Need Some Help Deciding (Atlanta, North Atlanta: middle-class, best town, sales)

[siafuyu]

I am an older lady in my 60's, born and raised in south Alabama, a real country girl complete with growing my own food, canning, kayaking, shooting guns, lots of pets etc. But, I found upon living in the Tampa Bay area that I really liked the access to lots of stores, cultural actives, etc. But, I hated the heavy traffic, very hot, humid heat and corporate restaurants. A friend and I just went up to the mountains in Pigeon Forge and we loved the weather, the people were very down home and friendly, loved the family owned and operated restaurants, but it had too much of a circus or commercial feel and the taxes in Tennessee were ridiculous. I am use to the .06 sales tax in Florida. Here, we also have access to great medical care. A friend lives in Atlanta and is trying to guide my move to the mountains, but I am still lost about where, with my preferences, would be the best town to move to. He recommended Elijah or Blairsville, but I would appreciate hearing from someone who actually knows the mountain towns and where I might need to move. I want the rural home life with access to Publix, Walmart, and some great family restaurants, maybe fairly close to a really large city for outings. Thanks in advance!

[JayHey]

Georgia Mountains and a Publix?

You're out of luck.

You're going to need to get an Ingles card. But all the larger mountain cities have a walmart and a fair number of family owned restaurants.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by JayHey

Georgia Mountains and a Publix?

You're out of luck.

You're going to need to get an Ingles card. But all the larger mountain cities have a walmart and a fair number of family owned restaurants.

There are some really good Ingles stores up there, though. I've always been impressed by the ones I've used. Some of my favorite mountain towns:

Ellijay
Blue Ridge
Young Harris
Hiawassee
Dahlonega
Clayton

[Beach Sportsfan]

There are Publix in Dawsonville and also at FreeHome near Canton. I would say look at Canton,Jasper, Dawsonville.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by siafuyu

I am an older lady in my 60's, born and raised in south Alabama, a real country girl complete with growing my own food, canning, kayaking, shooting guns, lots of pets etc. But, I found upon living in the Tampa Bay area that I really liked the access to lots of stores, cultural actives, etc. But, I hated the heavy traffic, very hot, humid heat and corporate restaurants. A friend and I just went up to the mountains in Pigeon Forge and we loved the weather, the people were very down home and friendly, loved the family owned and operated restaurants, but it had too much of a circus or commercial feel and the taxes in Tennessee were ridiculous. I am use to the .06 sales tax in Florida. Here, we also have access to great medical care. A friend lives in Atlanta and is trying to guide my move to the mountains, but I am still lost about where, with my preferences, would be the best town to move to. He recommended Elijah or Blairsville, but I would appreciate hearing from someone who actually knows the mountain towns and where I might need to move. I want the rural home life with access to Publix, Walmart, and some great family restaurants, maybe fairly close to a really large city for outings. Thanks in advance!

Yeah, the Piegon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg area of Eastern Tennessee is an extremely tourist-oriented vacation/getaway area that is extremely popular and beloved with affluent and middle-class tourists across much of the Southeastern U.S. obviously.

Tennessee might have a higher sales tax, but not unlike Florida which has no individual state income tax, Tennessee has no individual state income tax except on dividend and interest income.

The Piegon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg area of Eastern Tennessee is often highly-recommended because of the amount of activities to do in the area as well as the area's close proximity to the larger city of Knoxville which offers many more amenities (including shopping, dining, and great medical care) than might belie a city/metro of that smaller size because of its status as the home of the University of Tennessee.

There are some more secluded mountain areas away from the main tourist drag U.S. Highway 441 that might offer you the seclusion that you are looking for while still giving you access to the amenities of the more heavily-developed areas of Eastern Tennessee in Piegon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg and the nearby larger city in Knoxville. Eastern Tennessee (including the awesomely scenic Great Smoky Mountains National Park) really is one of the beloved areas of the Southern Appalachians and the Southeastern U.S.

Ellijay and Blairsville in the North Georgia Mountains region would be two excellent choices where you might find Walmart Supercenter and (as other posters noted) Ingles grocery stores as the two main shopping options, but (also like other posters noted) you unfortunately will not find any Publix grocery stores in those areas or anywhere north of the North Atlanta suburbs.

If you absolutely have to be near a Publix grocery store, take a look at the Asheville, North Carolina area which is an active small city in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina where there are 2 Publix stores in the Asheville area and a third Publix store on the way in Hendersonville a few miles south of Asheville.

Publix stores can also be found in the Piegon Forge and Knoxville areas of Eastern Tennessee.

[Beach Sportsfan]

Forgot to add Canton as also having a Publix

So Canton, Free Home and Dawsonville would be your three northernmost areas

[Beretta]

What about Cartersville? It isn't a mountain town but it is center to so many things and great activities. You can get to Atlanta, the lakes, the mountains. I just love it there.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by Iconographer

There are some really good Ingles stores up there, though. I've always been impressed by the ones I've used. Some of my favorite mountain towns:

Ellijay
Blue Ridge
Young Harris
Hiawassee
Dahlonega
Clayton

I’ve been to the Ingles in Ellijay, I’d rank it right up there with Publix.

[aus10]

Some Ingles are nicer than some of the smaller Publix.... and I am a Publix lover. I'll pit the Ingles in Blairsville against most Publix anywhere....