Julia

Austin, Danna is absolutely right about shopping. As a guy, obviously you're not aware of where to shop. The stores you mention are not places where 30- and even 40-something women would want to shop. My mother lives in Asheville and when she wants to seriously shop, she comes to visit me in Atlanta. Belk is not an upper-scale store! Serious shoppers know that upper-scale stores are Neiman's, Saks, Nordstrom et al. And J.C. Penney doesn't even warrant discussion! So Austin, yes, Asheville is a great place to live and you can drive to Greenville or Atlanta to do your shopping. Is there really a Target in Asheville? I didn't know that.

Funny how this thread has turned into a discussion of Asheville's shopping! Stacey, please tell us what your husband thought of Asheville.

Tom (Stacey's Husband)

Hello everyone. Thanks for all the great information on NC. I'm back from my tour of the state. As for Asheville, I really liked it. I thought the downtown was great and I enjoyed all the unique stores and progressive atmostphere.

However, the day I visited it was sort of grey and dreary. I understand the area gets a substantial amounts of rainfall, does that also translate into lots of grey days in the winter? I also hear it is 10 degrees cooler in the summer (a good thing), but is that really a relative thing? In other words, is it still generally really hot and humid all summer?

Bottom line, I liked Asheville. Here are some more general questions:

Would it be realistic to travel to Charlotte airport once per week? How long a drive is it? How far is Knoxville airport and can you connect from there to any major airports like Chicago?

What is Greensboro like?

My first impressions of Charlotte were good (or i should say it exceeded my expectations). This may be a touchy subject, but I'm concerned it will be too conservative, both socially and politically. Good assumption? Raleigh area seems more "mid atlantic" , while Charlotte seems more "south". (please no attacks, i have nothing against the south!)

Cheers. I look forward to your replies.

Julia

Hi, Tom. I can only address a couple of your questions regarding Asheville. It gets plenty hot in the summer, but not usually unbearably so like Atlanta and places farther south. As for rainfall, I think Asheville actually suffered from drought conditions last year or the year before (someone else would know about this better than I), so rainfall typically isn't excessive.

One downside to living there definitely is lack of an international airport; although I hear that Greenville, SC, has several international flights and it's only an hour away from Asheville. Charlotte is about 2 or 2.5 hours from Asheville, but not sure exactly how far to the airport itself. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to Asheville. It really is a charming little town. Did you know that Andie McDowell lives there now? (Not that that really matters to anyone...)

Collette

Hi Tom, having been transplanted from Providence to first Charlotte and now Raleigh Durham area, I think your impression is correct. I really did not care for Charlotte but it might have been my initial culture schock.. I thought it was souless though more glitzy than this area. I think it is more diverse in the Triangle and more transplanted Yankees etc..and yes, a little less trantional Southern... I also am not trying to slam anyone but in Charlotte I saw the bumper stickers that said "Buckle up for Jesus" and when I asked if a particular furniture store was open on Sunday was told .."Oh, no, Mr. X is a church-goin man.." Made me feel like a big bad heathen!

RB

Interesting thread. As an NC native now living in ATL, I'd say that Asheville is the new "hot" area, as several ATLans are either moving or securing second homes in the area. Charlotte has the better airport, but keep an eye on the future of USAir, whose hub is located at Charlotte. RDU (Raleigh Durham airport)is being spiffed up, but it still lacks amenities. Winston-Salem may be a little too small-town for your tastes. For airport, downtown amenities, I'd choose Charlotte. Good luck in your search.

danna

Tom:

Weather in Asheville is normally great (sunny). This time of year is as close to a rainy season as the area gets...and thank God for it, we've been in a drought for the last 5 years. Asheville does get a bit more rain than Greenville (where I am, 45 min away) just because of the mountain effect, but that's been a good thing lately.

You are correct about the 10 degree cooler temps, which is fabulous in the summer and means you might see a little snow in the winter, which you rarely do in other parts of the state.

To give you some idea, I mountain bike around Asheville every Sat - it has NEVER been too cold to go and we get rained out completely (we don't mind a little drizzle) maybe 4 times a year. In other words, it's outdoor sports heaven.

