If you’re moving and North Carolina is on your list, you may be wondering about its weather, especially the winters. Winters are a big deal for many as they affect their way of life, work, and livelihood. You’ll be glad to know that winters in North Carolina are wonderfully chilly and fun.
Here is a complete guide to winter in North Carolina. We cover the coldest, snowiest places and how cold it gets – important for visitors. But the North Carolina winter does not disappoint. Winter attractions abound and can promise exciting holidays and vacations.
Here are some popular questions about winter in North Carolina:
- What is winter like in North Carolina?
- What is the winter temperature in North Carolina?
- What months are winter months in North Carolina?
- How cold is it in North Carolina in December?
- What’s North Carolina weather by month?
- What are the winter activities in North Carolina?
Winter in North Carolina
1. What Is Winter Like in North Carolina?
Winter in North Carolina is mild and wet, typically. There can be about 5 to 6 inches of snow, but generally, North Carolina experiences pleasant winters. Occasionally, there are winter storms, like many states have. America’s southern regions are characterized by relatively mild winter temperatures and sultry summers.
The warmest winters in North Carolina are found in the southeastern side around Wilmington, typically 2 inches to zero snow annually.
Why is winter like that in North Carolina?
It is essential to understand the principal physiographic divisions, including the Coastal Plains, the Piedmont, and the Mountains. The Coastal Plains are half the state’s area – flat, swampy lands and gently sloping terrain. The Piedmont Division is hard rock and gently sloping hills with sporadic steep ranges that extend to the base of the mountains. The Mountain Division is the westernmost part and covers one-fifth of the state.
Temperatures vary significantly, with altitude – altitude being the most important single factor in North Carolina’s climate variability. Because of North Carolina’s proximity to the Appalachian Mountains, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf Stream, and the Gulf of Mexico, different weather patterns can result in winter weather across the state. North Carolina is one of only three states in which a significant mountain range is adjacent to a warm current of water. That proximity is a primary causative factor in the state’s climate and weather. It explains winter in North Carolina.
The Appalachian Mountains protect North Carolina to the west. Even intense cold fronts coming from Canada are reduced by the mountains. However, east of the Appalachian Mountains, cold air can move from north to northeast, and high-pressure systems from the Arctic can settle over northeastern North Carolina. There can be cold outbreaks from the Arctic and Polar regions going over the mountains and hitting central North Carolina, forcing temperatures to drop up to 12.2°F. Temperatures below zero are common in the mountains. Outside of the mountains, below the freezing point is very rare.
Winter in North Carolina’s coastal plains is more moderate, like in Edenton, Kitty Hawk, Carolina Beach, Wrightsville, Beaufort, and Morehead City. Temperatures here are milder in winter because of the Atlantic Ocean’s warm drafts and the Gulf Stream. These places, however, are prone to storms and hurricanes moving up the Atlantic coast. Interestingly, North Carolina’s relative humidity is highest in the winter.
2. What Is the Winter Temperature in North Carolina?
The average winter temperatures in North Carolina are between 22°F to 43°F. During an average winter over-center part of the state, temperatures can drop 10 or 12°F. Outside of the mountains, rare are temperatures as low as 0°F but have occurred throughout the western part of North Carolina.
3. What Months Does It Snow in North Carolina? (or What Months Are Winter Months in North Carolina?)
Snow is possible from November through April, sometimes only until March. March averages more snow than December. For example, Charlotte averages 0.6″ of snow in March versus 0.3″ in December. Asheville averages 1.9″ in March and 0.9″ in December. Rarely does it snow in October.
In most North Carolina locations, January is the snowiest month, followed by February. However, as you go up the mountains of northwest North Carolina, the stats jump. For example, in Banner Elk, February is the snowiest month, averaging 12.5″. Being averages only, some years have huge snow totals, while other years, little to no snow. Charlotte, for example, experienced 14.5″ of snow in the winter of 2003-2004.
What town of North Carolina is the snowiest?
The town that gets the most snow in North Carolina is Beech Mountain, where 80 inches of snow blankets the area yearly. It straddles Avery and Watauga counties. Elevated 5,506 feet above sea level, it towers above the valleys below and gives an unobstructed, long-range view of surrounding mountains. Less than 350 residents call this place home, yet there are more than 2,000 houses and condos around. There is no lack here in amenities and outdoor activities. Beech Mountain hosts a popular ski resort, serene lake views, and perfect sunsets.
