Deciding on Asheville or Boone for our Family, Need Advice! (Raleigh: renting, coops)

[wildwoodflower]

i am actually looking at avery county now. like near banner elk, grandfather and sugar mountain. planning a tip to go though boone then grandfather, to burnsville, then mars hill and asheville. i appreciate all the advice, it reallys helps since i will onl;y be able to visit a few times before deciding on a location for spring since i have three young children, one being an infant....so driving all around can be hard! thanks for helping me pin point areas to look at! can't wait to drive though mid october!

[roadpony]

Take a look at Spruce Pine and Celo. Both are near Burnsville. With Penland School of Craft, there is a large concentration of artists (i.e. "crunchy") in the area. I know you said that you home-school your children, but there is a Montessori school in Spruce Pine (unusual for rural NC), so that might give you an indication of like-minded folk in the area.

Our State magazine did a feature on Celo recently. They have an online video clip that might interest you. Also do a search for Celo in this forum. I think it's been mentioned here recently. Even if you don't live in Celo, you might find the area quite compatible with what you're looking for.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by roadpony

Take a look at Spruce Pine and Celo. Both are near Burnsville. With Penland School of Craft, there is a large concentration of artists (i.e. "crunchy") in the area. I know you said that you home-school your children, but there is a Montessori school in Spruce Pine (unusual for rural NC), so that might give you an indication of like-minded folk in the area.

Our State magazine did a feature on Celo recently. They have an online video clip that might interest you. Also do a search for Celo in this forum. I think it's been mentioned here recently. Even if you don't live in Celo, you might find the area quite compatible with what you're looking for.

What great info - rep points for you!

[Francois]

Originally Posted by roadpony

Take a look at Spruce Pine and Celo.

Our State magazine did a feature on Celo recently. They have an online video clip that might interest you. Also do a search for Celo in this forum. I think it's been mentioned here recently. Even if you don't live in Celo, you might find the area quite compatible with what you're looking for.

I was just about to suggest Celo. I think they are really the only place in NC that fits the OP's desire of both "rural, mountainous" AND "crunchy". Otherwise, I would perhaps suggest something in the Charlottesville, VA area?

[wildwoodflower]

thank you so much for suggesting celo! i just booked the celo inn for two nights to check out the area too!

[happeemommee]

I have lived in both Boone and just outside Asheville and have also spent a lot of time in Burnsville. Burnsville is so NOT crunchy. I like to visit there every once in awhile, but more and more it just seems like a sad town, if that makes sense. I personally prefer Boone, but make regular trips to Asheville. the people in Asheville are fantastic and there are a lot of coops and crunchy type people. there is a forum on yahoo I would suggest ( asheville mamas) they are a great group of people and can tell you anything and everything you want to know about Asheville. Boone definitely gets more snow, and there are a lot of small communities around the area that are not right in town. There are homeschoolers in both areas,too.

You should probably put Haywood County on your list of places to look at, but there is a paper mill in Canton, so be careful there. Sylva is a cute little town too. However, I prefer Boone, actually just outside of the city. It's got a great vibe to it and lots of us "crunchy" people.

If you have any more specifics, just ask, I'm happy to help.

[wildwoodflower]

happeemommee...i'd love to hear more baout your impressions of burnsville...so many cabins on the market there we have been looking at. it's close to both asheville and boone right? and by close i mean 30-50 minutes, lol.

i think i would like the vibe in asheville, but i defiantly want to be rural. but maybe close enough to drive to town for the day if i feel up for it. there seems to be alot outside of boone i am excited to check out.... coming up to to boone for two days, then over to celo, then out to asheville and then black mountain to catch a day of LEAF

can you tell me anything more about the homeschool comunity around?

i am cool with driving around...i mean gosh we had to drive two hours for groceries in montana, lol... so outside of town to me is 25-60 minutes.

[wildwoodflower]

ah and the paper mill in canton..yuck. there is one here in n chas...and it is disgusting.

[Ex-CT resident]

Not so sure what crunchy means, but Asheville, hardly gets any snow at all in recent years. Barnardsville might be more to your liking....that is west of Asheville, pretty country.. land prices are not that bad I think there...

But this statement is so NOT so.. yes, asheville IS getting built up.. and with that.. alot of our southern hospitality and sweetness has disappeared...

So. .this statement is just NOT very true anymore, "the people in Asheville are fantastic and there are a lot of coops and crunchy type people. there is a forum on yahoo I would suggest ( asheville mamas) they are a great group of people and can tell you anything and everything you want to know about Asheville.'

Asheville has come to have a reputation for being rather rude town and not very polite anymore. The people are NOT fantastic anymore. In fact, every time I get outside of Asheville, I'm reminded of just how much more pleasant, friendly, and non-judgemental that town I'm visiting is, from Asheville.

Also the traffic is getting just plain BAD in asheville. They don't have the space on their roads, yet, the city government welcomed all these thousands and thousands of people to come descend upon Asheville to come live, and it has become hard driving. And if you got little kids to drive around with, that might not be so easy.

Also, jobs in Asheville are decrepid in terms of salary! If you get a $9 or $10 an hour job, the employer considers it a FAVOR! This is not 1940.. but the salaries sure resemble it in Asheville. Boone, is by far, a more laid back, possibly "crunchy" town. It is less expensive to live in. Asheville I think is considered one of the most expensive areas in the state, yet the wages are also some of the lowest in the state.
Not good jobs in this town. You have 3 younguns to support, so I would consider that before moving here. Boone is a cool town. It is a college town for sure, but also, a beautiful town and more eco-friendly than Asheville has become. It is a shame as Asheville had so much potential, but when you start driving around Asheville, you will realize how much the developers like to "clear-cut" an area or lot they bought!
I don't want to see what this town looks like in 5 years... it will be sad....

[happeemommee]

I completely disagree. I belong to several Asheville groups and think the people are fantastic! That may not be your experience, but it definitely is mine. I do think the crime is rising in Asheville, as it is in a lot of places, with this economy. However, I still think the people are great, and definitelt crunchy. And as for Boone being cheaper, I don't agree with that either. Boone is a college town and as such housing prices have not been affected as much as in other places, and the rent is crazy here. Look at the prices of rent in www.wataugademocrat.com There are 4/2 homes for 2100 and 3500 a month! Is that normal, no, most run between 1300 and 1800, which is still more than in Asheville. I have lived in both areas, and had wanted to move to Boone for about 5 years before we actually made the move, I have researched both areas in great detail, not saying I know everything, but am just relaying MY experience.

I will state again, I still prefer Boone, but love Asheville too!