I am moving to Asheville in July.

[Mutley]

Hello, North Carolina DUers!

In July I will be joining your ranks. I have lived in Delaware for two years, and before that, I lived in Baltimore, Maryland for fifteen years. Needless to say, this will be quite a big change for me. I've done some research on the city and it looks really cool, however I'd like to ask my fellow DUers a couple things.

Is it as cool as it looks?

I will be attending graduate classes at UNCA, so I'd like to try and find a place to live relatively close to school. What are some good neighborhoods to live in?

Is there plenty to do?

How is the weather? Does it get very cold in the winter? Do you get much snow? Does it get very hot in the summer? I know Asheville is in the western part of the state, but North Carolina is, of course, partial to hurricanes. Do you get much of a hit from that sort of thing this far inland?

What do you like and dislike about the city? And if you attend/have attended UNCA, how do you like the school?

This is about it for now. Thank you all for your time, and I am excited to be joining you in a few months.

:)

[tekisui]

1. You'll love it.

I am a native Ashvillan. It is as cool as it looks. It is a tourist town, and is seasonal. In the winter, people go to their Florida homes, and the locals get free reign. The Spring is beautiful with all of the trees and wildflowers in bloom.

We are just minutes from waterfalls and scenic mountains. In the fall, the leaves put on an incredible show.

The people in Asheville are laid back, easy going folks who let everyone do their own thing. The winters don't get too cold. This year we had a good bit of snow, but it hasn't been that snowy for years. It gets down to the 20s for a short while, but is mostly 30s-40s. In the summer we might have a couple of weeks in the 90s, but mostly 80s in July and August. Asheville usually gets four distinct seasons.

There is plenty to do, especially if you like the outdoors: hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, swimming and more. There are a lot of good micro-breweries. We love our beer here. There is a decent night-life. The town is pretty safe. Just be smart, like anywhere.

The hurricanes occasionally make it too us. We have had flooding and serious storms of downed trees in the past, but not often.

My only criticisms of the city is that it is not as diverse or sustainable as it claims to be. But, there are a lot of well-intentioned people trying very hard to realize the ideals. It is too segregated, still. Rent is high compared to income levels. Our public transit is a joke. We have buses, but they don't run late or early or reliably.

I will be graduating from UNCA in two weeks. I love the school. It is a small school, liberal arts focus. The professors are top notch, but not uptight. Like most things in Asheville, they are relatively laid back.

Montford is a good neighborhood. West Asheville has really became a neat place the past few years, and it isn't too far from campus. I would recommend W Asheville of North Asheville. There aren't really bad neighborhoods outside of the public housing, which is shut off from the rest of the city by a one-way bridge (really a shameful set-up there).

I hope I hit most of your questions. I love this place, and recommend it to anyone. I will be moving to Boston for the next three years, and will miss it while I am gone.

Be warned. There is an Asheville curse. Anyone who lives in Asheville will inevitably come back to Asheville.:)

[Mutley]

2. Thank you!

When you say Asheville is a seasonal town, do you mean it becomes completely dead in the winter? I live in a very seasonal town right now, and in the winter you wouldn't know there was any life at all.

[tekisui]

3. Not dead, but much more 'empty'.

It is really obvious when it gets warm for the first weekend, downtown gets packed. I walk downtown and think "where were all of these people a month ago". It really is like they all come in on a bus caravan at once and leave the same way.

But, you can still have fun in the winter. There are enough locals to keep it going.

[HillWilliam]

4. I'm another Asheville native

There's always something going on. Asheville is blest with fests, music, REAL good food (even better if you just know where to look), some kind of art to be found. In a lot of ways, it has changed quite a bit from my childhood (way, way, waaaaaaaaay bigger) but it still hasn't lost what makes it a quality place to live.

If you get bored with being in town, there are lots of places to go see outside. NC is really 5 states in one. In Asheville, you're close to TN, VA, and SC. I've no special attraction to each, but it's a beautiful drive over to TN and back, especially in spring and fall.

I live in the central part of the state now, but a lot of my relatives are still in the mountains. My mom still lives in Asheville, so I'm back there reasonably often. Always love it.

[mikita]

5. the up-posts have stated it really well, I'd say.....

...I would add that, food-wise, it's a great place if you're vegetarian, or leaning in that direction.

I took classes in Video Production and Spanish at UNCA, as an "old" enrolled person. I had a great time, and really enjoyed the students. I think you'll find it a great experience.

Best to you and welcome to Asheville!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

6. There's lots of cool folks there, and if you like politics

you'll have fun with that too.

I have some email friends from Asheville, and they are awesome folks.

I hear its a good place for young singles too. Just in case you needed to know that.

[jeremyfive]

7. Luv Luv Luv Asheville

I was born in Asheville, and I am very proud of that fact. It was a sleepy city when I was growing up, largely due to the city's longtime financial burdons. But the city has really blossomed, and it amazes me when I go there now. I think a lot has been the influence of UNCA, along with greater affluence overall. Asheville is brimming with culture of many varieties--the South thrives on arts and culture. I know I'm looking forward to dropping in on some of my favorite hang-outs now that the ban on smoking in public places has been passed. (In tobacco center N.C., smoking was always prevelant before.)

The people of Asheville were once termed "America's Living Ancestors" because the area was so secluded by the mountains that there wasn't a lot of outside influence. Modern communications and transportation has changed all that, but it helped keep Asheville pristine for generations while other American cities were experiencing urban sprawl and blight.

Hopefully, the custodians of Asheville will monitor the city's growth and progress for the future so that it remains a very special place to be for the future.

North Carolina is now a blue state, and liberals now abound in Asheville!

[Mutley]

8. Thanks guys!

This is a lot of good information. :D

Do any Asheville transplants have any input? What's it like moving to Asheville from elsewhere in the country?

[tpsbmam]

9. Coming in belatedly to endorse the great reviews by other Ashvillians

I grew up in NYC and have lived in Boston, a couple of towns in Connecticut, Wisconsin (Madison), Illinois (Chicago) & Colorado (Vail when I was a wayward teen putting off college for a couple of years). I've loved aspects of most of the places I've lived (wasn't so crazy about Chicago...sorry Chicago'ans). I've now settled in Asheville and absolutely love it -- I've been here about 5 years now. Never thought I could live anywhere south of the Mason Dixon line -- I had tons of stereotypes & prejudices about the South. Sadly, some of those are true. But I've found very little of that in Asheville -- I occasionally encounter someone who fits my stereotype of an idiot, misinformed redneck conservative, but I know far more liberals here. It's all the things everyone above described. I think I'm older than most who posted (certainly a good deal older than you) but I've found a great, very laid back and intelligent group of friends here closer to my age group.

I suspect you'll love it here! Welcome.