Where is the coldest place in North Carolina?
Banner Elk, near the Cherokee National Forest in Avery County, is the coldest town in North Carolina, with an average annual low of 38°F.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in North Carolina occurred on January 21st, 1985, on Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the state at 6,684 feet above sea level and the highest in eastern North America south of the Arctic Cordillera. It registered a −34°F during a severe cold spell that brought freezing temperatures as far south as Miami. The average snowfall on the mountain is 50 inches.
4. How Cold Is It in North Carolina in December?
Since December, in particular, is the month of the holidays, visitors and tourists alike tend to ask, “How cold is it in North Carolina in December”? Well, that depends on the place you intend to visit. From Ashville to Waterville on the North Carolina Mountains, it can range from a high 51.8°F to a low 30.2°F. Now on Piedmont, it ranges from a high 53.6°F to a low 26.6°F. From the Coast Plains, it’s from a high 59°F to a low 32 to 33.8°F.
If you have plans of visiting some key cities in North Carolina, which belong to the Mountain Region, here is the average range of temperatures in December: Charlotte and Raleigh: 53.6 to 32 degrees, Greensboro: 50 to 32, and Winston-Salem: 51.8 to 32. Nonetheless, year-after-year December is a busy time in NC where there is no lack in all things Christmas to do.
What about winter storms in North Carolina?
Winter in North Carolina is characterized by storms that produce snow, sleet, freezing rain, or a mix of multiple precipitation types. Precipitation, simply put, is water or frozen water that forms in the atmosphere and falls back to earth. So it can be rain, sleet, or snow – all part of a water cycle. Due to the nature and atmospheric conditions in North Carolina winter storms, it is common to experience all types of wintry precipitation in any given storm.
However, North Carolina’s winter weather outcomes are difficult to forecast due to its highly variable atmospheric patterns behaving over different altitudes, proximities, and other geographical features. The frequency and intensity of these winter storms in North Carolina are thus dependent on different factors and combinations. Hence, jet streams, cold air outbreaks, cold air damming, storm tracks, coastal fronts, and snow bandings can occur to create simple or complex storms, or what is called nor ‘easter.
Snowstorms rarely get to Piedmont due to the mountains. Much of the snow from the eastern side of the mountains comes from extra-tropical cyclones. They originate in Georgia and move off the coast of North and South Carolina.
5. What’s the North Carolina Weather by Month?
Here’s a quick look at North Carolina’s monthly weather temperature averages in both high and low degrees Fahrenheit, plus precipitation in inches, from US Climate Data; also short descriptions from Weather Atlas. Note the winter temperatures in North Carolina.
6. What Are the Winter Activities in North Carolina?
There are lots to do during winters in North Carolina. Why else would anyone plan a trip to NC during winter if not to dive into the outdoor winter activities the state is known for? Where to stay shouldn’t be a problem as charming resorts, cabins, inns with striking amenities abound to attract skiers and all manner of snow fans. Even if you’re not there for the snow, the views alone are rewarding. You’re going to have a fun time that it would be a waste not to bring along the family for a wintry holiday, so the kids are not going to miss Christmas at all.
Our list of winter activities comes from sites with listings of common places and attractions to enjoy. But the whole breath of North Carolina is dotted with counties and towns, each with its own unique version of a similar attraction. Nonetheless, the more popular ones are cited repeatedly due to their popularity. Our shortlist comprises the most reviewed winter locales noted for their attractions. The most favored region for winter is the Mountains which depicts the perfect holiday picture for families.
Here are the best winter activities in North Carolina and where you find them:
- Biltmore Estate, Ashville
- Tweetsie Christmas Train Rides, Blowing Rock
- Beech Mountain Ski Resort, Avery
- North Carolina Holiday Flotilla, Wrightsville Beach
- Christmas Town USA, McAdenville
- Winter Lights North Carolina Arboretum, Ashville
- Sugar Mountain Resort, Banner Elk
- Polar Express Train Ride on Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Bryson City
- Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, Belmont
Winter Activities in North Carolina
1. Biltmore Estate, Ashville (Mountain Region)
Winters are beautiful in the elegant Biltmore Estate. It’s a romantic oasis but also offers family-friendly attractions. Though a mountain location, with the backdrop of the Blue Ridge peaks, snow is quite rare in the 8,000-acre estate. The largest home in America was built in the late 1800s by George Vanderbilt, Châteauesque-style and away from the big cities. They offer house tours that will take you to displays of art and furniture, not necessarily in all of its 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The home has 250 rooms on 4 acres of floor, and there are gorgeous indoor gardens.
