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MOUNTAIN LIVING ~
Come to your senses ...
sight, smell and touch drive
these mountain newcomers
home.
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sk what compels families to take up mountain living and you’ll find remarkably similar responses. Views and climate come first, of course, as well as a desire to be only a step or two from nature. But there’s more – lots more.
Subcultures flourish in these hills, from fly fishing enthusiasts, to whitewater rafters, to gem miners, artists and craftsmen. For some, allergies seem to disappear in the cool mountain air. Others find new passions stirring within, brought to life in these creative surroundings. Here’s what a few newcomers told us about moving to new heights.
“I always knew I wanted a getaway in the North Carolina mountains,” says Karen Long. She was born and raised in Connecticut, but moved with her family to Florida when she was 14. Her husband, Brian, is from London, although he relocated to Florida when he was 18. They were searching for a cool-climate retreat from their home in Fort Myers, Florida, when they listened to advice from friends and took a trip to visit Jefferson Landing, in the northwestern area of North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains.
“Our friends promised us we’d love the community and they were right,” says Mrs. Long. “We stayed in the lodge, looked around, fell in love with what we found, and bought a townhouse.” With three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a family room downstairs and a living room on the main floor, there’s plenty of space inside, and with a deck on either side of their home they have multiple options for enjoying their view of Mount Jefferson, the golf course and the “beautiful” clubhouse.
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hey were motivated by the climate, the views and the ability to play golf “without roasting.” Now, when they need a reprieve from Florida, they hop on a plane in Fort Myers and fly to Charlotte, where they rent a car and drive to their mountainside home.
“I am looking forward to seeing the fall colors,” Mrs. Long says, adding, “I think I’ll enjoy the spring and fall the best.”
John and Diane Mix have traded their lives in Chicago for a home at Versant, near Asheville. Like Karen Long, John Mix had prior experience with Carolina mountains. “I had cousins in North Carolina, and we’d drive down and visit,” he says. Mr. Mix convinced his wife to take a look and they moved in 2002. “Mountain living is especially appealing to people from the Chicago area because everything is so flat there. I’ve always loved the mountains, but especially these mountains because of the vivid green colors in the trees and vegetation. I enjoy having four seasons without those brutal winters.”
And they both really like the people. “The folks we’ve met here are wonderful, just like those I grew up with in the Midwest.” For Mr. Mix, Chicago has become more like New York, where he finds that people wave you away rather than waving at you in friendliness.
Their local architect is following strict guidelines that will ensure Versant homes blend with the environment and the house will include lots of stone, because it adds to the mountain setting and flavor. Energy efficient designs with decks and porches are key elements. Their large yard will have room for fruit trees, and they’ll enjoy the health club and walking trails. “My friends back in Illinois give me a hard time,” he says.
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“In January, I can work in the garden, while their ground is completely frozen. If you like the ability to be outside almost all year, and
you appreciate natural beauty all around you, mountain living is a great choice.”
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Back in Florida, Bill and Tammy Coleman are eagerly anticipating being able to move into their soon-to-be-built North Carolina home in The Sanctuary at Tryon, a beautiful community just off of I-26, near the towns of Tryon, Saluda and Columbus. She was born in Tryon, but has lived in Florida since she was a baby, returning for vacations to visit both sets of grandparents. The Colemans plan to sell their Clearwater home, and he will take early retirement when they make the move.
She likes the location of The Sanctuary at Tryon because it feels rural, but is so close to town and very near to I-26. She is delighted that the library is right across from the community’s entrance, and she’ll have the opportunity to learn more about North Carolina plants.
“We had been trying to decide where to move,” she says. ‘I have rheumatoid arthritis, so I didn’t want to be where it’s really cold. My husband has allergies, and this mountain air helps him. Our goal is a yard with very little maintenance, and no mowing required. After all, it’s kind of silly to struggle with grass and mowing on a steep slope.”
Mr. Coleman is a ham radio operator – a hobby that lends itself to the mountains and clear signals sent from tall peaks. He was surprised to discover that there’s an amateur club in town, and he’s already met other like-minded enthusiasts.
He and his wife are looking forward to walking in the mountains and are excited that Holland Brady is their architect. “He has just written a book about architects in the area, and he is passionate about protecting the environment,” she says.
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One thing’s for sure. There will be plenty of ways to indulge their varied interests, even as they renew acquaintances and spend quality time with family.
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South Carolina’s mountains are a continuation of the Appalachian chain, and another Florida resident, Matt Bernhardt, is building a vacation home at Keowee Mountain, near Pickens. He’s lived in Miami all his life, but enjoyed family vacations in these mountains and fondly remembers the hiking, outdoor adventures and mountain lifestyle. “When you step outside your door, you are in the mountains,” he says.
Mr. Bernhardt purchased almost four acres of land that look out over long mountain views northwest into the Blue Ridge. He plans a front porch and back deck to take advantage of the vistas all around him.
He’ll be getting married soon and, luckily, his fiancé, Marielle, is enthusiastic about these plans and the outdoors lifestyle. Hopefully, she’s likes sports as well. “I am a huge college sports fan, and looking forward to Clemson University football, basketball and baseball,” he says. It sounds as though their home will get lots of use. “I’d like to get up there about six times a year, and since my parents, who live in South Florida, are retiring soon, I expect they’ll enjoy using it as well.”
