See Asheville for yourself!
As you know, we're loving Asheville . . . for one thing, the weather is delightful. That's us outside our community's clubhouse on a beautiful fall day.
Cynthia and Blaine
You get all four seasons, and the winters are milder than they were in New Jersey . . . the summers are also milder.
Folks are friendly, taxes are lower and the cost of living is about 20% lower than where we used to live in Central New Jersey (source: WHERE TO RETIRE, July/August 2009, p. 134). Another way to compare is to use this website: http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salary=50000&city1=71894000&city2=53702140 Note: I've compared Newtown, PA with Asheville, NC, but you can easily change sites for any locale you want to look at. To find out more yourself, consider viewing and/or all of the following websites. See below. And also consider subscribing to my online newsletter . . . BLAINESWORLD. This free weekly missive contains some jokes, hopefully not tooooo risque; websites; reviews; and lots of information about stuff that's happening in Asheville . . . to get on my mailing list, just send an email to [email protected] and put SUBSCRIPTION in the subject line. ************************* Numbers refer to publication date; i.e., the highest numbers are the most recent posts. But make sure you review/skim the entire list. 57. Asheville named one of 7 most underrated food cities in America: http://tinyurl.com/ntbg8bq 56. To find new friends in Asheville and/or find folks with similar interests, please click: http://www.meetup.com/cities/us/nc/asheville/ Last I checked, there were 224 meetups nearby. 55. Asheville named one of 10 best cities for hippies (#3) http://www.wmur.com/money/travel/17-best-cities-for-hippies/21308056?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=wmur+facebook&utm_content=sh2014 54. 10 Things Only People from Asheville Will Understand http://www.movoto.com/asheville-nc/asheville-understand/ 53. THE NEW YORK TIMES on life in West Asheville: http://tinyurl.com/ly3ffqb 52. Some Free Things to do in Asheville, NC: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/13/5-free-things-in-artsy-as_n_4957392.html?utm_hp_ref=tw 51. Travel Spotlight on Asheville and Its 20 Best Attractions http://hopperblog.com/travel-spotlight-on-asheville-north-carolina/ 50. Clip from my friend Linda Hollinshead:Valentine's Day Walk around the Biltmore Lake (where we live), 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e9bhGccE74#t=15 49. Asheville Named Best Town to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2014. For the article, please click: http://www.moviemaker.com/articles/best-places-to-live-and-work-as-a-moviemaker-in-2014-top-towns-1-asheville-nc/. 48. ASHEVILLE: Where you can pretend you’re in Downton Abbey.Or see that the Great Smoky Mountains really do have smoke. For 30 great photos that will make you fall in love with the city, please click: http://tinyurl.com/kft8xqa. 47. Congratulations to Asheville for being named by the FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE as one of five secret food cities worth a second look . . . to quote from the entry, "Asheville prides itself on being on the wacky side, and a little bit of wacky goes a long way when it comes to interesting cuisine. To get a taste of the variety to be found in this little mountain town, consider . . . Cúrate . . . French Broad Chocolate Lounge . . . [as well as the nearby] Looking Glass Creamery . . . and . . . Knife & Fork." For more information, please click:http://tinyurl.com/ontyu27. 46. Asheville named 1 of the 10 Best Lovacare cities: http://www.thedailymeal.com/10-best-locavore-cities-america-right-now-slideshow 45. Asheville listed as one of " 20 Awesome U.S. Cities You Need To Visit In Your 20s." For more information, please click: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/09/cities-to-visit-your-20s_n_4178993.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000029&ir=Business 44. Asheville has been named one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live by Livability.com, a website that ranks quality of life and travel amenities of America’s small and mid-sized cities. The city scored high in the areas of health care and education as well as amenities.For more, please information, please click: http://livability.com/asheville/nc 43. Asheville named one of Top Ten Best Weather Cities in the U.S.A. by Suntan.com http://www.suntan.com/?bestweathercities 42. Asheville was named one of the 10 most charitable in the nation, according to a new study by California-based NerdWallet--a consumer finance website. A whopping 32 percent of people volunteer their time, and volunteers in Asheville give an average of 37.8 hours a year and donate an average of 6.4 percent of their income. For more information, please click: http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/2013/most-generous-cities/ 41. Eating My Way Through Asheville (a HuffPost blog) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margie-goldsmith/eating-my-way-through-ash_b_3667931.html 40. Take a look at the map that show happiest cities in America. See that little city in the western part of NC ? Guess where that is! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/02/happiest-states-_n_3696160.html 39. Asheville was recently named #3 on the list of 17 Best US. Cities for Hippies. Though I personally think we should have been at the top of the list, you can find out why by clicking: http://blog.estately.com/2013/07/17-best-u-s-cities-for-hippies/ 38. Great song, "When You Get to Asheville," featuring Steve Martin on banjo and Edie Brickell singing . . . to hear it, please click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xVFpn_MK0G8 and for more information about it, please click: single-from-steve-martin-and-edie-brickell-when-you-get-to-asheville. 37. Check out HuffPost on Travel, 2.20.2013: 5 Things To Love About Asheville, North Carolina http://www.huffingtonpost.com/homeaway/5-things-asheville-nc_b_2639118.html 36. Asheville was highlighted by FOOD & WINE (Feb., 2013) as "a world-class food scene": http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/why-food-lovers-are-loving-asheville 35. Asheville was named as one of American's Sharpest, Smartest Cities by Reader's Digest (October, 2012). Why: Spirituality; and volunteerism. For more information, please click: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/americas-10-sharpest-smartest-cities/#slideshow=slide10 34. Marthastewart.com on Asheville: http://forums.marthastewart.com/925598/asheville-north-carolina-travel-guide/@center/929337/travel#/925484 33. Asheville named one of most psychic places in America: http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/haunted/articles/most-psychic-places-in-america 33. Asheville Named Top Small with Art http://www.romanticasheville.com/american_style.htm 32. Asheville Downtown Tour with Chikomo Marimba Band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GDTrSatI40 31A. Vacation rental cottages for the Asheville area. A friend told me they were both unique and very nice. http://www.ashevillecottages.com/%28S%283v3wninbzsdolwlq5clr53mq%29%29/default.aspx And if you're interested in the concept, here's another site to check out for cabins: http://www.ashevillecottages.com/%28S%28qkdeq2tju2whvm3irybzqdj1%29%29/default.aspx 31B. A friend recently wrote the following if you're interested in a Bed and Breakfast: Linda K. in PA (on her recent visit to Asheville): Their names are Tag & Ginger Goslin, 828 236-9494,43 Watauga St., www.ashevilleseasons.com [email protected] Their place is beautiful, they were warm & welcoming, and the breakfasts were wonderful! (and they catered to dietary restrictions!) I would highly recommend their inn!! Other Bed and Breakfasts can be found at this website: http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/asheville-north-carolina.html Note: Best to find one that has an Asheville address. 31C. I also do well using priceline.com, typically saving 35-40% on the bidding option. Pretty much any area in Asheville is fine. In addition, priceline.com is a great source for car rentals. Contact me if you want to discuss any of the above further. 31D. And here's another place to check out that's surprisingly reasonable and nice, according to my friend Steven who recently stayed there:Value Place Asheville http://www.valueplace.com/extended-stay-hotels/locations/North-Carolina/Asheville-NC/ Note: Rates start at $199.99/week and up and all include a full refrigerator, microwave and two-burner stovetop. So even if you’re staying for less than a week, you might not be able to beat this price! 30. Asheville voted as one of GOOD MORNING AMERICA's Most Beautiful Places: http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/best_places_USA/asheville-nc-natures-greatest-gift/story?id=14263963#.T8zV45lYs_g And then make sure you see this incredible clip on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TyRjOP4NS1w#! 29. Asheville rated as one of top 10 places for retirement by bankrate.com: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/10-great-places-to-retire-in-the-u-s-5.aspx 28. Great book to read . . . it had a big impact on my thinking: Don't Retire,REWIRE!, 2E by Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners (Nov 6, 2007) 28. Asheville shares Beer City USA title: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120515/ENT/305150012/Asheville-Grand-Rapids-tie-1st-Beer-City-vote?