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Budget Family Winter Vacation via car from Mississippi
Posted on 11/28/23 at 12:59 pm
Posted on 11/28/23 at 12:59 pm
My two kids (both under 8) want a trip for Christmas to a location with snow so they can play in it and do some sledding. We're both teachers and on a tight budget. Does anyone have recommendations on a location within 10-12 hours of Mississippi that has decent snow or should we just bite the bulllet and drive to Colorado?
Posted on 11/28/23 at 1:14 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
Hershey. You can hit Gettysburg while you're at it. The Hershey factory is a good consolation prize if they don't have snow at the right time.
Be a bit longer than 12 hours if you aren't in north Mississippi, but you can also hit the Louisville Slugger factory on the way back.
Be a bit longer than 12 hours if you aren't in north Mississippi, but you can also hit the Louisville Slugger factory on the way back.
Posted on 11/28/23 at 1:19 pm to Bestbank Tiger
I'm not sure on where snow will be, but I would begin by looking at the area from Chatanooga to Ashville. Maybe you'll find something?
Posted on 11/28/23 at 1:22 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
quote:
a tight budget
quote:
Colorado
You have a Venn Diagram issue here.
Find a spot in Wisconsin or Michigan, they have ski hills so they will have sledding. Will be a fraction of the cost of Colorado.
Posted on 11/28/23 at 1:24 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
To be honest, a budget snow trip not likely in <12hr drive unlikely at christmas time. Some sky resorts will have snow machines possible in around Pigeon Forge Tennessee or chance a trip to great lakes Chicago or Cleveland area. I take pigeon forge area and hope for best.
Posted on 11/28/23 at 1:28 pm to Matt225
Thanks everyone for the inputs so far. I will take a look at TN and NC and go from there!
Posted on 11/28/23 at 1:49 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
Snowshoe, West Virginia maybe? They have a ski resort with tubing and sledding.
It would be on the 12+ hour range looks like. I’m in the delta and it says it’s 13.5 hrs from me.
It would be on the 12+ hour range looks like. I’m in the delta and it says it’s 13.5 hrs from me.
Posted on 11/28/23 at 1:57 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
Ski Beech (Beech Mtn.) North Carolina.
11 hrs., 24 mins from Jackson, MS.
They have snow-making ability, and are blowing it on right now: LINK
11 hrs., 24 mins from Jackson, MS.
They have snow-making ability, and are blowing it on right now: LINK
Posted on 11/28/23 at 2:05 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area and maybe Chimney Rock area of NC would be driveable and affordable. however, snow definitely isn't guaranteed. Gatlinburg area is touristy but great for kids that age. You can hike the national park, ice skating in town, and all the pancakes they can eat.
Posted on 11/28/23 at 2:05 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
There are a number of snow tubing places around Beech Mountain/ Banner Elk area of western North Carolina. They will at least have blown in snow if there isn't snow on the ground. Hawksnest is the biggest one. Should be under 12 hour drive.
Also, if you are renting a house or cabin, make sure to verify if you need 4 wheel drive to get to the place in the winter. We have run into this issue previously and will ruin your trip.
Also, if you are renting a house or cabin, make sure to verify if you need 4 wheel drive to get to the place in the winter. We have run into this issue previously and will ruin your trip.
Posted on 11/28/23 at 2:10 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
Plan your time off and wait to see snowfall maps, then decide. Something in the east is possible, good odds of snow in Northern NM, you could run north to Wisconsin or Minnesota
Posted on 11/28/23 at 2:12 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
quote:
I will take a look at TN and NC and go from there!
Check for road closures if coming up to this area and want to spend time at high elevations. Places like the Parkway and highway 441 through the national park will close off sections of the roads if there's a chance of winter weather.
This post was edited on 11/28/23 at 2:13 pm
Posted on 11/28/23 at 2:48 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
I've done Gatlinburg for NYE many times. I don't remember a time when there wasn't snow in the highest elevations of the national park in early January. The top of Hwy 441 should have snow.
Posted on 11/28/23 at 4:34 pm to Tdot_RiverDawg
Check out Sugar Mountain, NC. We took our kids there when they were abt that age and it was a great place for them to learn to ski. They also have tubing and an outdoor ice rink. We paired that with a few nights at the Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte, and my kids had a blast!
Posted on 11/28/23 at 7:07 pm to lsualum98
And these answers are why I came here. Thanks everyone for the help! Just trying to see my kids faces light up. There's nothing like it.
Posted on 11/29/23 at 11:09 am to Tdot_RiverDawg
quote:
Just trying to see my kids faces light up. There's nothing like it.
Not a snow area, but have you considered Chattanooga? Rock City does a great Christmas theme. There's also the aquarium, Ruby Falls, and the incline railway up the mountain.
It's a great and inexpensive 3-4 day getaway.
I'd recommend staying at River View Inn on the side of Lookout mountain. https://www.stayatriverviewinn.com/?utm_source=gmb
We always make a stop in Chattanooga on the way to Gatlinburg.
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