Close by is an estate winery started in the early 80s by Vanderbilt’s grandsons; they also have a wine shop and wine tasting events. Stay at the Antler Hill Village on the grounds with a farm and a barn for children’s activities, complete with farm animal interaction, wagon rides, and games. There’s a hotel, shops, and restaurants. There’s an inn, too, and cottages. A shuttle for transport is provided.
Holiday cheer
During winter, the Biltmore house gets decked in holiday cheer – Christmas trees, lights, wreaths, lanterns, and more. They have Christmas at Biltmore and Candlelight Christmas Evenings in stunning settings.
On the grounds is the beautiful Conservatory constructed in 1895 with a wide variety of exotic plants. There’s a butterfly garden, a Walled Garden beyond, and a grand glass conservatory housing an eclectic 1,000-plant collection of orchids billed as Winter Orchid Display. A true delight is the Biltmore Gardens Railway, also in the Conservatory where hundreds of feet of track carry G-scale locomotives and railcars through the Conservatory rooms through botanicals and miniature landmark replicas.
Activities
If the weather permits, Biltmore’s outdoor activities include biking, carriage rides, fly fishing, horseback riding, and river float trips. Falconry is another unique experience. Some new winter activities are winter bird-watching, where meadowlarks, killdeer, bobolinks, and bluebirds and robins can be fed and observed. There will also be morning meditations, nature trail hikes, and nature games like puzzles.
What are the dining options at Biltmore Estate? Many. There are dining options in the home and gardens – quick gourmet bites at the courtyard, the Conservatory café, a bakeshop, a dairy bar, and a café specializing in Appalachian comfort food. At the Hill Village and The Inn – a seafood restaurant, a pub and tavern, a wine bar, fine dining, a restaurant, and a lounge.
Winters offer the best deals with lower admissions and free admittance for kids 9 and below. Biltmore may not have snow activities, but its other wintry amenities invite a worthwhile stay.
2. Tweetsie Christmas Train Rides, Blowing Rock (Mountain Region)
What is Tweetsie Christmas? It’s that Christmas celebration in Blowing Rock, one of the most popular winter destinations in North Carolina. The “Rock,” as it is often referred to, is an award-winning downtown location often called one of North Carolina’s most scenic villages. Four thousand feet above sea level, Blowing Rock is an immense cliff overhanging Johns River Gorge. The gorge’s rocky walls form a flume through which the northwest wind sweeps with a great deal of force. As air current flows upwards, it was once referred to as “the only place in the world where snow falls upside down.”
Located in Boone County, Blowing Rock is a shopping haven. Shoppes and boutiques of all manner are selling home décor, art, gifts and crafts, apparel, jewelry, sports stuff, furniture, antiques and collectibles, and pets.
Tweetsie Railroad Lane
While the village has top attractions like parks, museums, ski resorts, and mountain views – the prime magnet is the Tweetsie Railroad Lane. It’s a family theme park (in the Wild West way) featuring a train adventure pulled by a historic steam locomotive. Tweetsie Railroad operates two historic narrow-gauge steam locomotives; one of them is: No. 12 “Tweetsie.” It used to service Johnson City, Tennessee, to Boone, North Carolina, from 1919 to 1940.
During the holidays, it becomes a popular, special winter activity in North Carolina, putting Blowing Rock in the minds of visitors and tourists. People ride in the open-air train car pulled by Tweetsie. It’s a 3-mile, 20-minute train ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains, passing thousands of dazzling Christmas scenes and colorful lights. The train operates every 40 minutes at 5:30 pm.
Tweetsie Christmas is from November 13th through December 31st, on Friday, Saturday, and select weekday evenings. You’ll also find live entertainment, amusement rides, and the Deer Park Zoo in the theme park.
While in Blowing Rock, you can enjoy horseback riding in Moses Cone Memorial Park, hiking, and biking from Appalachian Trail to the Blue Ridge Parkway. There’s the Glen Burney Trail with lovely waterfall series, fly fishing at Chetola Resort, and climbing and ziplines for all ages at Aerial Adventure Park.
And for skiing?
There’s the Appalachian Ski Mountain, a 50-year-old ski resort getaway in Blowing Rock that offers skiing, snowboarding, and outdoor ice skating. Appalachian’s long ski season is due to its huge investment in snowmaking. Its mid-season base depths often exceed 100 inches and have been a long-standing hallmark of its snowmaking expertise, outdoing the peak season snow base depths of many Western resorts.
