Info about C-ville please? (Norfolk, Lynchburg: best towns, 2013, homes)

[TabooYanks]

Hi,I'm a mom of three homeschooled tweens and recently have been researching Charlottesville, but I have a few questions to ask.We're friendly people who accept all walks of life.

1.What are some of the immediate towns around C-ville that may have some acreage that are still busy and have things to do such as coffee shops,book stores,mom and pop shops,shopping and maybe their own farmers markets.

2.We are conservative Christian homeschoolers (other homeschoolers from c-ville areas?).What are some of the best towns/neighborhoods? And as far as "fitting in" as we from the north originally, but have lived in the south (Georgia) for along time and want to move out due to feeling too secluded and not feeling welcome.

3.What's the fastest time you've made it to the beach from C-ville areas?

4.As far as year around is the area generally pretty busy?

5.Is there alot of health food stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and mom and pop stores?

6.Is the population diverse? (read:all are welcome from all over the country.)Also are most people friendly?

7.Are there alot of teens?What are some of the places and things to do for young teens besides the historical sites?

8.Are there many Christian churches?

9.Since I have family in Alton Va, I may want to settle on the south side, but I'm open to other areas.


10.Are there any homes with acreage inside the perimeter of C-ville?

Thank you!

[Green Irish Eyes]

Originally Posted by TabooYanks

3.What's the fastest time you've made it to the beach from C-ville areas?

Depending on traffic, 3 to 3.5 hours.

Originally Posted by TabooYanks

5.Is there alot of health food stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and mom and pop stores?

There's a Whole Foods, Integral Yoga, and Rebecca's Natural -- Trader Joe's is scheduled to arrive in 2012 or 2013.

Originally Posted by TabooYanks

6.Is the population diverse? (read:all are welcome from all over the country.)Also are most people friendly?

It's a University town. There are people from all over the world.

Originally Posted by TabooYanks

10.Are there any homes with acreage inside the perimeter of C-ville?

WITHIN the city limits? Doubtful. In Albemarle County or surrounding areas, yes.

[gregir]

1.What are some of the immediate towns around C-ville that may have some acreage that are still busy and have things to do such as coffee shops,book stores,mom and pop shops,shopping and maybe their own farmers markets.

Waynesboro, Crozet, Lovingston are the three I know best but they do not have a a lot of stores etc. There are several good farmers markets including the C-ville market, Nelson County market and others I cannot remember.

2.We are conservative Christian homeschoolers (other homeschoolers from c-ville areas?).What are some of the best towns/neighborhoods? And as far as "fitting in" as we from the north originally, but have lived in the south (Georgia) for along time and want to move out due to feeling too secluded and not feeling welcome.

I have found pretty much everyone is welcoming in the area. I am sure there are those who are not pleasant but I have either not noticed them or not found them. If you are evangelizing your religion and are intolerant then you may find less welcome.

3.What's the fastest time you've made it to the beach from C-ville areas?

2.25 hours but plan on 2.75 to 3 as 2.25 is an anomaly. I drive from White Hall or Nelson County to Norfolk at least once a month and currently do so every Sunday.

4.As far as year around is the area generally pretty busy?

As busy as you would like to make it.

5.Is there alot of health food stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and mom and pop stores?

Not sure but I know of Whole Foods, Rebecca's and many farm markets for fresh healthy food.

6.Is the population diverse? (read:all are welcome from all over the country.)Also are most people friendly?

Diverse in C-ville and in my experience most people are friendly.

7.Are there alot of teens?What are some of the places and things to do for young teens besides the historical sites?

I do not know.

8.Are there many Christian churches?

9.Since I have family in Alton Va, I may want to settle on the south side, but I'm open to other areas.

Alton or Afton? Afton is in Nelson County and near the West/South part of Albemarle. Lots of beautiful places to live but some consider very rural and sometimes describe it as isolated.

10.Are there any homes with acreage inside the perimeter of C-ville?

Not in a normally afffordable range.

