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My husband and I are looking to move to NC, hopefully later this year, and after tons of research, I find that I am still at a loss when trying to find the right city for us. We are in our thirties, and like to be somewhere near where there are lots of things to do, but don't really like the whole club/bar thing. We're pretty laid back and quiet. We want to be within 6 hours of Atlanta, where my family lives. We love the coast, so we'd like to be within an hour from it, something easy to get to every weekend. We're huge nature lovers and environmentalists, and would love for a place to have a bit of a natural beauty to it. We also value being near culture, and every day conveniences. We really feel that those model home communities are not for us, and prefer, if possible, a more matured community (large trees, slightly older buildings that are nicely kept up). We're hoping to not spend more than $200k on a home, but want one in a safe, nice looking area. We are self-employed, so jobs are not a concern, and we are planning on having children, but there are other places where we can find out about school systems. I'm having a lot of trouble finding information about "beautiful" cities, other than those in the west of the state. I know I've thrown out a lot of criteria here, but the biggest priorities are being within 6 hrs from Atlanta, within an hour or so of the beach, and being in a good place for a nature lover. Thank you for any and all help!!!
I know I've thrown out a lot of criteria here, but the biggest priorities are being within 6 hrs from Atlanta, within an hour or so of the beach, and being in a good place for a nature lover.
If your criteria mean with 6 hours driving time, you are eliminating most of coastal North Carolina. About all that fits is the southern corner with Brunswick County, Columbus and Bladen County. The terrain is basically flat farmland with some pine forests and rivers for boating. I do not think it is especially interesting, but you might like White Lake or Lake Waccamaw. The drive from Wilmington might exceed 6 hours, but it has some very attractive areas. However, your budget of $200K is quite restricted for Wilmington. You might also consider towns in South Carolina like Conway which has some nature preserves or even Columbia which has lakes nearby. Or else look at Charleston, SC, but your budget won't go very far there.
If you mean flying to Atlanta, then I'd suggest towns like Cape Carteret.
Last edited by goldenage1; 03-26-2014 at 05:26 PM..
Yeah, you'll have to compromise. You could look at the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill). It meets all of your criteria for a city (except maybe price — that's really low, IMO), but it's probably a bit over 6 hrs to Atlanta and a little less than 2 hrs to the beach.
Wilmington is the only other place in NC I would consider if you have that criteria about being close to the coast.
Have you looked at a map? Do you see how much farther NC sticks out into the Atlantic than SC or GA?
Have you considered the Savannah or Charleston areas?
Yeah, you'll have to compromise. You could look at the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill). It meets all of your criteria for a city (except maybe price — that's really low, IMO), but it's probably a bit over 6 hrs to Atlanta and a little less than 2 hrs to the beach.
Charlotte is the other area with lots to do. It is close to the western part of the state which most people think has the most natural beauty. Charlotte is about 3.5-4 hours drive time to Atlanta and 3.5 hours to Myrtle Beach.
Brusnwick county fits all the crieteria. It is however very rural around here I live here. I live about a mile from holden beach. There is greenswamp near 17, but that's it.
Brusnwick county fits all the crieteria. It is however very rural around here I live here. I live about a mile from holden beach. There is greenswamp near 17, but that's it.
Sorry, but Brunswick county does not meet their top priority request of being six hours from Atlanta. It also does not meet their request for culture.
I'm not sure why you want to be an hour from the coast?
Why not just go to the coast and have a little bit more drive to Atlanta when you make the trip.
If so, you can consider Southport or Wilmington in your search...as for mature neighborhoods in Wilmington where you can find under 200K...I know Pine Valley has some smaller homes that can be had for that. Lincoln Forest is another. Or the Audobon Lane area off Oleander Drive. The cross city trail is near all of these and can get you to the parks. Alderman Preserve (off Independence Blvd) has had a lot of activity lately.
There are beautiful spots in SE NC outside of the coast itself....Lake Wacammaw, White Lake, Moore's Creek National Battlefield, Orton Plantation, canoeing on the Black River.
edit...Alderman Preserve has been renamed Piney Ridge Nature Preserve...here is a good website that has a number of SE NC natural areas...
Thank you guys for the feedback! I've been doing so much research and wasn't finding anything that met all my criteria, so I was planning on making compromises, but I thought I'd ask you guys and see if there was anything I was missing. I'd appreciate more thoughts on beautiful places to live in East or SE NC. I think that's a big thing for me. And we actually did drive through Georgetown SC and thought it was beautiful...until the smell hit! Lol
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