For the best place to stay in Blowing Rock, while many afford great and warm accommodations, it’s the Chetola Resort that comes highly cited. Chetola offers first-class 42 lodges, a spa, fine dining, sporting reserve, and lake activities.
3. Beech Mountain Ski Resort, Avery (Mountain Region)
Already previously discussed as the snowiest place in the state, this mountain spot is also a top winter resort in North Carolina. Beech Mountain has 95 skiable acres and 830 feet of vertical rise, great for families with varying ski skills. There is a ski school as well. The resort’s longest run is just a mile but has some of the widest runs in the North Carolina High Country, including the Oz Run on the backside of the mountain. The very popular Oz Run is one of the few west-facing ski runs in the United States.
Beech Mountain Ski Resort has 17 trails, serviced by eight lifts, including two state-of-the-art Doppelmayr quad lifts just installed. What is unique about the resort is the alpine village at the base of the slopes. The village has amenities that draw vacationers to Beech Mountain.
It boasts of a two-story ski lodge, several ski rental shops, an outdoor fire pit, a craft brewery, a snack bar, and a souvenir store. This is where ice skating and snow tubing are enjoyed. Besides several good restaurants, there are retail shops and even a hardware store.
On top of the mountain is the 5506 Skybar, aptly named to indicate its elevation above sea level. It’s a glass roundhouse, an inviting attraction for resting in between ski runs, grab a drink, warm-up, or meeting up.
With heated restrooms and a large observation deck overlooking the slopes, the Skybar is a welcomed amenity. Likewise unique is the added service of an on-site nursery – where small kids are safely out of the way of playing adults.
4. North Carolina Holiday Flotilla, Wrightsville Beach (Coastal Plains)
Wrightsville Beach is just east of Wilmington in New Hanover County. It was voted as North Carolina’s best beach, and it’s easy to see why. Famous for its blue waters and wide-span beach, it’s also home to world-class watersports like surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking. Whether you are oceanfront, harbor side, or at a marina strolling in the town, the views are outstanding.
So why Wrightsville Beach, of all places, for winter activities in North Carolina? Firstly, if you want to avoid huge crowds while holidaying, you hate traffic and the lack of parking, or if you prefer a wintry celebration without the biting cold and piles of snow, and at great prices, Wrightsville is perfect for the family. Couples love it, too—December to February temperatures averages in the 50s. There’s no shortage of happenings year-round in North Carolina’s most accessible beach. Not even in winter. Locals know that it’s the best time of the year on the island.
What’s there to do in Wrightsville Beach in winter?
If the active lifestyle suits you, this is the place – plenty of watersports and outdoor healthy and wellness activities, signature kids’ programs like pirate-led treasure hunts, and surf camps.
The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla is the best-known winter extravaganza held over Thanksgiving weekend along the Intercoastal Way. It’s a park festival and a lighted boat parade with a dazzling fireworks display at evening’s end.
It’s an annual holiday tradition of multigenerational families that began in 1983. The boats are deck in elaborate lights and different themes drawing 50,000 people to the beach. Winners are picked out for the Best in Show, Best Sailboat, Best Costumes & Crew Spirit, and the Best Power Boat in 3 different lengths.
Other Sights
In winter, while at Wrightsville Beach, check out these other incredible sights and sounds and holiday cheer: for history buffs, the colonial-era Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, the Antebellum-era Bellamy Mansion, and the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, one of the oldest theatres in the country. Bird lovers can tour the barrier island of Masonboro.
For nature-trippers, the 250-acres of Greenfield Lake, and the biking/walking trail, and unique fauna and flora at Airlie Gardens and New Hanover County Arboretum. Appreciate freshwater wildlife at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, stroll along The Loop at Wrightsville Beach that circles the entire island, and have an outdoor adventure at Carolina Beach State Park.
Great places to dine in Wrightsville are usually seafood restaurants that cluster around the bridge to the island, like South Beach Grill, Shark Bar and Kitchen, and Topsail Steamer. However, there are other specialty eaters like Indochine and Tower 7 Baja Mexican Grill. Top nightspots are Lagerheads Tavern, Red Dog Sports Bar, The Palm Room, and King Neptune. For shopping enthusiasts, the best place to go to is the beachside stores or shopping complexes selling fashion, artwork, swimwear, sportswear & gear, souvenirs, crafts, etc.