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p 27. Asheville rated as one of the 5 healthiest and greenest cities in America (4/12): http://www.greenerideal.com/lifestyle/0412-5-of-the-healthiest-and-greenest-cities-in-america/ 26. From BLAINESWORLD #804: Reprinted with the gracious permission of David Cohen, a very talented Asheville cartoonist. To see more of his work, please click: file:///G:/My%20Documents/AOL%20Download/www.facebook.com/pages/David-Cohen/116071624619 25. NEW YORK magazine uncovered some of the city's worst-kep secretas in a recent article (2.10.12) guidilign visitors to "go alternative in Asheville" for a weekend getaway: http://nymag.com/travel/weekends/asheville/ 24. Asheville is consistently rated as one of the Top Beer cities in the word. A. For example, see below from MyTraveFlavor: http://www.mytravelflavor.com/top-10-beer-cities-in-the-world/ B. DRAFT MAGAZINE also had this to say about the subject (and about Asheville, too): http://draftmag.com/features/beertown-usa-asheville/ 23. Mission Health, our outstanding local hospital, earned a spot among the nation's Top 100 Hospitals by Thomson Reuters for the fifth consecutive year. (3.13) http://www.mountainx.com/article/48869/Mission-Hospital-named-to-Top-100-Hospitals-list-for-fifth-consecutive-year 22. Wonderful source of information for new, as well as established residents, about Asheville: http://wikitravel.org/en/Asheville NOTE: Also see #3 (below) for another comprehensive resource. 21. I'm pleased to report that our community, Biltmore Lake, was chosen as Community of the Year in the medium mixed use category by the North Carolina Chapter of CAI (Community Association Institute). All applications are independently judged by professional community managers outside the state of NC. KUDOS to all the residents who helped make this such a great place to live and especially to our management company, IPM, for its role in putting together the application. Biltmore Lake is a beautiful, fantastic place to live. See for yourself by taking a look at this picture--taken over the lake in the middle of the community. |
Biltmore Lake
In addition, feel free to skim the following application that was submitted to the CAI for other pictures, as well as information about our community. If you look closely, you'll see yours truly on the very last page. I'm second from the left.
http://gallery.mailchimp.com/bbd83bcce25221d6025859156/files/Microsoft_Word_2011_CAI_Association_Nomination_Form.pdf
20. Asheville named one of 10 Most Beautiful Places in America by Good Morning America (8.8.11):
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110808/NEWS/308080018/Asheville-gets-national-TV-spot-Good-Morning-America-
For the clip from the show, please click:
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/best_places_USA/asheville-nc-natures-greatest-gift/story?id=14263963
19. For a great way to see the mountains of Asheville, check out a Navitat canopy adventure . . . Cynthia and I went on this; it was fantastic . . . for more information, please click:
http://www.navitat.com/asheville/
18. See below for beautiful pictures of our community (where we actually live):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuwZVS2vJeI
17. Fodor's in January, 2011 calls Asheville . . . . 21 places we're going to visit in 2011.
http://www.fodors.com/travel-photography/21-places-were-going-in-2011-216.html?ref=137
16. Even Santa agrees: Asheville rocks . . . this holiday season and/or any time thereafter. Check out yourself by clicking:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQkG8flURM
15. 10.16.10 post on Yahoo! Finance on great places to retire to:
http://finance.yahoo.com/retirement/article/111017/great-places-to-retire?mod=retire-planning
14. 10.10 article in THE NEW YORK TIMES:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/travel/24hours.html
13. This article will also give you a lot of information about Asheville. (I think it was the first one Cynthia found when she thought of moving here.)
http://www.newfrontier.com/aha/ashv0492.htm
12A. Asheville on Good Morning America, July, 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVIZ4jmjdts
12B. Our friends Tom and Dianne Rebin had their picture in a 2010 article in THE NEW YORK TIMES about the Center for Creative Retirement (one of the great places you need to check out if serious about Asheville):
http://tinyurl.com/27orm66
11. If coming to Asheville, check out:
A. For discount coupons, in general (including restaurants):
http://www.halfpriceasheville.com/intro.php
B. For restaurants in particular:
http://www.restaurant.com/
Note: Above is great for restaurants throughout the country, too . . . if you wait for the coupons to be on sale, you can sometimes pay just $2 for a coupon that will save you $25!
