Greetings! I too am researching NC and TN as possible relocation. Also VA and even Socorro NM. It all depends on jobs for hubby which really limits locations as he is in a very specialized industry. He may need to change careers and is close to retirement age so it's a huge challenge. We have a child in elementary school and the issue is mainly terrible education here. Also water quality problems with treatment causing serious health issues for me. For him the criteria is a mountain location or an area close to mountains with lower humidity. We are not skiiers so snow is not on our list...the less the better! But four seasons is something we really miss. We have heard SO much about Asheville and Boone. One friend came back from there, loves it and wants to go. She said it is full of NY'ers who are driving up real estate costs (she's in NY!) Yet another friend just came back and oddly enough said it's not for her but that I would like it?! weird. She described it as beautiful but a small hippie town in the mountains; nothing to do for her kids (boys into motorcross and hockey). I was assuming it was a BIG mountain college town, now I'm confused! I also looked into Knoxville but have read an awful lot about soil problems/clay? and weeds on this website. Lastly we are researching Charlottesville/Staunton area of VA. Close to mountains, but then I read it's flood zone! YIKES. help. Bottom line, we live at a high elevation in Hawaii, an unusual location similar to N. California/bay area, but dry. We would like dry as opposed to humid location though another friend says she is heading to Lake Norman near Charlotte! So many choices. BUT I know what I want in my future and last home: I am a garden nut. We are in a microclimate here so lavender thrives but too much clouds so roses and tomatoes do not. Not cold enough for even descanso lilacs. and What I want is to have LILACS which I miss desperately. And roses and herbs like I had in NY years ago. My husband can't tolerate the sticky humid summer weather of inland and coastal areas (naturally there are jobs for him in DC but he hates that climate!)We both want some acreage minimum of 2 acres and GREAT soil for gardening and milder winters. I killed myself here for the last 8 years fighting weeds which thrive 365 days year. Heavy snowfall and elevation seems to rule out Boone though we hear it's gorgeous? Grassisevil-any suggestions? I considered southeastern W VA where my Scottish ancestors settled back in early 1700; my NY snob mom tells me she has been there several times, around Greenbank/Pocohontas and that I will hate it, too redneck nuthin to do nobody to talk to. No culture. Too far from medical etc. Lastly-I want to be in an area where my daughter can learn her Irish and Scottish culture-and can get lessons in step dancing, bag pipe, violin. I play harmonica and would love to hook up with people to jam. SO that's a tall order I know, any suggestions would be so much appreciated. I spend hours online researching and I have learned so much from this website that realtors don't tell me! THanKS again and sorry to ramble.

Ok, we're home and glad of it. Now I remember why we don't like to camp in the summer - too hot and crowded. The tent sites at Ocean Waves campground near Oregon Inlet were very nice, but the neighbors in nearby (as in, nearly on top of) rental homes were loud late into the night and many folks were shooting off fireworks every evening so the beach was littered with garbage. The water was very cold for us Floridians. Down on Okracoke we enjoyed the NPS campground, cold showers and all, but the bugs are pretty bad. The water was several degrees warmer and waves break more gradually there - interesting to see how different the beach is because of the angle to the ocean. The weather turned bad so we only stayed one night and then took the long ferry south. Fun enough, but somehow we ended up watching People's Court on TV so that was weird - next time we'd have to do a better job of planning activities. I'm glad we saw it, but it isn't on our "must visit again" list. We are much closer to South Carolina beaches which are more accessible, with better facilities and better beaches. But we'll wait till early Autumn to do any more trips.

I know this comment is very much after the fact but I would just like to offer Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area as a wonderful place to retire. I have lived here my entire life and while I have traveled extensively across the country, there is nowhere else I would consider living. First, the area is extremely scenic.......make that drop-dead gorgeous!! Anywhere you might choose to settle will provide views to mountains and natural areas and you are never more than a few miles away from water.........lots of water!! The Sound, many lakes and rivers and streams. Because of the geography (nothing here is really flat), view properties are plentiful. Any outdoor activity you are interested in - skiing and other winter sports, hiking, camping, hunting, boating, etc. - can be easily addressed without any extensive car travel. Second is the weather. Most who have never lived here have huge misconceptions about the weather. IMO, it is excellent. Never too hot, never too cold and contrary to common opinion, it does NOT rain here constantly!! In fact, total average annual rainfall in Seattle is much lower than many other places in the US. Summers are sunny and very dry........winters damp and cool and snow infrequent. Seldom a need for any A/C and no summer humidity. There are 4 distinct seasons and each offers its own attractions. And no strange weather issues that generate ferocious storms.......no hurricanes, no tornadoes and while we do exist on a major fault line, earthquakes are extremely rare. Seattle is a vibrant, active and very cosmopolitan city. Lots of cultural activities, a major sports center and a foodie paradise. Yes, it is expense to live in town but there are scores of smaller communities within easy access of the city that are far less expensive. I live across the Sound, just a quick ferry ride away from downtown Seattle but a world away in terms of a rural feel and reduced cost of living. Puget Sounders for the most part are extremely well educated, entrepreneurial, friendly, and polite and many have a very artistic bent with many smaller communities known for their support of the arts. In short, living in the Puget Sound/greater Seattle area will provide all the advantages of a big city (colleges, employment, superb medical care, museums, theatres, restaurants and shopping) combined with a very strong community feel of the smaller, more rural and very scenically located surrounding towns. What's not to like ??

We stayed at the Grove Park Inn and loved it. We rented a car and drove to a couple of small towns closeby and I can't remember the names. But enjoyed it, they were small and had lots of antique shops, old time soda fountains, just little old time towns. I thoroughly enjoyed Ashville. Hope you have a good time!