Since quite a few of the regulars are from NC, I figured I'd try here.

Any of y'all live in (or lived in) Asheville, NC? My gf is convinced she wants to move there. I know nothing of the place (other than it's near some pretty cool parkland). And anybody know anything about UNC-Asheville (or any other universities near-by)?

 

you like hippies?

 

Mmm - hippies.

We may be visiting there in the next few weeks. If that happens, I'll give you a report.

K

 

They don't bother me at all...

Mellow Mushr00m = good beer + pizza.

 

Critical stats:

Distance to:
Danville - 3 hrs, 42 min
Charlotte - 2hrs, 10 min
Kershaw - 3hrs, 28 min
Winchester - 6hrs, 57 min

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you like hippies?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I find them more tolerable than many groups.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Critical stats:</TD></TR></TABLE> About a hour and a 1/2 to US 129

 

Asheville is agreat placve, never lived there but vist quite often. Nice thing is you can live just outside of ashville for next to nothing and only be like 20 mins from town. UNC-A is not the best school in the UNC system, but it is still pretty decent.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I find them more tolerable than many groups.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I did not mean to offend with my comment.

Do you have a 4x4?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I did not mean to offend with my comment.

Do you have a 4x4?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No offense taken.

Yes. I take it the roads are poorly maintained, or does it just snow a lot?

 

white stuff everywhere.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> About a hour and a 1/2 to US 129</TD></TR></TABLE>
is that the infamous "Dragon Tail"

 

318 turns in 11 miles = nice.

4x4 for snow
bike for 129
car for 129 and track

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
318 turns in 11 miles = nice.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Indeed.... the "Tail of the Dragon"


http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

Drove it in May 2002 in a VERY well prepared street car. One of the best roads I've ever driven.

 

Asheville's pretty cool. Willard's spot on on the hippie thing though, they are prevalent (and harmless). There's all kinds of "stuff to do with the girlfriend" type of stuff up there.

 

Asheville is nice. I like me some mountains.

TONS of stuff to do there, and tons more stuff within an hour or so of there.

RJ, you forgot the time to Road Atlanta. Probably less than 3 hours.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Asheville's pretty cool. Willard's spot on on the hippie thing though, they are prevalent (and harmless). There's all kinds of "stuff to do with the girlfriend" type of stuff up there.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You mean outdoorsy type stuff? What she really wants a smaller town that is affordable and near outdoor recreation areas (we're both avid cyclists, love trail running, etc). Of course, employement is an issue, as we're both coming from professional IT backgrounds (though both of us are also VERY open to career changes).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You mean outdoorsy type stuff? What she really wants a smaller town that is affordable and near outdoor recreation areas (we're both avid cyclists, love trail running, etc). Of course, employement is an issue, as we're both coming from professional IT backgrounds (though both of us are also VERY open to career changes).</TD></TR></TABLE>

I dunno on the outdoorsy thing, as last time I went, I was at a bunch of fancy restaraunts and bed and breakfasts and looking at scenery. But it's the mountains, so I'm sure there's lots of cycling type stuff available. Tsali shouldn't be too far of a drive.

The employment thing will probably be tricky. I'd guess that the biggest industry is tourism, with the mountains and Biltmore and all that fancy stuff around you. Might be tough to find a gig that pays what you're used to, especially in this economy...

Hell, I probably shouldnt even speculate about that. I've only been once, and thought it was pretty cool. The girl I was with knew far more about Asheville than I did so she sorta called the shots.

 

Just moved to Mars Hill and I love it ... Still trying to find my way around Asheville... But over it this place is wonderful

 

Going there this weekend, Mr. Monkey - want me to check on anything in particular? We always try to find one of those free home shopper rags at the grocery stores, to get a handle on house prices. Email me if you have specific look-fors...

Kirk

 

Lots of outdoors stuff. I don't think cheap would discribe it very well, especially around town. You might want to look at Brevard or Henderson. A friend of mine is looking to relocate from eastern NC into the Ashville area, and is having trouble finding suitable employment, and a house that is within his price range. I think it would be a great place to live. My wife and I go every chance we get.

 

I've lived around Asheville for 15 years. The last thing I would call this place is affordable. The situation is low pay service jobs and high cost of living. The median income is around $26,000/yr. If you're going to buy a house, get one outside of the city limits due to property taxes.

The hippies and gays (yes, we're second to San Francisco I believe) are tolerable. The downtown scene is ok if you like that sort of thing, other than that night life is pretty sparse. Other than tourist spots, there isn't much that you can do in a weekend. Every summer, Bele Chere is the big thing happening... that's a huge street festival where everyone goes out in the heat of July to make the town stink like BO.

The music scene ranges from amateur to top names and the various venues. The "Civic Center" is the biggest venue... though it's falling apart and there's a big controversy on what to do with it.

I race with the local SCCA groups http://main.nc.us/HSCC. We have about 1 to 3 races per month, as well as Charlotte and Greenville SC being a comfortable drive away. The biggest events draw up to 80 to 120 drivers (the latter being Bele Chere).

The cops aren't too opressive agains import drivers. There isn't much of an import "club" scene as it's mainly a bunch of kids that stand around talking about who's car is faster and general trash talk. Patton Ave is the weekend cruising strip... until the APD shuts it down at midnight.

Read up on the http://www.citizen-times.com (local newspaper) to learn about the culture and current events.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PupaScoopa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The last thing I would call this place is affordable.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree... I've been trying looking for a place in town, preferable downtown, and everything I find is as expensive, or more, than Raleigh.

 

You've got mail

 

Coming from DC, anything less than half a million is a bargain (thus my desire to move, as I cannot afford a house here without selling vital organs).

Maybe I'm missing something, but realtor.com has tons of houses listed in the greater Asheville area for $200-300k.