Northern Georgia or Western NC ? (camping, place to live, restaurant)

[Music]

Friends I don't really see a big difference.Both has great views,great people,low crime, and mild weather year around.

[viajero8]

I am also curious about the area. I've been to Clayton Ga. Beautiful area but I was disappointed in historic Clayton. All the restaurants and commerce were in the tacky strip malls and shopping centers like anywhere USA. The downtown was coming along but had few choices. One pub, I believe, an old fashion diner, one nice restaurant and an Inn. I believe I saw an antique shop but it didn't have the feel of the WNC towns around Asheville or Boone.

My question is are there some neat artsy NGA towns with healthy downtowns? How is Murphy NC? I noticed on the internet they have a bookstore, an espresso cafe and bakery downtown and that seems like a good sign. At the risk of sounding like an elitist, which towns, if any, are more open to progressive intellectuals and artists? Are some towns more prone to bigotry than others? I was very impressed with Slyva but then it is more or less a college town with Western Carolina there. I've never been to Highlands but it sounds too high end for my taste. I know most of the NC towns but I haven't been as far west as Andrews or Murphy. I was in Robinsville about 5 years ago and it seemed like a different world form nearby Bryson City. I love the feeling that the NOC brings to Bryson City and I'm guessing that the Ocoee whitewater center must have a slimilar influences in the towns near it. Is Blue Ridge Ga nice? The downtown looked quiant on the web site.

[WFR]

Originally Posted by higelj2

Finally my wife and I just got back from hayesville, spending some time in the area over the 4th. Visiting the John C Campbel folk school, watching the fireworks from chatuge dam was beautiful, we kayaked around the lake for a bit. We just closed on our new property in the fires creek area....we bought 8.46 acres with some spectacular views. I CANT WAIT to sell my house in Michigan and move, everyone we've met have been friendly and helpful. Yahoooooooo!

Congratulations!
That's my old stomping grounds!
I graduated from Hayesville and lived right downthe road from Fires Creek Baptist Church. My last residence in NC was Brasstown and spent many afternoons/evenings hanging out down at Clays Corner or the fire house.
I currently live in Greenville, Sc area but still call that area home.
Welcome to a little slice of heaven!

[higelj2]

THANKS WFR!

My wife and I just recently retired and think that area will be a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery in our later years. I'm sure we will be able to adapt to the WNC winters..... much shorter and warmer than Michigans!

[movinginatl]

Western NC has so much more to offer than North Georgia. I've spent a lot of time in both places. The Western NC area has more cultural attractions and is more ecclectic.

[67walkon]

For people interested in North Georgia, check out Dahlonega. We went through there this year on a bicycle ride and it is a great little town. It's pretty high up, lots of neat old homes and a good down town. Probably no work, but still pretty.

[happeemommee]

i don't think there is much difference between WNC and NGA at all! Both areas have positives and negatives, its all just opinion. The feel of each area might be a little different, as example Andrews and hiwassee. Hiwassee has the fair grounds and is more of a vacation town, with the lake there I think its definitely more expensive and just has a different vibe. My advice is to go to each of the little towns in your target area and see which place feels like home. Each of these towns is going to be 90 minutes to two hours to a larger city with major shopping etc. Ellijay Ga is really getting built up with stores, restaurants etc, and that's not far from any of these areas.
They truly are all about the same on paper, so ya just have to see which feels better to you.

[happeemommee]

Murphy is really far from being progressive. The whole area is pretty much. I don't mean that as a slight but people there are happy with the way things are and change happens very slowly.

[higelj2]

Wow!! my wife and I, along with my parents and brothers family just spent a nice three days weekend camping in the Ga mountain fairgrounds and boating on the lake. Beautiful scenery, warm water, car show, great friendly people, what's not to like! First time visit for my parents and brother, they just loved the area and the scenery.The food at the cottage salad restaurant was excellent too. I can't wait til I can move down and quit my jobs to enjoy the mountains and lake. What a great place!!

[JaniceinTexas]

hi. i am very interested in this thread of conversation. my husband and i bought 5 acres in clay county about a half mile across the state line from towns county, georgia. we plan to build there and retire next spring, probably. we felt like the entire area was lovely. we felt like we would be 2 or 3 hours from atlanta, chattanooga, asheville, greenville, etc., and within a half hour of any grocery store we wanted. this is not a problem since we live in houston and it takes a half hour to get anywhere, anyway. as far as i can tell both north georgia and western north carolina are wonderful. you guys talk to me. you may see me someday standing on the street in hiawassee or hayesville with a sign, LOOKING FOR A FRIEND. WILL PLAY MAHJONG, BRIDGE, JOIN A BOOK CLUB, ETC.