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With a very curious preschooler, our travels focus on new and exciting adventures and comfort, comfort, comfort. The easier an outing is for small people (and parents carrying, wearing or pushing them), the better.
Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, curious, relaxed, simple, energetic, spontaneous, easy_going, scheduled
Kid-friendly Winter Fun at Cataloochee Ski Area
Winter activities for families in the Maggie Valley, NC area.
1080 Ski Lodge Road
Maggie Valley, North Carolina
reviewed on: May 05 2010
"The place for families to learn"
There are several options for learning to ski, snowboard or to improve your skills at Cataloochee. Private lessons are available for all ages and skill levels. Group lessons are available for skiers ages 4 and up, snowboarders ages 8 and up. Kids 4-12 can also participate in half or full day programs which include lessons, snacks/lunch, and indoor play time.Cataloochee is the place for families to learn to ski. The staff is exceptional, the facilities foster success, and the programs are well developed.
The first thing that stands out about the ski school at Cataloochee Ski Area is that the staff really enjoys their jobs. In all areas of Cataloochee, you’ll find employees smiling, interacting with guests, and keeping a lively dialog going with students. In one-on-one and group lessons, instructors exhibit a passion for their craft. Their coaching styles are encouraging and consistent throughout the resort. You’ll hear “French fries” and “pizza” called to kids and adults alike.
Both learning areas at Cataloochee have magic carpet lifts instead of tow ropes. These conveyor belts are so cool! They are easy to master, encouraging self-confidence for even the most nervous newbie. Adults taking lessons get preference on the open area magic carpet, which is fancy talk for “they get to cut in line.” The dedicated children’s learning area keeps the youngest students safe from bigger and faster skiers and guarantees quick access to the top for maximizing practice.
In addition to having a wide variety of lessons available for all ages and skill levels, it is clear that careful consideration has gone into developing each course. Whether you require one-on-one attention or casual reacquaintance with the slopes, there’s a lesson for you.
The kids’ group lessons last an hour and a half. Have your gear ready and meet 10 minutes early at the designated post to make sure you get all your directions for picking up the kids. Parents do not accompany children in the group lesson, so the group establishes a meeting place before parents are dismissed.
The first hour of a level one lesson is all instructional. Kids learn what their equipment is called, how to put it on, and how to use it. They practice walking in skis and the different stances needed to master the basic skills: starting, slowing, turning, stopping.
The last half hour consists of practice, practice, practice. Instructors stage themselves down the hill to catch the kids as they come down. Students ski to one instructor, stop, and begin again to the bottom of the hill. Then they come up the magic carpet alone and line up for another run. By the end of the lesson I observed, all 11 children ages 4-10 could make it down the hill alone. A few were even ready to graduate to the chairlift hill!
Private lessons for kids consisted of the same type of instruction but with one-on-one attention. I watched a 3 year old come down the hill by himself during a private lesson.
The Cat Trackers and Cat Explorers program is half- and full- day group lessons for kids plus snack or lunch break and indoor activities. This group is more like camp than daycare because kids must be 4 to enter, but it does free up time for parents to hit the bigger slopes on their own.
Adult lessons are also an hour and a half but are not as focused on learning about equipment. Instructors give the basic concepts to students at the top of the open bunny hill, which also has a magic carpet lift. Then students begin skiing with instructors observing and coaching. Adult students are the only people to get lift preference. When a class has all made it to the bottom, the instructor stops the line for the lift just long enough to get students back on. This causes only minor delays since class sizes are fairly small (around 10 students).
I chatted with a couple taking private snowboarding lessons and they were thrilled with the experience. After a couple of hours, they were ready to venture out onto the bigger hills alone. Their coach was also enthusiastic and encouraging.
Two things to note: lessons do not include a safety discussion, so make sure to look over the signs or flyers which are posted clearly around the area. Also, if you send your child(ren) to the Catt Trackers/Explorers and you don’t want them to play inside, let the instructors know. I did overhear a woman who was upset that her child was not on the slopes all day long.
Private lessons begin at $50 for one hour up to $200 for a six hour day. Family discounts are available. Group lessons are $20 and last an hour and a half. Cat Trackers and Explorers are $60 for a half day, $80 for all day and include lift ticket, equipment rental and beverage or lunch making them an exceptional value. Add $10 for snowboarding.
Overall, we were impressed with the ski schools at Cataloochee. They pride themselves in having outstanding instruction and it is easy to see why. Everything from the teachers to the little details in the layout encourages confidence and skill mastery. Our nephew has a learning disability and he left Cataloochee ready to do a den presentation to earn his skiing belt loop in Cub Scouts. Next time we go, I’m going to learn to snowboard.
