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My husband and I love the mountains of WNC however, all of our kids are grown with kids of their own. Originally thought that settling in Asheville would work but having done the commute to CLT several times have decided that the compromise is to relocate closer to Charlotte. We want them to come visit but feel that being closest to CLT vs. a regional airport will be easier for all of us.
I'm looking for suggestions to be at the highest elevation possible within ~1hr of CLT. I know everyone's idea of a beautiful setting and perfect town differs but if I could find a town that has some of the charm/amenities of Asheville, that would be the icing. But more important would be a home setting with lots of trees, walking paths, 1+ acre lot with some kind of view i.e. mountains, hills or city. Don't want to be way out and far away from grocery shopping either. So yep, another picky transplant who wants it all
Can anyone give me some suggestions on where to explore? Is what I'm seeking even possible?
TIA for you input.
When you say "CLT" do you just mean the airport and that's really the main thing you'd need to go to Charlotte for?
If so, and you really love the mountains, you might as well be in the mountains. Hendersonville, Blowing Rock, Black Mountain are all a little over 1.5 hours to CLT and if it's just for times when you have kids visiting I doubt the extra half hour drive would be that big of a deal.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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Quote:
Originally Posted by just_julz
My husband and I love the mountains of WNC however, all of our kids are grown with kids of their own. Originally thought that settling in Asheville would work but having done the commute to CLT several times have decided that the compromise is to relocate closer to Charlotte. We want them to come visit but feel that being closest to CLT vs. a regional airport will be easier for all of us.
I'm looking for suggestions to be at the highest elevation possible within ~1hr of CLT. I know everyone's idea of a beautiful setting and perfect town differs but if I could find a town that has some of the charm/amenities of Asheville, that would be the icing. But more important would be a home setting with lots of trees, walking paths, 1+ acre lot with some kind of view i.e. mountains, hills or city. Don't want to be way out and far away from grocery shopping either. So yep, another picky transplant who wants it all
Can anyone give me some suggestions on where to explore? Is what I'm seeking even possible?
TIA for you input.
Try Kings Mountain or Cherryville, if you are looking for 1 hour from the airport. Kings Mountain is ~30 minutes from the airport, but Cherryville is going to be well over 30 minutes because it's not on any main roads.
Both towns have their issues, but Kings Mountain would be much more convenient for shopping. There is a walking rail in progress. Kings Mountain Gateway Trails > Home
If you do a google search for topographical map of NC you'll see that we're basically at one elevation in NC until you get to the mountains There really isn't any place that is with-in an hour of even the outskirts of Charlotte that gets a real elevation gain, because it happens too quickly.
If you drove to Asheville west on I-40 you have to do that big climb up the mountains that happens between Marion/Morganton and Black Mountain. If you're going up to Blowing Rock up 321 you have that big elevation gain between Old Fort and Blowing Rock. You can bet on a 10 degree temp difference between those two towns.
There are some "old fashioned" affordable towns at the foot of the mountains (Morganton, Marion, Lenoir) but you aren't going to get those mountain side views or cooler summer temps in those towns. However, there are some pastoral, farm land views with maybe a view of someplace like King's Mountain. There are a few of those remnant peaks in NC that are out here in the Piedmont.
Your fastest route to the higher elevations from the CLT area is either up 321 through Lenior to Blowing Rock, or up I-77 & 421 to N. Wilkesboro. Both will get you above 3000'. The 421 route also has a lot of wine vineyards along the way.
If you are willing to settle for 1000 - 2000 ft or so, then take I-77 to I-40 W. and then take the road to Taylorsville. North of there are some pretty vistas.
When you say "CLT" do you just mean the airport and that's really the main thing you'd need to go to Charlotte for?
If so, and you really love the mountains, you might as well be in the mountains. Hendersonville, Blowing Rock, Black Mountain are all a little over 1.5 hours to CLT and if it's just for times when you have kids visiting I doubt the extra half hour drive would be that big of a deal.
Yes, just the airport. However I'm sure my husband would include sports venues ☺
But you are right, for an extra ~30 min we might as well head to the hills for the cooler temps and lovely trees.
Thanks!
Your fastest route to the higher elevations from the CLT area is either up 321 through Lenior to Blowing Rock, or up I-77 & 421 to N. Wilkesboro. Both will get you above 3000'. The 421 route also has a lot of wine vineyards along the way.
If you are willing to settle for 1000 - 2000 ft or so, then take I-77 to I-40 W. and then take the road to Taylorsville. North of there are some pretty vistas.
I have not checked out Taylorsville yet, thanks for the suggestion.
If you do a google search for topographical map of NC you'll see that we're basically at one elevation in NC until you get to the mountains There really isn't any place that is with-in an hour of even the outskirts of Charlotte that gets a real elevation gain, because it happens too quickly.
If you drove to Asheville west on I-40 you have to do that big climb up the mountains that happens between Marion/Morganton and Black Mountain. If you're going up to Blowing Rock up 321 you have that big elevation gain between Old Fort and Blowing Rock. You can bet on a 10 degree temp difference between those two towns.
There are some "old fashioned" affordable towns at the foot of the mountains (Morganton, Marion, Lenoir) but you aren't going to get those mountain side views or cooler summer temps in those towns. However, there are some pastoral, farm land views with maybe a view of someplace like King's Mountain. There are a few of those remnant peaks in NC that are out here in the Piedmont.
I agree, I've looked at Morganton, Marion and Lenoir but as you said the summer temps are still not as cool which is what I'm seeking. Thanks for you input!
Try Kings Mountain or Cherryville, if you are looking for 1 hour from the airport. Kings Mountain is ~30 minutes from the airport, but Cherryville is going to be well over 30 minutes because it's not on any main roads.
Both towns have their issues, but Kings Mountain would be much more convenient for shopping. There is a walking rail in progress. Kings Mountain Gateway Trails > Home
Thanks! I'm going to check out Kings Mountain...and thanks for the link!
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,741,920 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by just_julz
Thanks! I'm going to check out Kings Mountain...and thanks for the link!
You're welcome. Kings Mountain might or might not work for you. It's absolutely not the mountains, so will be hotter in the summer, but far more temperate in the winter.
As to shopping, there is a large Ingles super center supermarket in town & most of the rest of what you would want is in Gastonia. If your husband is interested in minor league baseball, there is a AAA baseball team in Charlotte. There is also a team in Gastonia.
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