Mapquest has driving to Charlotte airport at 2hours 13min, 128 miles. Greenville will take you around 1hour 15 min, and has non-stops to LaGuardia, Pitt, Philly on USAir...Cincinatti on Delta...I THINK Detroit on Northwest...but as far as I know you can't get to Chicago non-stop. Which leads me to...why not fly out of Asheville? If you can spare a few hours to fly to Charlotte and connect it may be cheaper to use the Asheville airport.

Wall Street Journal reported recently that Charlotte is the most expensive airport in the US. My boss lives in Charlotte and on a recent trip we both made to Hartford, CN, I connected from Greenville, got on the same plane he was on in Charlotte, and his ticket was $1000 to my $600. (not exactly super-savers, I admit) Go figure.

And...the final chapter in this book is on the "conservative" issue. Beware! My husband is from the People's Republic of Madison (WI). He's been here 20 years and now listens to Rush Limbaugh and denies having told me he was a Democrat when I first met him.

Seriously, most people I know lean conservative politically (and socially to a lesser degree). If it really bugs you to see a few "What would Jesus do?" bumper stickers and rebel flags, you may have a problem in the South. But, except for the occasional invitation to their church, people aren't going to harass you with their beliefs. Beleive me, that NASCAR crap will get on your nerves faster than conservatism.

Asheville is a little micro-climate of liberalism in NC. Also a lot of new-age crap (you can get your aura massaged for $150). Oh, and there's this Carribean restaurant called Salsa that is ALONE worth living in Asheville for.

Are you asleep yet? Let me know if you have other questions...I'm a little slow at work today

Austin

I guess all in all, good shopping is a relative term. I used to work as a receiver for a women's clothing store on Main Street in Hendersonville, where the clientele consisted almost entirely of ladies driving in from Columbia, Macon, Atlanta, Chattanooga, the Triad, the Triangle, and god knows where all else -- despite the fact that the clothes the store sold were so dowdy I personally wouldn't have used them to even clean up after a pet.

Now, regarding Belk, I guess I consider it upper-scale simply because I know I can't afford to shop there and I know I'm not living in poverty. As for Target, there's at least one, and possibly two under construction in Asheville. One's going up near the airport, and if there is another one being built, I believe it's going to be on the east side of town -- I seem to recall reading there would be one built over there.

And that's all I've got on that subject. Onward to Stacy's questions!

I think it would be realistic to commute to Charlotte once a week, especially if you took Hwy 74 from I-26. I knew someone who made it from Charlotte to Hendersonville in just under an hour, but they floored it all the way -- lots of college students from here going to school down in Charlotte clear out as soon as the weekend arrives. It's sort of an ongoing competition to see who can get home the fastest.

Knoxville is just over 100 miles from Asheville, but the terrain is much more rugged than what you would encounter going from Asheville to Charlotte. I'd say it could be done though. If you need access to a good airport, look into Greenville-Spartanburg International, about an hour south of Asheville, as one other person said, or look into Asheville Regional to see if it might suit your needs. GSP will get you more places than AVL, but AVL connects to several major hubs. There are direct flights from Asheville to Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New York (at EWR), and interestingly enough, Greenville. From time to time, talk will surface about restoring service from Asheville to Washington DC, but with the economy the way it is, that looks to be a very long ways off.

Christina

Originally from NY I went to college near Greensboro and moved to Charlotte when I graduated. I have to say I love it here and can't imagine living in any other city. Yes its conservative, but not extreme. There is lots to do downtown and near the lake. My husband and I live in the University area, right in the middle. Being one of the fastest growing cities things are constantly being added. If you are traveling a lot the airport is very close, as compared to a 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive from Asheville. I have to give thumbs up to Charlotte as being clean and VERY pretty to live in. It has crime and problems like all cities, but all in all it is a great place to live!!

Kevin

Hi, My daughter is thinking of going to Elon College (near Greensboro)and I wonder how much of a culture shock this would be for her. We are from Providence, RI. Her inclinations are to go to Boston University because of the "big city" atmosphere. She likes theater and music, and I fear when she gets to college, nightclubs. What do you nice people think?

harumph

I guarantee your daughter will have a monumental culture shock relocating from an insulated RI community to NC. Double that if she is interested in a more urban environment like Boston.