Thank you! [/quote]

[TabooYanks]

Thank You Gregir and Dark of the Moon,I can use this info for my research.Alton is by Danville and I have lived in a place like this...all I have to say is I don't want to just sit on my back porch and stare at the trees anymore .. although it's not bad for extremely short periods of time.I need a larger variety places to go and things to do,definitely need a change.
Any other info people would leave is greatly appreciated.TY in advance.
Ps..Are there small downtowns (USPS ,library,etc at least) south of C-ville?)... some towns in GA have tiny towns (just 1 store that is a post office too to just a community with no retail at all.) Actually there are also places with too many stores (like Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw,Ga and also alpharetta,ga) that blew my mind.It was exciting at first but the traffic is sick.It is the most stores in one place I have ever seen.....
Not what you have, but what you see; Not what you see, but what you choose; Not what seems fair, but what is true; Not what you dream, but what you do; Not what you take, but what you give; Not as you pray, but as you live. These are the things that mar or bless The sum of human happiness.-author unknown

[gregir]

Lynchburg is closer to ALton/Danville and has a lot to offer. Not as much in the health food arena but a lot of small stores an interesting downtown, homes with land/acreage close in to the city. Might want to check it out.
I live exactly halfway between L-burg and C-ville and always sem to go to C-ville when I want city aspects in my life.

[TabooYanks]

What's the approx drive time and will I be an outcast as a northerner?
This is factor of where i move.i want people to be at least indifferent.

[Green Irish Eyes]

Originally Posted by TabooYanks

What's the approx drive time and will I be an outcast as a northerner?
This is factor of where i move.i want people to be at least indifferent.

Lynchburg is approximately an hour south of Charlottesville, IIRC, and that's the extent of my knowledge on the subject ......

[TN Lily]

As far as churches go, Virginia has lots of 'em. Plenty of denominational & non-denominational churches to choose from. You can find small family churches to large mega-churches.

Lynchburg is home to Liberty University. Perhaps this U. has resources for home schoolers. There are many threads regarding Lynchburg.

Even small rural areas can be "busy" if a resident chooses to be involved in the local community.

Re teens, I think the issue is what do your teens want to do. There is something to do everywhere if one is willing to look for activities or create them on your own. If you want an area with lots of activities organized for teens to just show up and participate, you may want to stick to more urban areas.

The town of Louisa in Louisa County has a small farmers market.
Housing costs in Charlottesville & Albemarle are high. They are lower in places like Louisa County and some of the other surrounding counties.

[TabooYanks]

Maybe there are more websites or videos that I've missed.I haven't found many.As a large # of mags and co's have rated this Best place to Live,Where's all the info on C-ville.only 2-3 pages on Virginia free tourist guide they sent.I'm getting frustrated and maybe all that's left is searching UTube videos while looking at a map.
I heard of another E-Quake in VA and did C-ville get winds from Irene?..Having gone thru # of Hurricanes on LI,then Andrew in FL,then the tornado outbreak of April 27,11 in GA where 6 or more tornados passed thru my town(the west of my town had extreme damage,) I am so tired of natural disasters.This AM there was a quake in Alaska 7.1 and L.A. 4.2. Are people wondering if a bigger 1 is coming? Have they happened here before this year?,enough drama.
Any good vids or websites appreciated.Already watched VAFreeways runthru of C=ville about 30xs and people walking thru the ped mall.I guess my daughter and I have become quite taken with this town.
To me C-ville was brighter,cleaner and more inviting than Lynchburg,but google map dragging that little guy to see the streets isn't too easy,ended up in a lot with a street full of abandoned tires and a small truck with a guy sitting on the side of the road.Looked like by the airprt in NYC.The rest looked like where I live even smaller and more desolate.This is just my opinion and I probably just need to find better info.Well,I am opened to other towns but really want to be around people now.Friendly ,happy people passing by.

[Green Irish Eyes]

City of Charlottesville website

County of Albemarle website

Charlottesville, VA on City-Data

Charlottesville City Market

Earthquake information

Hurricane Irene information