Gimme the best small town in western NC! (Asheville, Waynesville: rental homes, homes)

[topaz3335]

Hi guys,

So I'm finishing up my masters degree in psychiatric nursing in a few months and I'm looking for jobs in North Carolina, I've found a few possibilities in/around Asheville and while I've been looking seriously into actually moving to and working in Asheville, I also wanted to hear some more options concerning smaller towns nearby.

I'm looking for someplace with a nice, vibrant downtown (doesn't have to be big at all) but I'm a bit of an outdoorsy gal too and so I'd also really love a place that is just beautiful with a great natural setting (hence the desire to move to western NC, gorgeous).

I've got one little girl, not yet school aged, but when the time comes for school having some good schooling options for her would also be very important! And commuting is not really a huge issue, I'd be willing to drive up to 45 minutes to Asheville for work if I found the right town!

Anything you can give me I would love! And if you had pictures I'd love it even more! I can't actually get down there until August, and I'd like to have some ideas before I show up. Thanks!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by topaz3335

Hi guys,

So I'm finishing up my masters degree in psychiatric nursing in a few months and I'm looking for jobs in North Carolina, I've found a few possibilities in/around Asheville and while I've been looking seriously into actually moving to and working in Asheville, I also wanted to hear some more options concerning smaller towns nearby.

I'm looking for someplace with a nice, vibrant downtown (doesn't have to be big at all) but I'm a bit of an outdoorsy gal too and so I'd also really love a place that is just beautiful with a great natural setting (hence the desire to move to western NC, gorgeous).

I've got one little girl, not yet school aged, but when the time comes for school having some good schooling options for her would also be very important! And commuting is not really a huge issue, I'd be willing to drive up to 45 minutes to Asheville for work if I found the right town!

Anything you can give me I would love! And if you had pictures I'd love it even more! I can't actually get down there until August, and I'd like to have some ideas before I show up. Thanks!

There are several great small towns in western NC, so picking just one is hard Some of the best are: Brevard, Mars Hill and Murphy. I'll try to dig some pictures up for you later today.

[lovesMountains]

I found a few pics from Mars Hill for you - can't seem to locate the others I've taken from Brevard, sorry!


Mars Hill


Entrance to the college:


love the old stone buildings:




surrounding countryside:

[gypsychic]

lovesMountains - those are beautiful pix of Mars Hill - in the three years that we had a vacation place in Asheville, I never got to see many of the surrounding towns. I still like to read this forum, as I miss the Asheville area, but it wasn't possible to maintain a second home (however humble it was) in this economy.

If we should ever have extra $$$ to have a little spot somewhere again, I think I would rather have it in one of the smaller surrounding towns. Black Mountain has always been a favorite of mine, but I have heard great things about Brevard also, and discovered there are some nice pix on this city-data site. It's the home of those cute white squirrels! And having the college there gives it an added plus. I had some friends who hoped to move to Brevard, but we moved away so I don't know if they ever did.

Anyway, keep posting the lovely pix, I so enjoy seeing them!

[topaz3335]

thank you so much for the pictures! my gosh it really is a beautiful place. i hadn't actually found mars hill in all my research attempts but now i'll definitely put it on my short list of places to go and i had heard a little bit about black mountain and brevard (good things). how are the schooling options in these areas? and how far are they from asheville (roughly)? i also had a friend recently tell me about waynesville, does anyone know first hand about it? i've read a few things, but i always prefer to hear information from actual human beings.

thanks again!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by topaz3335

thank you so much for the pictures! my gosh it really is a beautiful place. i hadn't actually found mars hill in all my research attempts but now i'll definitely put it on my short list of places to go and i had heard a little bit about black mountain and brevard (good things). how are the schooling options in these areas? and how far are they from asheville (roughly)? i also had a friend recently tell me about waynesville, does anyone know first hand about it? i've read a few things, but i always prefer to hear information from actual human beings.

thanks again!

Glad to help Both Black Mountain and Mars Hill are very easy drives of about 20 minutes into Asheville and both are just great little towns whose schools have good reputations - glad you've put them both on your short list!

Waynesville is larger than the others, and more of a tourist area in the summer and fall. There are many vacation rental homes in the area. I like it, but just prefer the others since they are more quaint. Also, Waynesville is closer to 40 minutes from Asheville.

Found these links that might interest you:

http://www.townofmarshill.org/

http://www.blackmountain.org/

[rachaelb]

Loves Mountains, you have the best pics there of Mars Hill - I went through there last summer and the vibe was SO welcoming and mellow! Def. on my list of towns I love in WNC!!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by rachaelb

Loves Mountains, you have the best pics there of Mars Hill - I went through there last summer and the vibe was SO welcoming and mellow! Def. on my list of towns I love in WNC!!

Thanks Rachael, it IS a beautiful area!

[topaz3335]

You guys have been great in giving me some possible places to look into and I am so thankful for your help! And the pictures have been incredible, makes me want to head out there gith now! Now I still have one or two questions about some other towns I've heard of in the relative vicinity so here I go, does anyone know anything about either Sylva or Cullowhee? I had a friend back in college who came from Cullowhee and she LOVED it, thought it was heaven on Earth, now was that just heror is it really that great? She also mentioned Sylva once or twice in passing (if my memory is correct), but didn't say much of anything else...thanks again guys, you really are, hands down, the best group of north carolina informants ever!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by topaz3335

You guys have been great in giving me some possible places to look into and I am so thankful for your help! And the pictures have been incredible, makes me want to head out there gith now! Now I still have one or two questions about some other towns I've heard of in the relative vicinity so here I go, does anyone know anything about either Sylva or Cullowhee? I had a friend back in college who came from Cullowhee and she LOVED it, thought it was heaven on Earth, now was that just heror is it really that great? She also mentioned Sylva once or twice in passing (if my memory is correct), but didn't say much of anything else...thanks again guys, you really are, hands down, the best group of north carolina informants ever!

I love your enthusiasm

Cullowhee is home to Western Carolina University - a great little college. The area is very scenic and friendly. HOWEVER, it is a lot less convenient for getting to Asheville. It would be a hour +, the first 30 minutes on a two laned road until you get to Waynesville. So if you are thinking of living there and working in Asheville, with a small child back at home, I'm not thinking that would work for you. Sylva is a little bigger than Mars Hill, but similar with a cute downtown too. It is near a nice tourist destination, Bryson City. The ride back to Asheville would be not quite an hour, so I'm thinking again, it's a bit far for you. But do check them both out if going back to Asheville is not something you have to do every day - there are wonderful people in both areas