11C. Also:
* Groupon: http://www.groupon.com/
* Independent restaurants in Asheville: http://www.airasheville.org/
* Western North Carolina Insider: http://wncinsider.com/
11D. And for information on Asheville's cultural scene:
http://livewireasheville.com/
10. Article in STYLE magazine from 2008:
http://www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/travel_article/tr_asheville_so08/
9. The September, 2009 issue of US AIRWAYS MAGAZINE featured Asheville in its City Profile:
http://www.usairwaysmag.com/city_profiles/city/asheville/
8. In August, 2009, THE WASHINGTON POST ran these two great articles:
http://tinyurl.com/orrmkb
http://tinyurl.com/rxg8gx
7. And for pictures of the Biltmore Estate (a place I'm sure you will want to visit):
http://tinyurl.com/lwy7fg
NOTE:
If you belong to AAA, get discount tickets . . . you'll save $10 that way. If you go the online route, you save $5.
6. I could do without the narration in the beginning, but the fall pictures are magnificent here:
http://tinyurl.com/rchebb
5. To truly see how beautiful the mountains are (and for some nice music), please click:
http://tinyurl.com/nox3gq
4. To get an overall feel and perhaps the best pictures of Asheville, please click:
http://tinyurl.com/lagqjw
3. For a more comprehensive overview, go to:
http://www.exploreasheville.com/
You'll get information on places to eat, things going on in the area and some great pictures and videos.
2. The Center for Creative Retirement is prominently mentioned in the above. For more information about that outstanding organization, please click:
http://www.unca.edu/ncccr/
A. Also, consider checking out: Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend
http://ncccr.unca.edu/creative-retirement-exploration-weekend
B. and/or: Paths to Creative Retirement
http://ncccr.unca.edu/paths-creative-retirement
1A. ABC NEWS on Asheville (4.22.2010):
http://tinyurl.com/2bgtcdd
1B. A short but informative profile that was run on CBS in May, 2009:
http://tinyurl.com/ks376s
I believe it opens to the story tab; for video, just click the tab to the left.
***********************************************************************************
TWO ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
* Should you become seriously interested in joining us in Asheville, our realtor and friend is the absolute best . . . you won't go wrong by working with her . . . her name is Suzanne Smith . . . she can be reached by phone: office, 828.258. 2953; cell, 828.551.4609 or via email: [email protected].
Also, make sure you click the following link to see a clip that her former firm once did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AroF7L7Ghno&feature=share
(In particular, pay attention to both the beginning and the end to see yours truly!)
* Then, to get your mortgage, make sure you contact Eric Clonch at 828.654.6402 or via email: [email protected] . . . he's a guy who really knows his stuff, and you'll be impressed by both his friendliness and creativity.
http://gallery.mailchimp.com/bbd83bcce25221d6025859156/files/Microsoft_Word_2011_CAI_Association_Nomination_Form.pdf
20. Asheville named one of 10 Most Beautiful Places in America by Good Morning America (8.8.11):
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110808/NEWS/308080018/Asheville-gets-national-TV-spot-Good-Morning-America-
For the clip from the show, please click:
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/best_places_USA/asheville-nc-natures-greatest-gift/story?id=14263963
19. For a great way to see the mountains of Asheville, check out a Navitat canopy adventure . . . Cynthia and I went on this; it was fantastic . . . for more information, please click:
http://www.navitat.com/asheville/
18. See below for beautiful pictures of our community (where we actually live):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuwZVS2vJeI
17. Fodor's in January, 2011 calls Asheville . . . . 21 places we're going to visit in 2011.
http://www.fodors.com/travel-photography/21-places-were-going-in-2011-216.html?ref=137
16. Even Santa agrees: Asheville rocks . . . this holiday season and/or any time thereafter. Check out yourself by clicking:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQkG8flURM
15. 10.16.10 post on Yahoo! Finance on great places to retire to:
http://finance.yahoo.com/retirement/article/111017/great-places-to-retire?mod=retire-planning
14. 10.10 article in THE NEW YORK TIMES:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/travel/24hours.html
13. This article will also give you a lot of information about Asheville. (I think it was the first one Cynthia found when she thought of moving here.)
