above ski level—boasts one of the coldest climates in the south, up to 60 inches of snowfall per year and offers diverse ski lessons, including ski racing classes and lessons for special needs skiers. For an intimate, affordable experience, check out the Sapphire Valley located in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. Sapphire Valley has two runs for beginner and intermediate skiers and no crowds.
Many of North Carolina’s resorts offer amenities for snowboarding, snow tubing and ice skating, and if the temperatures are too warm for natural snowfall, most even have their own snowmaking capabilities. Best of all, North Carolina ski resorts are close to home, just a three-to-five hour drive from Raleigh. Ski season in North Carolina lasts from Thanksgiving to mid-March; escaping to the state’s beautiful mountains is always a wonderful way to spend a winter weekend.
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Appalachian Ski Mountain is celebrating more than 55 years of skiing in North Carolina. The resort includes 10 slopes, three terrain parks and a panoramic outdoor ice rink. The resort offers day and night skiing from mid-November to late March.
appskimtn.com
Beech Mountain is North Carolina’s largest ski resort village with 17 slopes, eight lifts and a 7,000 square-foot outdoor ice skating rink. It also includes a tubing park at the base of the slopes and a terrain park.
beechmountainresort.com
Cataloochee Ski Area. Visitnc.com
Cataloochee Skiarea opened in 1961 and offers 14 slopes, five lifts, a terrain park and snow tubing park across the street.
cataloochee.com
Sapphire Valley Ski Lodge
Sapphire Valley Ski Area & Frozen Falls Tube Park is an integral part of a 5,700-acre, four-season resort nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering two slopes and three lifts.
Sugar Mountain Resort boasts the largest vertical drop (1,200 feet) in the state. The resort offers 21 slopes, eight lifts, a 10,000 square-foot ice-skating rink and a tubing park, as well as the only double black diamond trail in the state. skisugar.com
STAY
… near Appalachian Ski Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain
Meadow Brook Inn
Meadow Brook Inn
offers a relaxing mountain escape in the midst of some of the High Country’s most popular attractions. The boutique hotel features 62 cozy guest rooms and suites, with breakfast included.
meadowbrook-inn.com
Green Park Inn
is the last of the “Grand Manor Hotels” in western North Carolina, and remains the state’s second oldest operating resort hotel. Green Park offers guest rooms and suites, with breakfast included.
greenparkinn.com
Banner Elk Inn
Banner Elk Inn
was The Shawneehaw Inn in a bygone era, but it is still romantic, charmingly restored and furnished with antiques collected from around the world. The inn offers traditional B & B accommodations as well as cottages and cabins.
bannerelkinn.com
… near Cataloochee Ski
The Cataloochee Ranch
is a historic resort in the western North Carolina mountains. Lodging choices range from guest rooms in the main Ranch House, to individual cabins that sleep from two to eight people, to the Silverbell Lodge, designed especially for larger gatherings.
cataloocheeranch.com.
… near Sapphire Valley Ski
Black Bear Lodge
Black Bear Lodge
is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains at a 3,200-foot elevation. All accommodations are two-room suites with full kitchens.
