Ode to a Pepperoni - Pizza on Beech Mountain, NC

After a non-stop day of dashing through the snow on your sled, snowboard, skis, inner tube . . . or rear end, there is nothing like sinking one's teeth into a cheesy, saucy, piping hot slice of the wonderfulness that is Pizza!

Fortunately, while on Beech, you have your choice of two fine pizza pie establishments on the Mountain, each run by folks who pride themselves on high-quality ingredients and friendly service.

Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria (Located on Beech Mountain Parkway, across from the Beech Mountain Visitors Center)

This is a great place to come with a large group. The food is really great, and the atmosphere is a pleasantly casual, with ample seating for large, happily noisy groups. You order up at the counter for your group, then grab yourselves some paper plates and plastic cutlery, and there's a large roll of paper towels at every table and booth. The menu is extensive, so you might want to work on your choices before you go up because there is something for everyone (hot sandwiches, several fresh upscale salads and homemade soup each day, in addition to their luscious braided crust pizzas). And if that weren't enough, there's a wide selection of deli-style desserts to chose from, a cappuccino bar, an ice cream & fruit smoothies bar (Summers only), and at the other end of the restaurant, grown-up bar.

In addition to food, Brick Oven also provides plenty of entertainment. After your group has finished feasting, you can send the kids with a pocketful of quarters to the arcade room while you help yourself to another cold one from the impressive "Wall of Beer" - or sit back with a fragrant espresso and a tall slice of carrot cake or fudge, perhaps? Maybe catch up on your online reading, if you bring along a laptop to take advantage of the free Wi-fi? Or you can just relax and admire the tons of paper plates decorated by previous customers over the years covering the walls. (It seems they never throw these out, but store the overflow and rotate them for display from time to time. If you contributed some artwork during a previous visit years ago, you might just find your masterpiece displayed when you next visit!)

At present Brick Oven only offers the options of take-out or dining in - but I am told that they may soon offer Delivery, this winter, if there is a demand for it.

That Pizza Place (formerly known as Smokey's Pizza) (Located just past the Entrance to Ski Beech, on the way back to our condo - 2 minutes' leisurely drive)

Another little pizza place my family often frequents is further up the Mountain, only a few hundred feet from the entrance to Ski Beech. The atmosphere here is a little quieter, with an intimate collection of smaller tables and a cozy sports bar ambiance. Here too, you will find an attractive bar serving wine and beer, a more basic pizza restaurant menu, also offering wings and a nice side salad - but also, some cheesecake is available for your sweet tooth, as well as a selection of specialty coffees. Really, what more do you need?

At present, That Pizza Place offers take-out and dining in. There used to be a delivery car, but it is no more. However, since it is only a minute down the road from our place, we find it to be no problem to pop down and pick it up ourselves (or on the way back to the condo after skiing), as a nice conversation with either of the owners while we're there is a treat. Thanks to this wonderful couple, I have a nice anecdote to chuckle over about the exact circumstances surrounding the demise of their former pizza delivery car (Thanks, Sherry Garris), AND I know a great deal more than I did about the local small airports near Beech Mountain where Dave Garris tries out the experimental aircraft he builds.

Hmmm . . . perhaps I'll be writing about that next . . .

Only the Bears Are Hibernating at Grandfather Mountain!

Just about every time we stay up at Beech Mountain, my family and I love to make the short drive towards Linville and visit Grandfather Mountain . . . in the Summer. But during our winter visits we assumed the park was closed, which (it turns out) was a mistake. Weather permitting, the park is open to visitors all year 'round.

Animals

Even though the bears at the park aren't very active during the colder months of the year (Actually, the bears at Grandfather Mountain nap more than they hibernate. You can sometimes see them come out for a drink of water and a look 'round in the wintertime.), the rest of the wildlife (River Otters, Cougars, Eagles and Deer) are still out and available for visits. Watching the Otters play in the ice and snow is a special treat.

Swinging Bridge

Seeing as it's North Carolina and all, you still get lots of sunny clear days even in the dead of winter. So it's not unheard of for the Swinging Bridge at the top of Grandfather Mountain to be open during ski season in the highlands. And the nearly 12 miles of alpine hiking trails in the park are also kept open, unless things get too icy - then you'll be advised to skip the hike. Even in summer, it is advisable to dress warmly when you visit the mountain top because of the high winds; so you really need to bundle yourselves up very well if you plan to brave the elements and venture up to the very top of Grandfather when there's snow on the ground. Of course, it's not smart to argue with Mother Nature, so at times the park has to close off the mountain top to visitors - but the bright side is that you can still enjoy the other parts of the park (wildlife viewing, Museum) and for half off the regular cost of admission. Just give them a call at the Entrance gate before you come, to find out.

