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North Carolina Town One of the Best Places for a Winter Vacation Home

Author Randi Moultrie
House home property with view of floor and autumn foliage on trees with snow covering leaves and chair by window

Are you contemplating getting an additional property? Everyone enjoys their vacation homes when they need a break from their day-to-day. From beach houses to the ultimate dream winter wonderland, vacation homes are getting more and more popular. Finding a hotel or Airbnb rental in places you tend to visit often can be a hassle. So, why not just get a vacation home in some of your favorite vacation destinations?

Forbes released a list of the 10 best places to get a winter vacation home and luckily, one destination is not that far. I may have never really gotten to “vacation” in North Carolina much growing up in South Carolina but now that I am here, I cannot wait to give it a try. For 2022-2023, one North Carolina town is where you should be contemplating a winter vacation home. Vacasa, North America’s leading vacation rental management platform named these 10 destinations based on an average cap rate. Banner Elk, North Carolina made the list as one of the best places for a winter vacation home. I personally have never been, but now I think a winter weekend drive-up may be fun to check out this year. Banner Elk is right in the Blue Ridge Mountains between two major ski resorts. So, perfect location right? Enjoy Sugar Mountain or Beech Mountain Resort while enjoying the scenery of Banner Elk. From skiing to snowboarding, you will be able to enjoy so many different things in the area.

If you want to be able to enjoy a good winter destination home then it looks like Banner Elk may be the place to go. How fun would it be to enjoy a break during the beautiful winter weather and have your home ready to go whenever. Sounds like I need a vacation now.

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Randi Moultrie is a Charleston, South Carolina native and has been in the radio industry for the last few years in Charlotte. Randi started with Beasley Media Group as an intern in 2019 and is now thriving in the digital world. Randi enjoys writing about her favorite foods (especially pizza) and all things fashion and travel. As one who loves taking trips to find new foods, it’s not surprising that she enjoys writing about both!

The 10 Most Instagramable Winter Wonderlands

Winter is coming. And while it’s getting colder in North Carolina, it’s certainly not a winter wonderland. While we could see more snow than average this year (don’t they always say that?), I’m not holding my breath. So if you’re like me and love to see some good snowfall each winter, you may need to travel. With this in mind, our friends at SkyPark have compiled the 10 most Instagram-worthy winter wonderlands worldwide. And boy are they spectacular!

According to SkyPark, searches for ‘Winter Holidays’ have increased by 50% in the last 12 months. Additionally, the hashtag #winterwonderland has been used 15.7 million times on Instagram. To create this list they scoured TripAdvisor mentions for the term ‘winter wonderland’. This along with hashtag data and  secureparking.com helped them refine their search and reveal the most picturesque winter scenes from around the world.

What do you think of when you think of winter wonderlands? Is it snowy mountain peaks, a ski lodge, a frozen lake, or icy trees? I’d take any of it! In fact, I’m trying to book a winter getaway in the next few months. None of my initial options were on this list but I’m glad I found it. May have to adjust the plans. Keep reading to see the 10 most Instagramable winter wonderlands across the globe. And go ahead and book that flight!

  • 10. Bear Lake

    Location: Utah

    Instagram Posts: 27K

    The Bear Lake Valley is paradise! According to their website, Bear Lake is often called “The Caribbean of the Rockies” for its intense turquoise blue water. Summer offers plenty of outdoor activities, but it may be even more gorgeous in the winter. Visitors can enjoy snowmobiling, ice fishing, snow skiing, and of course the picturesque views. Get more information on winter at Bear Lake here.

  • 9. Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

    Location: Yongding District, Hunan, China

    Instagram Posts: 29K

    The Tianmen Mountain national forest park scenic area is accessible to visitors by a cable car gondola system. The area is known as “an endless sky without darkness”.  The mountain is known for the Tianmen Cave, a unique natural miracle . The cave was created after the cliff collapsed in ancient times. Today it’s national forest and a popular tourist destination. And those views from above only get even more spectacular when the area is covered in snow.

     

  • 8. Grand Mesa

    Location: Colorado

    Instagram Posts: 39K

    The Grand Mesa in Colorado is the largest flattop mountain in the world. It’s over 500 square miles and stands over 10,000 feet above sea level. The Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is 63 miles through the national forest, providing beautiful vistas of the National Forest’s lakes, wildlife, and geological features. Winter in Grand Mesa offers cross-country or downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and tubing.

  • 7. Tahquamenon Falls

    Location: Michigan

    Instagram Posts: 40K

    Tahquamenon Falls State Park is made up of around 50,000 acres stretching over 13 miles. The centerpiece (and most Instagrammable place) of the park, and the very reason for its existence, is the Tahquamenon River with its waterfalls. The Upper Falls is one the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. It has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. In the winter this area freezes over and is simply breathtaking.

  • 6. Nofmafa

    Location: Budapest, Hungary

    Instagram Posts: 44K

    Normafa is part of the Buda Hills area of Budapest,which is the highest point of the city. One of the area’s most popular tourist attractions, it’s known for its panoramic scenery and fresh air. In the winter months the area is home to skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. 

  • 5. Hatcher Pass

    Location: Alaska

    Instagram Posts: 47K

    The Talkeetna Mountains is the setting for Hatcher Pass which is the perfect location for outdoor recreation or a simple scenic drive. The road is maintained year round so visitors always have access to some of the earliest snow in the area, skiing (good enough for the Jr Olympic team), hiking in the alpine tundra, and of course that perfect photo.

     

  • 4. Mt Seymour

    Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

    Instagram Posts: 55K

    Mt Seymour is located just North of Vancouver. The mountain is home to a ski resort featuring winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, and tobogganing.

  • 3. Partnachklamm

    Location: Bavaria, Germany

    Location: 60K

    The Partnachklamm, is in the Bavarian alpine resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The gorge for the Partnach River, runs 2,305 feet between limestone walls. A series of tunnels have been carved out of the rock along one side, where visitors to walk along the rushing river and duck behind waterfalls. In the winter months, the Partnach Gorge is a magical place of ice and snow formations. 

  • 2. Johnston Canyon

    Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada

    Instagram Posts: 86K

    Johnston Canyon is a breathtaking natural attraction in Banff National Park with overhanging canyon walls, waterfalls, the deep pools of Johnston Creek, and lush forests. During the winter months, Johnston Canyon is a popular place to go ice walking and ice climbing. The Upper Falls freeze during the winter and make for excellent beginner and advanced ice climbing. 

  • 1. Lake Placid

    Location: New York

    Instagram Posts: 396K

    Topping the list is the perfect winter getaway. Lake Placid is home to snowy rolling hills, distant Adirondack peaks, ice skating rinks, and a gorgeous town. That’s Lake Placid. Take in the views while snowshoeing, dining, sitting by a fire pit, or strolling through town. Of course you can hit the slopes or participate in cross-country skiing as well.

     

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