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I also like the town of Brevard, love the Sunrise cafe and the college. But the one thing I don't care for is that the entire downtown seems to close down and the are not many great restaurants or much happening downtown. Other than Sunrise cafe and the mexican restaurant I don't really know of any coffee shows, bakeries, or nice hangouts.
For Brevard, how about these:
Coffee
Quotations Coffee
Brighter Day Coffee
Bakeries
Bracken Mountain Bakery
Blue Ridge Bakery
Restaurants with Music
The Quarry Restaurant & Piano Bar
The Square Root
Also Poppies Gourmet Farmers Market is an upscale market focusing on local sources and organic. They have a cafe and you can eat in the garden where there's often live music and people hanging out.
I went to Black Mountain in 1992 and didn't think anything of it. It was tiny and had sort of depressing aura about it to me. Even though downtown Asheville was boarded up then also, it didn't feel as depressing.
So imagine my surprise to hear that so many people love Black Mountain. All I can think is that it's undergone a real metamorphosis. I guess it's had plenty of time to do so since I was there eighteen years ago!
I went to Black Mountain in 1992 and didn't think anything of it. It was tiny and had sort of depressing aura about it to me. Even though downtown Asheville was boarded up then also, it didn't feel as depressing.
All the rave reviews have got my curiosity up.
First, we both seems to be astronomy lovers .
I too hadn't been there for years and went again this year when family came to visit thinking it might have gotten better. Plus theres a store with nothing but moose stuff.....my favorite animal ever.
At 10:30am on a saturday, a lot of places were still closed. Those that were open weren't worth the 15 minute drive because most were just store bought china crap. I had high hopes for the moose store, but was really disappointed because again there was nothing unique. If you want neat Appalachian mountain culture, the folk art center on the parkway is way better than black mountain.
I did find the fly fishing shop there extremely nice though. The people were friendly, knowledgeable ...and they were opened at a reasonable time!
I think Black mountain has has a huge boom of retirees recently which might account for all the raving. My grandpa loves golden coral...doesn't mean its good... Can't argue with a 95 year old though!
Yes, love Poppies but they aren't really downtown, but a definite nice addition to the area.
Thanks, will have to check out the coffee shop and bakery. I just noticed that the downtown seems to shut down and lock up tight fairly early. It just doesn't seem like a vibrant downtown like some of the other downtown areas mentioned. But it is still high on my list for all the other wonderful qualities.
Waynesville, though we live here/above it at 5,000 ft, so I am not totally objective, ;>)
We like Blowing Rock, Brevard, Hendersonville, and Sylva too.
The general econ has been hard on most of the downtowns in western NC...and, not
sure how many more galleries, cutesy stores and shops, and restaurants can be started
and kept viable.
GL, mD
Waynesville, though we live here/above it at 5,000 ft, so I am not totally objective, ;>)
We like Blowing Rock, Brevard, Hendersonville, and Sylva too.
The general econ has been hard on most of the downtowns in western NC...
Hi motordavid, years ago i was backpacking and came into the town of Waynesville and I adored it. The downtown area was adorable, first stop Mast General store! Then there was a really nice bookshop and several great coffee shops. Waynesville was one of my top small towns not just for the cute downtown but elevation and access to hiking etc.
But I must admit I visited again in July and was not nearly as taken with the downtown area as I was before. I hardly reconized it frankly. I mean it still had Mast but previously it seemed prettier and more upscale. I couldn't find the bookstore or coffe shops. No container gardens or flowers lining the street.
Maybe I just had an idealized memory of Waynesville but I can't deny I was a tad disappointed.
Don't get me wrong it is still a great town with beautiful mountains and ease of access to the great outdoors.
We love Brevard! Great lunches at The Falls Landing. Shopping at the Antique Mall a few doors down from the restaurant. Lots of small shops. Can't remember the name of our favorite, but it is a small, narrow shop across the main intersection from the restaurant and down about a block from the White Squirrel Shoppe (also a nice store, but not particularly our cup of tea). The one I'm talking about has a nice little mix of random antiques, local jewelry, handmade soaps, coffee mugs, and so forth.
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Can't argue with a 95 year old though!
