I miss the mountains! (Winston-Salem, Asheboro: to live in, move, beach)

[Sic Semper Tyrannis]

Help! I wanna move back south but dont know where to start! I grew up outside of Roanoke, Va and would like to be no more than two hours away. I have family in NC too and I am leaning toward Winston Salem. I want to be within three hours of the beach, but live in the mountains. I want access to the city but I don't want to live in the city. I just want to be back in the country!!! Where will it be least expensive to start out?

[SunnyKayak]

Asheboro is about as close as you are going to get to the criteria you mention above. It a middle of the state type city.
It around 3 hours to the beach and actually within minutes from the Uwharrie Mountains and 3 hours to the Blue Ridge mountains and the city is surrounded by loads of farm land, 50 minutes from Winston and very affordable.

[mm34b]

The Uwharries top out at around 1,100 feet above sea level.

The Sauratown Mountains are another isolated mountain range in Stokes and Surry counties. Highest peak is around 2,600 feet on Moore's Knob. Around 30 miles north of Winston-Salem.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/...3393cc.jpg?v=0

36.395,-80.265278 - Google Maps

[Sic Semper Tyrannis]

Anyone know anything about Pleasant Garden?