As North Carolina’s most accessible beach from Interstate I-40, it’s easy to get here.
5. Christmas Town USA, McAdenville (Piedmont Plateau)
In its 66th year, Christmas Town USA is one of the 10 Best Public Holiday Lights Display in the Nation in 2020, by USA Today. Each night from December 1st – December 26th, this free entrance event draws 600,000 to McAdenville. For that, it gets national and international coverage.
A Tree Lighting Ceremony initiates everything on December 1st, followed by a Yule Log Ceremony. This log is pulled by ropes by as many children on a sled through town until downtown McAdenville. Once positioned in the open fireplace, it is ignited. Then the Christmas Town Festival begins. School children and church choirs provide carols until before 9 pm.
Interestingly, it all started in 1956 when the Men’s Club decorated nine trees with lights near the community center. The following year, trees around the lake got lights, too. Every year, there were more adorned and, by 2004, almost 375 trees. Soon residents decorate their homes, lampposts, plus Santa Claus and Christmas music. Today, Christmas Town is lit by half-a-million lights, and most homes are exaggeratedly dressed up for added cheer.
There are open restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, retail shops, and galleries in McAdenville. McAdenville is in Gaston County, a suburb of Charlotte and located east of Gastonia.
6. Winter Lights North Carolina Arboretum, Ashville (Mountain Region)
North Carolina Arboretum is in the Southern Appalachian Mountains south of Asheville. It offers 434 acres of wide-open spaces and wandering trails featuring some of the most beautiful species of the region’s diverse plants.
The North Carolina Arboretum offers 65 acres of cultivated gardens, including a 100-piece Bonsai Garden and wildflowers like bloodroots, azaleas, fire pinks, and yarrows.
There are more than 10 miles of hiking trails and biking trails for all skill levels that connect to other attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Children can also enjoy close encounters with nature, from back-pack hiking along Bent Creek to geocaching through the woods.
There’s a restaurant at Bent Creek serving fresh and locally-sourced menus and a gift shop selling paintings, prints, pottery, jewelry, and glass. There are garden and trail tours – guided and group tours – for adults and school children.
Special events
There can be special events at the Arboretum, depending on the season. One of them has made the Arboretum famous – dubbed the “Winter Lights North Carolina Arboretum.” It’s more than a walk through half-a-million holiday lights that dressed the gardens, but also an artistic, aesthetic experience for families. Glowing landscapes, beautifully-lit displays, unique exhibits, and interactive games greet visitors. There’s also live entertainment and food and drinks available.
Apart from the parking fee, ranging from $16 to $100, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or their facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events, such as “Winter Lights.” Tickets range from $8 –25 and are date-and time-specific. Winter Lights serves as the Arboretum’s largest fundraising event of the year; proceeds help support the Arboretum’s educational programs, exhibits, and facilities year-round.
This year, in light of the pandemic, guests will instead drive-through the enchanted forest and view the displays in the safety of their own vehicles. It will be a one-mile stretch drive of the Arboretum’s campus on per-car ticketing.
7. Sugar Mountain Resort, Banner Elk (Mountain Region)
Another popular winter resort in North Carolina is the Sugar Mountain Resort in Banner Elk, regarded as North Carolina’s largest ski area at 115 skiable acres. The mountain’s elevation is at 5,300 feet, with a typical winter season from mid-November through late March, averaging 78 inches of annual snowfall. Sugar, as it is fondly called, offers skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, and snow-shoeing. There’s also the Sugar Bear Ski School offering lessons for all ages and abilities.
There are 21 trails and nine lifts on Sugar Mountain, including a hi-speed detachable six-person chairlift that is regarded as the fastest in North Carolina. The resort also has the only double black diamond slope in North Carolina and the largest vertical drop (1,200 feet).
Upper Flying Mile is an intermediate slope that connects with Lower Flying Mile for a total run of 1.5 miles long, while Gunther’s Way is the newest slope in the NC High Country that is 2,900 feet long and rated difficult. This unique and impressive mountain information attracts highly-skilled skiers from all over to come and enjoy winter activities in North Carolina.
There are many dining options around the mountain resort, including an Italian restaurant, a café and espresso bar, a bistro, and a steak and seafood restaurant. Lodgings are inns and suites, log cabins, camps, and retreat centers. There are ski shops, sports shops, ski rentals, and a one-stop-shop for all things winter for shopping needs.
