Looking for western & central NC ideas.

For the educational part of the trip you might head to Winston Salem and visit Old Salem. And the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts. Then head west to Asheville for the Biltmore. Then go north to Boone if there is still snow. There isn't much way to tell until that week. You might also look at Appalachian Ski Mountain near Boone--or Sugar Mountain, a bit up the road.

What Gretchen said. It will be pretty quiet if the snow is gone.

BUT in the area of the Piedmont--charlotte and Winston, the azaleas and dogwoods will be beginning and it is a gorgeous time of year.
There is lots to do in charlotte also for kids. The museums are wonderful. Latta Plantation is an 18th Century restored home. The raptor Center. The NASCAR garages in mooresville.

I'm narrowing our search for lodging. What area should I be looking in as we prefer a smaller town to find a rental home (vrbo.com).

We'd like to make day trips to Ashville, Blue Ridge Parkway, Chimney Rock, Grandfather Mtn, a winery, maybe Beech or Boone, some CHerokee interest, Fontana Dam, waterfalls, hikes, etc.

Suggestions for town to look at for lodging?

So you are only looking at the mountain area? How are you "arriving"--up I26 to Asheville?
For your desires, I'd stay in Asheville.
You might find something in the Burnsville area or Brevard.
Brevard is on the east side of the Pisgah with a lot of that part of the Pisgah available for hiking, etc.
But it would be a pretty good drive to Asheville, I think--not looking at a map.
Wineries are down near Saluda--or Biltmore, but that is not particularly great wine.

I think you need to really look at a map of the places you have named and "connect the dots" to decide if you want to do that.
Fontana and Cherokee would have been good choices for you when you visited the Smokies.
Grandfather Mountain is in the Boone/Blowing Rock area--and a good distance from Asheville.
The Pisgah Forest above Asheville toward Boone and Blowing Rock is quite beautiful with lots to do.
AND the Pisgah BELOW Asheville is also beautiful with the Cradle of Forestry fairly near Brevard.
Google for NC winery map and you'll see the ones nearer the mountains.
If you wanted to include the trip to Winston Salem as I suggested earlier you would be in the HEART of the NC/Yadkin river wineries with MANY to choose from. One I would highly recommend is the Childress Winery on Rte. 52 south of Winston heading toward Charlotte.
And on that road you would also get to Lexington, NC, the cradle of NC BBQ.

Gretchen's right - while the distances aren't huge as the crow flies, you have to map out the route to see how long it will really take to get from one place to another.

The town of Black Mountain outside of Asheville might be a good somewhat central location. Neat small mountain town.

Black Mountain is a good choice. While you are there go visit Camp Rockmont for your boy(s) if you have them. GREAT camp!!
There are a couple of towns north of Asheville--weaverville and burnsville that are also nice.
Along with what Brian mentions about crows and roads, the mountain roads can be tortuous (not dangerous, but curvy), and if anyone is prone to carsickness (as I am), take warning.
You might google for "NC High Country" for other ideas.