Nature Museum, Theatre & Cafe

In the Nature Museum, you can warm up and watch an interesting nature movie in the Theatre. And homemade vegetable soup and hot sandwiches from the grille at the Cafe are a great way to refuel and warm yourselves. There are some impressive displays in the museum, and beautiful photographs of the local plants and animals line the walls near the gift shop.

So just because the bears are busy with their winter snooze does not mean we have to wait till Spring to enjoy all the rest of what Grandfather Mountain has to offer.

Ho, Ho, Ho!!! Santa Is Coming To Beech Mountain!

What better way to gear up for the holiday season than to take a quick break and galavant off to Beech Mountain for a weekend of skiing AND a meeting with Santa - just so the kids can make sure any last-minute wishes are expressed . . . and demonstrate their very good behavior in person.

Yes, on Saturday, December 20th, Santa is taking time out from his busy schedule to make an appearance at Fred's Gazebo, 4-5 pm (just a few minutes from our place). Afterwards, you can stroll a couple of doors down from Fred's General Mercantile to the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce to have some free cookies and hot cocoa, and watch the lighting of the town Tree.

And be sure to bring your camera! Imagine the great shots you'll get of all those beaming, chocolate-smeared little faces?

To make it a little easier to treat yourselves, we've put together a Santa and Skiing Weekend Special.

Beech Mountain Recreation Center: Low-cost indoor activities for . . . ahem . . . energetic kids

OK! So imagine you're up on Beech Mountain, about four days in to your stay at our cozy little condo . . . with the kids. It's been great thus far: Three days of brilliant snowy weather, filled with skiing, tubing, sledding, skating, and just hanging out in the back and front yards, making snow angels and throwing snowballs. But now it's the fourth day, and (groan) the spirit is willing, but the body . . . well, you're a bit sore, perhaps. And, a bit chapped possibly?

So, you've been enjoying several very nice hours with a hot drink in front of the fire, gazing at the mountain view out the window, while the kids have busied themselves with games and puzzles - and you even managed to extend your little piece of heaven for a short time by sending the older ones outside to play in the snow.

But sooner or later, they will want to go somewhere and do something else. As a parent, no matter how many new toys or clever ideas you've provided, you know it's coming: "I'm boooorred!" And you've already burned through two days worth of ski lift tickets and tubing for the family - and the free sledding on the 3rd day was fabulous - but you'd really like some down time for a bit . . . something indoors maybe?

Here's a great (and affordable) solution!!! Beech Mountain has a wonderful Recreation Center, just a few minutes' drive from our condo - right next to Buckeye Lake part-way down the back side of Beech. There you will find an wide range of indoor activities that will burn off your kids' excess energy.

The Living Room

For you: relaxing soft seating amidst upscale decor, leather couches and rocking chairs, a fireplace, with books, games and computers and a printer provided (and wi-fi, of course).

The Soft Playroom

For the kids: A soft play area (For ages 7 and under. Our family calls it "The Rubber Room"), 2 ping pong tables, full-court indoor gymnasium with the equipment for basket ball, badminton, volleyball, etc. - and all this for $2 per child (because, as our guests, you pay the residential rates for all Rec. Center fees). That's for ALL DAY, so you can leave for lunch and come back later in the day - just pick up a receipt card at the front desk on your way out.

"Well, I'm not THAT out of shape," you say? Perhaps you're just tired of being out in the cold, but you've still got some energy (and your last pair of snow pants are still damp because you forgot to put 'em in the dryer)? Don't worry. There are plenty of energetic things for you to do in the lovely, spacious, heated indoors of the Rec Center as well.

Indoor Tennis & Fitness Center

For $5, you can reserve the indoor tennis court for a game (and it's right by the soft play area, which has a glass wall, through which you can keep an eye on the kids while you play). Or, you can tag team it with your significant other, taking turns in the Fitness Center just down the hall, while the other keeps an eye on the smaller kids. Again, just $5 (the resident rate).

And all the while, huge windows in this beautifully designed, brand spanking new building allow you to continue enjoying the beauties of the winter scenery. Pat yourself on the back: You've managed to enjoy another day of fun and luxury on the Mountain without breaking the bank!