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I live in Asheville, not downtown Asheville. People always seem to lump all of my town into downtown. That area and the one I live in are completely different. I live near Arden. That's like farms, cute little developments, houses on the mountains, wonderful small restaurants. Not everyone is a hippie. If most visitors would take time to notice that, they might not be so disappointed. If your looking for boutiques, music stores, normal clothing stores, I'd suggest going somewhere other than downtown. There, most of the population likes the stores they have. You can't just base the town on the downtown area. I could name tons of good stores and family owned restaurants that need a try for future travelers.
Hi Zesty Pepper!
I have been doing alot of research regarding moving to Asheville from Dallas. I would want to rent a small cottage/bungalow. It would be great to be able to walk to shopping, restaurants, etc., but my priority would be living in a safe area that I would feel comfortable walking alone. Do you have any suggestions as to which areas I should focus on? I'm not familiar with Arden...would this be a possibility? I appreciate your input!
I didnt finish, sorry. Downtown Asheville is the best place to be within walking distance of everything. But you have to know the city well to know which streets to look on for a safe location. It's spotty and always changing. If you don't mind a car, any of the surronding places would be good. If you want to move to the Asheville/Arden section, you might be in for sticker shock. I'm not quite sure what prices for homes are in Dallas, but you have to look to find good deals in safe areas.
Try West Asheville or Montford area. Arden is not really a walking community more like a congested freeway! Biltmore Park on the outskirts of Arden is a new community that is built like an old town. You can walk to shops(Barnes and Noble), movie theater, and a few places to eat. Really a neat design. Good Luck!
I live in Asheville, not downtown Asheville. People always seem to lump all of my town into downtown. That area and the one I live in are completely different. I live near Arden. That's like farms, cute little developments, houses on the mountains, wonderful small restaurants. Not everyone is a hippie. If most visitors would take time to notice that, they might not be so disappointed. If your looking for boutiques, music stores, normal clothing stores, I'd suggest going somewhere other than downtown. There, most of the population likes the stores they have. You can't just base the town on the downtown area. I could name tons of good stores and family owned restaurants that need a try for future travelers.
I agree with you for the most part but living in walking distance of downtown and a frequent patron of downtown businesses (Almost any time I eat out or go to a bar it's downtown) it's not all hippie types, nor is it even a majority of people that are hippie types downtown.
Try West Asheville or Montford area. Arden is not really a walking community more like a congested freeway! Biltmore Park on the outskirts of Arden is a new community that is built like an old town. You can walk to shops(Barnes and Noble), movie theater, and a few places to eat. Really a neat design. Good Luck!
You can say that again. We had strongly considered buying in Arden for the last couple years and came very close to it--thank heavens someone else beat us tot he house. Last time we were three (last month) the traffic was horrendous on Hendersonville Road. It reminded us of Rockville Pike in Maryland and Rt50 in Fairfax County VA (just west of DC). We got out of there fast and started looking in other less congested areas.
As for downtown not being Asheville, DUHHH! It is basically the commercial and tourist hub. Yes there are some condos and apartments and for some people it is home, but it is not reperesentative of how most folks live in Asheville. That said, there are several distinc communities in Asheville--Montford, the UNCA area to Merrimon, Grove Park, Beaver Lake, West Asheville, all are distinct. And Arden is really a separate suburb of Asheville more like the urban sprawl communities around many urban areas. I think that is one of the draws of Asheville, you can find just about anything you want
I live in Asheville, not downtown Asheville. People always seem to lump all of my town into downtown. That area and the one I live in are completely different. I live near Arden. That's like farms, cute little developments, houses on the mountains, wonderful small restaurants. Not everyone is a hippie. If most visitors would take time to notice that, they might not be so disappointed. If your looking for boutiques, music stores, normal clothing stores, I'd suggest going somewhere other than downtown. There, most of the population likes the stores they have. You can't just base the town on the downtown area. I could name tons of good stores and family owned restaurants that need a try for future travelers.
A house usually has multiple rooms we collectively call "home." For us, downtown Asheville is our alternate kitchen and dining room, rec room, and business center. Like most other people, we sleep outside in a "bedroom community," but our "home" includes downtown. It's especially important to us for its arts and architecture.
We're proud of our downtown! We think it's beautiful! We visited in the early 1990s, when much of it was boarded up, and have seen tremendous progress since then. It gets better all the time. Pack Square--have you seen it lately?--is a real gem!
Some of you keep talking about hippies and homeless, druggies and thugs. We don't doubt your word--but we have yet to see them in downtown Asheville except occasionally in Pritchard Park--and what we've seen there are the harmless sort. It's worth noting that Pritchard Park itself is a work in progress, still being cleaned up and beautified.
Last evening we were downtown from 6:45 to almost midnight. We paid $2.25(!) for parking in the Rankin St. garage, right next to the NC Stage Co.'s production of "The Beauty Queen of Leenane," which sold out for $6.00(!) a ticket ("or what you can pay"). The best part: We have not seen better acting or staging anywhere in our lives--not in San Diego, not even in London. The four-member cast deserved their loud standing ovation. All this in a 2002 building with excellent theatre seating for an audience of only a hundred!! Because we arrived early, we got to sit front row center next to nice, friendly people. It doesn't get any better than that.
Afterwards we felt safe walking to "The Vault" for a guinness and enjoyed the people there, including the bartenders, very much. Around midnight, we walked in peace back to the parking garage. Asheville's streets are well lit and well peopled, even mid-week. We are careful to be aware of our surroundings (hubby was in law enforcement). We saw no hippies, homeless, druggies, or thugs.
The malls supplement the many stores and shops downtown. It's all good.
Arden, Biltmore Village, Montford, etc. are great little bedroom communities with lots of good businesses in them as well, but they can't compete with the riches of downtown. I don't know about you, but we feel lucky to enjoy BIG-city amenities in a small, friendly, safe, and accessible downtown. We can't wait to enjoy Shindig on the Green at Pack Square next summer!!
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Move to Asheville
Ahseville is big