I've lived in Boston, Providence and now l reside in SE Virginia. I travel regularly to most parts of NC. I like it here a lot. Most people who settle here from the NE (for the cheaper cost of living and a more temperate climate) crab about everything that's not like where they came from.

And with all due respect, why don't you form your own opinion by visiting the area before you blindly consult a forum of strangers?

Gretchen

To the person asking about Elon. Your daughter's choice between Boston College and Elon is a non-sequitur. Elon is a small small college in a small town. BC is, well, BC--BIG city, big college. In my experience, college bound children need to decide which kind of college they want and then pursue one that has the best programs in their field(s) of interest.
Charlotte is a beautiful city with an impressive downtown corporate community which translates into a good quality of life for the city. The residential areas at all levels of income/house cost are very well kept. There are downtown residential areas that are walkable to restaurants, etc. but for the most part Charlotte is very dependent on private auto travel.
Regarding the commute from Asheville--it is probably just under 2 hours to the Charlotte airport and it is 2 hours to the Knoxville airport. The Charlotte airport would offer MANY more destinations, many of them non-stop, because it is USAir's largest hub.
Shopping in Charlotte is as good as Atlanta and a whole lot more convenient.

danna

Your daughter may want to attend a school people have heard of. I went to a very prestigious, selective university that elicited remarks of either "Wow, you must be smart" or "Wow, your parent's must be loaded" IN THIS REGION. Outside this region, hardly anybody ever heard of it, they probably think it's a community college. Had I moved outside the area, I think it would have had a negative impact on my resume. Just something to think about.

Kevin

Thanks for the replies on Elon and NC. I have visited Elon and will do so again before choosing this college. We also visited NC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem and Duke. I like the idea of a smaller school and Elon has a good reputation for Communications. I agree it won't be well known outside the region. But BU (Boston University) may be too big and unfriendly with too many temptations to avoid school work. We thought Elon was very beautiful and the people were very friendly. I'm not sure I can say the same about New England in general.

mdtravel

Check out Huntersville and Cornelius which are 15 miles north of Charlotte on I77. They blend together, but are going through a huge growth spurt. The only thing that isn't up here that you'd need is a Best Buy and a department store (Dillards for example). If you're going to be working in Charlotte though, the traffic sucks. It should get better when they finish widening I77 to four lanes each way.

Brutforce

As a Charlotte resident (from Ohio) I think you are getting a mixed bag of info hear. Austin is somewhat local & always has good info. Asheville is a nice, smaller city no question. In regards to Charlotte.... To live closer to town (& @ a reasonable price) explore Elizabeth or 3rd Ward. Lots of Condos/townhouses & a more affordable way to live close to town. Charlotte traffic is not good but nothing if you are from the north. The Univ. area/Huntersville/Cornelius are all part of the suburban sprawl that has infected Charlotte & causes most of the traffic problems. Yes, you can have a big house on a cul-de-sac w/a big yard & also have to drive to go to the bathroom. In Charlottes behalf I believe we are one of, if not the leading cities in giving to the Arts in our community & the arts are strong & well supported here. As far as the USAir hub it can be expensive but you can also take advantage of e-savers & nearly all flights are direct. As for Knoxville, it is a college town & oftentimes impossible to get to in the winter from Asheville. I won't even go into the problems Atlanta has. Charlotte has been a good fit for us but my wife (especially) is sometimes bothered by the southerners. There are many still fighting the war. The pace here is also much different. Time & schedules matter little & the work ethic is totally diffrent than up north. So as anyplace else you take the good w/the bad. You can also get to the beaches (from Wilmington to Myrtle, to Hilton Head & Charleston all in 4 hours or so & the Mts. are of course very close. Hope this helps. If you have specific questions I'll do my best to answer them.

