[MHGinTN]

Check out East TN! Close to Asheville, but lacks the drawbacks of N.C..

Boone is another N.C. city to explore and Blowing Rock, N.C. (artists community, or was years ago).

[who knows what evil?]

Check out East TN! Close to Asheville, but lacks the drawbacks of N.C...

I'll second that...it's a quick and scenic ride over the mountains on I-26 from East Tennessee. You can enjoy the shopping, restaurants and scenery around Asheville, and when the hippies/progressives finally get on your nerves (takes about two or three hours); you can get back on I-26 and enjoy the scenic ride back home.