http://www.newfrontier.com/aha/ashv0492.htm
12A. Asheville on Good Morning America, July, 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVIZ4jmjdts
12B. Our friends Tom and Dianne Rebin had their picture in a 2010 article in THE NEW YORK TIMES about the Center for Creative Retirement (one of the great places you need to check out if serious about Asheville):
http://tinyurl.com/27orm66
11. If coming to Asheville, check out:
A. For discount coupons, in general (including restaurants):
http://www.halfpriceasheville.com/intro.php
B. For restaurants in particular:
http://www.restaurant.com/
Note: Above is great for restaurants throughout the country, too . . . if you wait for the coupons to be on sale, you can sometimes pay just $2 for a coupon that will save you $25!
11C. Also:
* Groupon: http://www.groupon.com/
* Independent restaurants in Asheville: http://www.airasheville.org/
* Western North Carolina Insider: http://wncinsider.com/
11D. And for information on Asheville's cultural scene:
http://livewireasheville.com/
10. Article in STYLE magazine from 2008:
http://www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/travel_article/tr_asheville_so08/
9. The September, 2009 issue of US AIRWAYS MAGAZINE featured Asheville in its City Profile:
http://www.usairwaysmag.com/city_profiles/city/asheville/
8. In August, 2009, THE WASHINGTON POST ran these two great articles:
http://tinyurl.com/orrmkb
http://tinyurl.com/rxg8gx
7. And for pictures of the Biltmore Estate (a place I'm sure you will want to visit):
http://tinyurl.com/lwy7fg
NOTE:
If you belong to AAA, get discount tickets . . . you'll save $10 that way. If you go the online route, you save $5.
6. I could do without the narration in the beginning, but the fall pictures are magnificent here:
http://tinyurl.com/rchebb
5. To truly see how beautiful the mountains are (and for some nice music), please click:
http://tinyurl.com/nox3gq
4. To get an overall feel and perhaps the best pictures of Asheville, please click:
http://tinyurl.com/lagqjw
3. For a more comprehensive overview, go to:
http://www.exploreasheville.com/
You'll get information on places to eat, things going on in the area and some great pictures and videos.
2. The Center for Creative Retirement is prominently mentioned in the above. For more information about that outstanding organization, please click:
http://www.unca.edu/ncccr/
A. Also, consider checking out: Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend
http://ncccr.unca.edu/creative-retirement-exploration-weekend
B. and/or: Paths to Creative Retirement
http://ncccr.unca.edu/paths-creative-retirement
1A. ABC NEWS on Asheville (4.22.2010):
http://tinyurl.com/2bgtcdd
1B. A short but informative profile that was run on CBS in May, 2009:
http://tinyurl.com/ks376s
I believe it opens to the story tab; for video, just click the tab to the left.
***********************************************************************************
TWO ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
* Should you become seriously interested in joining us in Asheville, our realtor and friend is the absolute best . . . you won't go wrong by working with her . . . her name is Suzanne Smith . . . she can be reached by phone: office, 828.258. 2953; cell, 828.551.4609 or via email: [email protected].
Also, make sure you click the following link to see a clip that her former firm once did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AroF7L7Ghno&feature=share
(In particular, pay attention to both the beginning and the end to see yours truly!)
* Then, to get your mortgage, make sure you contact Eric Clonch at 828.654.6402 or via email: [email protected] . . . he's a guy who really knows his stuff, and you'll be impressed by both his friendliness and creativity.