heelfan

Hi, here's two-cents' worth from a lifelong North Carolinian.
I live near Charlotte. The traffic has gotten so bad -- that is the biggest problem with this city.
There are plenty of nice neighborhoods, and I agree with a previous poster that the conservatism isn't as bad as the NASCAR crap -- why people are so enthralled with that I'll never understand. What's interesting about that is when they interview "race fans" at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, they invariably are from northern climates and travel around in their RVs following their favorite NASCAR drivers. Go figure.
Asheville is a nice town (Hey, I've even eaten at Salsa's!). It's almost like a college-town atmosphere IMHO. Driving to the Charlotte airport once a week wouldn't be bad. We just drove from Charlotte to Knoxville and back last weekend for my son's gymnastics meet, and taking I-26 to Hwy. 74 to I-85 is fine except for one little stretch on 74 with tons of stop lights.
As for the dad with the college-bound daughter, if she's planning to major in communications, send her to UNC-Chapel Hill! (I majored in journalism and mass communications there). It has one of the best J-schools in the nation.
Pam

iblitz

Message: Hey! That's "Southern" for "hello"--I didn't read every last post, but I wonder if you must live in NC? If South Carolina is an option I have the PERFECT little town for you. Go check out Clemson, SC. It is in the southwestern cornor of SC and is surrounded on the south, west, and north by lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee and the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. To the east is the most beautiful small city in the South, Greenville, SC. Clemson is home to Clemson University which provides numerous FREE cultural pasttimes for young and old. Sporting events are nonstop. For a small town there are some wonderful restaurants, lovely neighborhoods and the best schools in SC. 1 High School, 1 middle SChool, 1 elementary school.--This is how close you are to major cities: 40 min. to Greenville, SC, 2 hours to Charlotte, NC, 2 hrs. to Atlanta Airport, 2 hrs. to Columbia, SC. 1.5 hrs. to Ashville, NC.
I suggest a visit next month in the height of the azalea/dogwood blooming--You will never want to leave!!! The perfect place to raise a family, enjoy empty nesting, or retire! I know I sound like I work for the Chamber of Commerce, No, just a recently relocated resident who misses God's Country!!!

soccr

Stacey, it's hard to know what appeals to people about one place vs. another, but I'm guessing that you saw Raleigh but did not see Cary, Chapel Hill or Durham. If I had only seen Raleigh before we moved here, to Chapel Hill, I would never have considered moving to the Triangle. With some exceptions (e.g., out toward the Glenwood Ave. older neighborhoods, etc.), it would have put me off entirely.

Now, after 10 years including several trips to Charlotte for meetings, etc. I can say thank god I didn't decide to live in Charlotte instead of Chapel Hill/Durham. Yes we came from the north but also from the west (i.e., Illinois), and despite the good airport there and some neighborhoods that are, I agree, prettier than RALEIGH neighborhoods, I really think the Triangle in general has more to offer.

All these opinions are subjective, of course, but I think you'd be doing yourselves a great disservice if you ruled out the Triangle on the basis of one day in Raleigh.

Cassandra

Oh, Stacey, if you are from Rhode Island, I really wonder if you would like Charlotte as well as you think you would. What a place looks like is one thing, but you also have to become part of the community, and (see the previous poster) I think you'll find things more congenial in the Chapel Hill or Cary areas, in part because there are so many transplants like you will be. Charlotte can be sophisticated but it can also be very very Southern at the same time (they aren't mutually exclusive). Agree you might want to rethink the Triangle, just not Raleigh itself.

hauntedheadnc

I'm sorry, but I must disagree with iblitz about Greenville. Downtown Greenville is admittedly one of the finest in the nation, but the rest of the city is ghastly -- a cross between the most hideous examples of suburban sprawl you can imagine, and the most run-down failed industrial city you can picture, a very dismal slurry of slums and sprawl, in other words, surrounding that magnificent downtown.

Beauty isn't what Greenville offers, but in its favor it does offer incredible diversity because its an international business center, and it offers a first class cultural scene, with better performance spaces even than Asheville, one of the top arts destinations in the country! As you can imagine, we up in Asheville are jealous of Greenville's performing arts center and performance arena... but we're working on building our own. But Greenville can keep its sprawl and ultra-conservatism.