Nice smaller towns in Western NC? (Asheville, Hickory: renting, home, neighborhood)

[alisi]

Can anyone recommend a nice smaller town in NC - we would like to relocate. Were looking at the Hickory area until we read there were five murders in the last week! Don't mind being out a little bit, just not too far from things.

[retiredranger]

I vacationed in Waynesville 2-3 times a year from 99-06. I also have friends that retired there. You are close to everything in WNC and you can find peace and quiet. If you visit, be sure to check out Barber Orchard just outside of town and try their famous NC apple cake. Open August thru December.

[mm34b]

There's plenty of nice, small towns in the Mountain Region. If you want to be reasonably close to city type amenities such as urban shopping, top-notch health-care facilities, entertainment venues, commercial airport, and interstate highway access, the Asheville Metro Area (Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood and Madison counties) would probably be your best bet.

Small Asheville Area Towns

Biltmore Forest
Black Mountain
Montreat
Weaverville
Woodfin
Balfour
Barker Heights
Bat Cave
East Flat Rock
Etowah
Flat Rock
Fletcher
Hendersonville
Laurel Park
Mills River
Mountain Home
Saluda
Valley Hill
Canton
Clyde
Lake Junaluska
Maggie Valley
Waynesville
West Canton
Hot Springs
Mars Hill
Marshall

[chisoxfan]

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the "bigger" small towns in the Asheville vicinity (Black Mountain, Weaverville, Mars Hill, Hendersonville, Brevard, Waynesville). We've purchased land in Waynesville (the apple cake at Barber Orchard is, indeed, most excellent) and have visited all the others except for Hendersonville (which we plan to see on our next trip). All of them are worth a look, and you'll have fun checking them out.

[fred bauknecht]

I live in Cullowhee, NC near WC University It is small town living but you can get to Charlette or Atlanta within a few hours. In the Smoky Mts, My family and I love it here We have horses, etc.... Fred

[mdp_az]

The NC High Country has some great small towns, too. One of my personal favorites is West Jefferson in Ashe County.

[tkhk3746]

Forest City, NC is a great community. Very safe.

Close to large towns and cities. Close to SC line...if that's important...YET have view of rolling hills and mountains. Considered in the foothills.

Smaller community. Well-run town. Great for activities.

R U buying or renting?

[gigimac]

Black Mountain is very small town only 20 minutes or so to Asheville... on the east side of Lake Tomahawk is very nice neighborhood, cute little downtown just a few blocks in size, golf and tennis within walking distance. Now, it's close to Asheville which is large, but Blk Mt is much smaller than the Hickory area you were looking at.

Hendersonville might suit you better, also just 20 mins to Asheville, but it's bigger than Blk Mt so you can pretty much just stay there and not have to travel to the big city very often, with Flat Rock being a pretty spot on the outskirts of Hendersonville. Another good thing about Hendersonville is the state playhouse is nearby, several historical locales, including the Carl Sandburg Home, which is a large farm, lake, and wooded area open to the public. Plus the drive to Brevard isn't far, where just as you come into that vicinity, on the right is the entrance to a huge national forest with waterfalls, trails, and eventually Pisgah Inn at the top with some big views and you can eat and stay up there. Also, it doesn't take too long to go in the opposite direction up to Lake Lure, which is a fun place to visit, rushing river, Chimney Rock falls and park where "Last of the Mohicans" was filmed.

Gosh, it sounds like Hendersonville is a mecca or something. But while I like Black Mountain better, if you were looking at Hickory, then Hendersonville is more like that, and well-positioned for those who live there to take advantage of lots of fun day trips not far away, and you don't have to come into Asheville to work or buy things.

[Southlander]

How small town do you want? Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Burnsville...inexpensive, uncrowded.

[charmed1591]

How about farmland and country, close knit community but not much diversity. Leicester, nc