This review is based on a complimentary lift tickets and ski school. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
1080 Ski Lodge Road
Maggie Valley, North Carolina
reviewed on: April 20 2010
"Family friendly slopes"
Cataloochee is a great place for families to hit the slopes together. It’s a kid-friendly destination with a great staff. There is plenty of fun for all ages and skill levels of skiers and snowboarders. Once the kids are old enough for a lesson, pack on up and hit the slopes in Maggie Valley, NC.As I mention in my review of the ski schools, Cataloochee employees are genuinely happy to be there. I think this says a lot about a workplace. Everyone is friendly and helpful with a sense of humor. One girl working to clean up the equipment area had the job designation “Trash Princess” on her nametag.
Upon arriving, be prepared to park in a remote lot and be bused to the slopes. The buses run regularly to minimize waiting. The lots can get muddy, so wear appropriate shoes. The buses are contracted out and the drivers are not always considerate of who can hear them. Sit in the back with your kids if you don’t want them to overhear some salty language during the short ride.
Now, this is not a romantic fireside and leather sofa kind of place. The entire lodge is a no-frills zone but meets your needs. Restrooms are clean and stocked but there is no diaper changing station. The cafeteria upstairs has a variety of food from hamburgers to salads. Large bench tables make up the dining area inside and on the porch. Picnics are allowed in designated areas only. A beer garden is in the same area but separate from the cafeteria lines. There is also a chow wagon outside the ski school building for those who can’t leave the slopes long enough to sit and eat.
When you arrive at the ski area read the signs. Everything is clearly labeled and gives you step by step instructions to get started. Otherwise, you may waste time waiting in the wrong lines. If you just need lift tickets line up at the windows outside. Otherwise, head inside for equipment rental, lessons, and lift tickets. There are also lockers and changing rooms inside. Lockers vary from 75 cent single use lockers to $3-5 all day rentals. Equipment available includes: skis (Head), snowboards, boots, bibs, jackets, and helmets, all in good condition. Ski and board rentals range from $15-$45 based on age weekday/weekend, and length of rental.
Upstairs you’ll also find the gear and gift shop where you can rent bibs and even a jacket. There is also a small, well-stocked store where you can pick up anything you may have left behind. They carry new and used equipment and clothing. Also on the upper level are the cafeteria, beer garden, and an information window.
Lines move quickly at Cataloochee. I think this is in large part to the staff liking their jobs so they do them well. Even during heavy traffic, the line for the beginner triple lift was 15 minutes. This is the slowest lift because beginners use it and the crew will slow it down to help get them on safely. The staff is great at coaching people into position to keep the lift moving smoothly, though. They encourage singles to pair up with others to keep the chairs full. The expert lifts had more staff keeping the lines moving and orderly.
The bunny slope is where adult lessons are held and students do get preference on the lift. Even with the extra traffic, the line moves quickly and smoothly. Instead of a tow rope, the beginner areas have moving carpet lifts, sticky conveyor belts to whisk you to the top. If you’re practicing in the adult bunny hill area, be sure to have a hat and scarf. One of the expert lifts, the Omigosh, runs over this area and some guests like to knock the snow off of their skis and boards onto the newbies below. This is one of the places that the Ski Patrol was warning about equipment abuse.
Ski Patrol/Medics are visible all around the skiing area. They are quick to respond and help oversee safety issues on the slopes and keep the flow moving. Twice I heard one warning guests about not abusing rental skis. It was clear he was paying attention and ready to enforce rules.
The snow and ski run conditions were great when we visited. The machines were off, but had recently groomed the powder on top of a 50-100 inch base. The trails range from easy to challenging. At the top, there are several trail options to keep experienced skiers interested. All trails join at the bottom of the hill with several exit points. Upper Turkey Trot and Over Easy are particular favorites of snowboarders and can be reached from the Easy Way Lift.
Lift tickets range from $18 to $66 with lots of options in between. A family of 4 can ski all day on a weekend for just under $200 plus equipment. The Cat Explorers and Trackers programs for kids are a great value for families. There are a few promotions where kids can ski for free. Military and senior discounts are also available.
Cataloochee is a very family friendly destination provided your kids are old enough to try skiing. While there were a few small children there, it was not reasonable for us to bring our little one. He’s too young to learn to ski and there is no play area or childcare for him. If we had gone with extended family or a large group, we would have sent the toddlers over to Cataloochee’s Tube World for some snow fun. We didn’t make it over there on this trip but plan to next time.
This review is based on a complimentary lift tickets and ski school. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