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Like all these folks, others before them have made the trek to cooler weather and glorious views. Since the 1800s, multiple generations of some families have enjoyed the area.
Some are summer visitors, while others are mature families choosing to establish new roots where the quality of life is better than in the cities and suburbs they left behind. Still others seek the feel of the north woods,
without the accompanying weather.
In Good Company
Carolina mountain folk are fond of reeling off the names of dignitaries and celebrities who have found a new home, or at least a needed refuge, in the region. Some, like George Vanderbilt, put down deep roots and left behind cultural treasures. Others, like Harrison Ford, Jack Lemmon, Jody Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins came to work and play while they made films. A few, like Zelda Fitzgerald, became the victims of forces greater than themselves. Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and F. Scott Fitzgerald relaxed and played at Asheville’s luxurious Grove Park Inn.
Of course, there are also all the others who have built summer/retirement homes in the shadows of Mount Mitchell and the peaks of Grandfather Mountain to the north, in Murphy and Cherokee to the west, in Cashiers and Highlands just two hours north of Atlanta, and in South Carolina’s mountain counties, an easy drive from Charleston, Columbia and the Upstate.
Practical Matters
One hundred and fifty years after its early settlers endured hardships and deprivation, life here is modern in the best sense of the word. The region is served by local airports and a central regional facility in Asheville. National and international service is easily accessed by connection from these airports or from major hubs. Interstate and modern four-lane highways now penetrate even the most rural areas.
Comprehensive, specialized medical centers are located in Asheville and Greenville, S.C., and even more highly-specialized facilities are close.
At Play in the Mountains
In addition to a healthy climate, one of the great drawing cards for the region has always been recreation. In the late 19th Century, favorite pastimes were hunting and fishing. When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created and massive dams gathered up raging rivers into broad, smooth power lakes, boating and lake fishing quickly became popular. In the seventies, entrepreneurs set up a base camp in the Nantahala Gorge, and Southeast whitewater rafting was born. Hundreds of trails, which include the Appalachian, running from Georgia to Maine, beckon hikers of every skill level to explore the wilderness (and near-wilderness) at their own pace. And then there’s winter snow skiing in the high country near Boone and Blowing Rock or farther south at Maggie Valley’s Cataloochee.
Wherever people find themselves in Carolina mountain country, the great outdoors is never far away. From the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, state and national forests and such special preserves as the Joyce Kilmer National Forest, to the many lakes and rivers, opportunities abound. And getting there can be just as much fun on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cherohala Scenic Highway, designated byways and South Carolina’s Cherokee Scenic Highway – all offering an unforgettable driving experience.
Living the Good Life
There are great communities throughout the region, and the area has attracted responsible development. It’s served by affordable modern utilities and communication, and much of Carolina mountain country enjoys broadband access for work and play. Ask visitors why they seek out these mountains and they’ll tell you that simply being here relaxes and renews them. Many have found a sense of peace, and with that, the opportunity to re-script their lives. Just ask Karen and Brian Long, John and Diane Mix, Bill and Tammy Coleman, or Matt Bernhardt and Marielle. You’ll probably find them sitting on the porch. D
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And Much
More....
by Bill
Cissna |
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Fly Fishing
Across the mountains of the Carolinas, streams, from small creeks to major rivers, offer the fly fisherman opportunities that may never be exhausted.
Flashing down from the Blue Ridge, Appalachians and Smokies, from the New and the Yadkin in the north to the Savannah and Jocassee
in the south, rivers are
complemented by
literally hundreds of
freshwater creeks. Many
run with naturally
occurring trout and
smallmouth bass;
many others are stocked for both
catch-and-release and take-home fishing.
Fishermen can visit Websites such as www.flyfishingnc.com and
www.theblueridgehighlander.com/fishing for seasons, regulations and destination options. But in the Carolina hills, peace, quiet and good fishing are nearly
guaranteed. For additional information, visit our search directory on
www.carolinaliving.com.
Craft Schools
Two North Carolina craft schools allow both locals and visitors the chance to learn something new or polish a craft in true mountain settings. Some of the students’ creations are on display or for sale.
The Penland School of Crafts in Penland, N.C., near Spruce Pine (www.penland.org) and
the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, in the far southwest corner of North Carolina (www.folkschool.org) revel in the arts most of the year. Penland offers 98 summertime one or two-week classes, and seven eight-week Concentrations, spring and fall. Campbell, meanwhile, has 830 classes of varying lengths, plus concerts, dances and nature trails for passersby.
Whitewater Rafting
In addition to slower rivers suited to canoeing, kayaking and tubing, one seasonal activity sure to pick up the pace and spike the heart rate in the Carolina mountains is whitewater rafting. Outfitters and trips range from the novice runs on the Watauga to the lively rapids of the Nolichucky, Chattooga or Cheoah. Depending on rainfall and the schedule of dam openings, virtually every level of whitewater expertise can be accommodated in one place or another – even at an artificial whitewater training center located near Charlotte.
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Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and
public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published
more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business
and management.
Bill Cissna lives in Kernersville, N.C., just east of Winston-Salem and west of Greensboro. He has lived in North Carolina since 1986, moving from Pittsburgh, Pa., where he attended junior and senior high school. A graduate of Allegheny College, he has worked in advertising and public relations positions, as well as freelance writing from 1982-1986, 1991-1998 and since May 2004. |
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