8. Polar Express Train Ride on Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Bryson City
The Polar Express Train Ride is one famous favorite of people across all ages, the world over, that has put Bryson’s tiny town on the map of winter entertainment. More than 90,000 passengers ride the train each year! Chris Van Allsburg’s popular book, “The Polar Express,” has sold 6 million copies and has become a holiday classic. People want to relieve that magic, so droves hop on to Bryson for the experience.
The train excursion happens at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad land runs from November 6th to December 31st. The 1.25-hour round-trip ride leaves Bryson City depot for a journey over the river and through the North Pole woods. With the motion picture soundtrack playing, everyone is served warm cocoa and cookies, just like in the story. Santa Claus boards and gives the children gifts plus each one’s silver sleigh bell at the destination.
Tickets and Lodging
Tickets must be reserved early to get the first choice of dates. They vary accordingly for coach class, crown, or first class; the range is from $42 to $65, adults and $28 to $45 for kids 2 to 12 years of age.
Weekends and the week before Christmas rates are higher. For lodgings, it is more convenient to stay in the Sylva or Cherokee areas. If you are into water sports, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding opportunities are near you in Wildwater Nantahala and Nantahala Outdoor Center. Fishing holes can be found along Pamlico Sound or up the Great Smoky Mountains. Camping and trails at Deep Creek National Park and Cherokee/Great Smokies Koa.
Find these best places to eat in Bryson City: The Bistro at the Everett Hotel, Pasqualino’s, Anthony’s Italian, Rivers End, and Jimmy Mac’s. For bars: Nantahala Brewing, Old Forge Distillery, Paper Mill Lounge and Theatre, and more.
9. Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, Belmont (Piedmont Plateau)
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is on 380 acres on Lake Wylie banks. It has been dubbed the Carolinas’ Garden for All Seasons. Awaiting visitors are spectacular gardens, sparkling fountains, a conservatory of tropical plants and orchids, a visitor pavilion, a garden store, and nature trails.
The 13,500 square-foot Visitor Pavilion has a breathtaking 100-year-old stained-glass dome. There are eight garden rooms and 12 exceptional fountains. The Orchid Conservatory displays tropical plants and orchids, Lost Hollow – The Kimbrell Children’s Garden, and the new Piedmont Prairie Garden, which opened in 2019 in celebration of the 20th anniversary.
It was Daniel J. Stowe, a retired textile executive from Belmont, who dreamed of developing a world-class botanical garden to rival other internationally-renowned gardens. He and his wife reserved 380 acres of land property and finally opened the garden that bears his name in 1999. Over the years, the gardens expanded with other amenities.
Holidays at the Garden
Winter at Daniel Stowe is worth the short drive from Charlotte, and how they have decked out the place has earned it the distinction as one of the most beautiful winter activities in North Carolina. Called “Holidays at the Garden,” it opens from November 28th to January 3rd, from 5–9 pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
Visitors sing along to wintertime favorites at the topiary display and stroll by the rolling lights of the Piedmont Prairie and the blossoming cherry trees. There are food trucks, the roasting of marshmallows beside a fire, and warm or cold beverages. Charges: Adult: $14.95; Seniors: $12.95, and Children 2 to 12 years: $7.95.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a for-members-only attraction but opens to the public on Saturdays and Sundays if there are no events such as “Holidays at the Garden.” It has more than 5,000 members to-date.
Conclusion – Winter in North Carolina
So, what are the most common things that people ask about winter in North Carolina? To summarize, here are the top questions again:
- What is winter like in North Carolina?
- What is the winter temperature in North Carolina?
- What months are winter months in North Carolina?
- How cold is it in North Carolina in December?
- What’s North Carolina weather by month?
- What are the winter activities in North Carolina?
Everything you want to know about winter in North Carolina is here.
North Carolina has one of the most varied climates of any eastern state in the United States. It varies from the Atlantic coast in the east to the Appalachian Mountain range in the west. Due to physiographic divisions in NC from east to west – the Coastal Plain, the Piedmont, and the Mountains – their climes differ significantly, and so their winters, too. It does snow in North Carolina, and the western mountainous region receives more snow than the coastline in the east.
This leads us to appreciate the different winter activities in North Carolina. Generally pleasant at this time of year, the best wintry attractions listed here draw crowds by the thousands to the snowiest and least snowy towns and cities in North Carolina.