Hiking is an option rain or shine, but make sure you wear proper gear, know your limits and be mindful of your surroundings. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
My partnerand I spent Valentine's Day skiing at Sugar Mountain. This belated Christmas present was a ploy to get me to the mountains for a proposal.
How it happened: On a hike in Blowing Rock. When we reached Glen Marie Falls, he suggested taking a timer photo instead of a selfie so we could get the waterfall in the background. We had the entire area to ourselves.
There was no photo, but there is a five-minute video we'll cherish forever.
Whether you're heading to the mountains to propose or to enjoy time away, here's what a short trip to the mountains can look like.
Get up early, on a Friday and hit the slopes at Sugar Mountain when they open (you'll beat the weekend crowd and weekend prices). For us, that meant leaving Charlotte by 6am for the 2-hour and 15-minute drive and skiing from 9am until 4:30pm. Then drive 25 minutes to Blowing Rock.
Where to stay: We stayed atMeadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock. It's walking distance from restaurants, shops and a waterfall hike.
Where to eat: Main Street is lined with cute shops and restaurants, including Blue Deer on Main for coffee, cookies and ice cream, and Storie Street Grille for a romantic dinner.
Things to do: On Saturday, we hiked the Glen Burney Trail. There's parking at the trailhead, but we walked there from the inn. You'll see three waterfalls if you complete the whole hike (roughly 3.2 miles).
