Southeast - Roadie relocating. Best areas in NC or VA?

Greetings, folks,

My wife and I are considering relocating away from Boston once I finish grad school, this May (it's a masters in counseling psych). Two states we're considering are North Carolina and Virginia. We'd like to live just outside a mid-sized town/small city, with some cultural diversity there (e.g., ethnic restaurants), reasonably pretty landscape, and, for me, a good sport road-biking culture. We're also eager to find someplace where people talk to their neighbors and there's a sense of community.

I figured BF folk would know most of what I mean by the above.

Of course, the usual list also applies: Decent job growth or local economy outlook; reasonable cost of living (inc. price of housing, food, utilities, etc.) Good pubic schools.

In other words, we're looking for paradise. But we're willing to settle for a really good place to live.

I'd be grateful to know which towns in VA or NC you think fit the bill. If this post belongs somewhere else, let me know and I'll move it.

Happy holiday!

Interested in a college town? Charlottesville, VA has a lot going for it. I was in B-school there and had no time to ride so I can't comment on the bike scene; but I do know they have some good college riders.

edit: see that BF member roadbuzz has his location listed as Charlottesville. Ask him about it.

For Virginia, Charlottesville, maybe Williamsburg, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg or Winchester or maybe Lexington. Most I have named are college towns or their surrounds. For North Carolina I would suggest Asheville (one of the surrounding communities), somewhere in the research triangle area (Chapel Hill, Cary, etc.) maybe one of the smaller communities north of Charlotte like Davidson, Mooresville etc., Winston Salem vicinity (maybe near Wake Forest). Lots of possibilities. I would probably steer clear of Northern Virginia, Charlotte proper, Virginia Beach, or the Wilmington area, but definitely would check out Beaufort N. C. That's my short list.

very familiar with both c'ville and chapel hill. live in the latter.

c'ville is larger, closer to the smokies (read: climbs). chapel hill is ~30 miles from raleigh, which is larger than c'ville. smokies are 150 miles away, but so is the atlantic.

both are great towns. you won't regret either. both are college towns with plenty of diversity (for the south). real estate in c'ville is significantly more expensive, though if you're willing to do 20min outside, it drops off quickly. with raleigh/durham/chapel hill all at hand, i would argue that RDU is 'more diverse' than c'ville...just don't tell my UVA alumnae wife.

happy to answer more specific questions if you've got 'em.

I grew up in NC and I now live in VA.

NC:

Asheville is fantastic, but real estate can be pricey (compared to much of the rest of the state, but probably not compared to Boston). Great cycling, food, music. The schools are okay; there are some great charter schools. My nephew goes to a public school and my niece goes to a private school.

I grew up in Durham and went to college in Chapel Hill, but it's changed alot since when I was there. There's alot more traffic, and my old cycling routes have gotten pretty dangerous. The public schools in Durham are spotty (there are some very good ones). In Chapel Hill, they are considered excellent. I went to private, so I can't give you first hand info. Real estate is very reasonable in Durham, higher in Chapel Hill. Good restaurants (a positive change since my time there) and lots to do.

I went to grad school in Raleigh. It's gotten hipper over the last few years. I don't know what your lifestyle preferences are, but I hate cul-de-sacs and suburbia. If you are in the same vein, avoid North Raleigh and most of Cary. Hipper parts are 5 Points, Cameron Park (pricey). Lots of downtown condos going up. Schools are pretty good as I understand, but I don't know much about them. Good restaurants and stuff to do. I figure if there's a university in town, things are pretty good.

I've never lived in Charlotte, but there are some interesting things going on downtown (uptown). They have a new light rail. Not familiar with much else down there, though. Small towns are worth considering near these cities, like Hillsborough (near CH), Huntersville/Davidson (near Charlotte).

VA:

I've lived in northern Virginia, and the real estate is very high, traffic is horrible, and general attitude can be frustrating. However, the schools are good. The cycling is pretty good if you like urban cycling. I loved riding in and around DC. Further out, there is good country cycling, but you have to drive to get there. Good bike paths all around the region, but they can get busy with joggers and other cyclists. Great urban experience in DC--restaurants, music, nightlife, etc.

I now live in Richmond, and I like it alot. I can take the train to DC and to NC, go to the mountains (Charlottesville ) or the Chesapeake Bay within a couple of hours. I don't know anything about the schools, but I hear they are rough with suburban schools being better. Real estate is fantastic (coming from DC) and there are some really neat neighborhoods. I avoid mall-land (Short Pump and west of Richmond) like the plague, but downtown is up and coming. Nice residential neighborhoods in town are the Fan near VCU and south of the river-Forest Hill. Ginter Park is also nice. Decent collection of restaurants around VCU. Cycling is okay, but I'm still new in town so I don't know all the routes. Bike Virginia is a yearly event, and last year went from Hopewell to Jamestown and back, and the riding was great. I hear west of Richmond in horse country is good riding with rolling hills.

That's all I know. I hope it helps.

wow!! Awesome response, guys, thanks! I'll have to do some digging, and then I'll have further questions. I wonder if I should post them here, or some other option?

Thanks again!

wow!! Awesome response, guys, thanks! I'll have to do some digging, and then I'll have further questions. I wonder if I should post them here, or some other option?

Thanks again!


feel free to send me a PM with any specific questions.

I grew up in VA and now live in NC (Raleigh). Velogirl has pretty much nailed it in regards to the general living and riding conditions and, the academia institutes at hand. After all is said and done, if I were choosing an area in VA it would be either; the Richmond area, and Ashland in particular where the rural riding is like knocking on heaven's door, and good schools from what my sister tells me) or, the Roanoke area which gives you access to lots of biking, both mountain and road, and some of the best hiking this side of the Mississippi. Charlottesville area is desirable also and, has a lot to offer - though I am not as familiar with it. You would likely need to get out some for riding but, the Southern towns stretching down Interstate 81 like Lexington make for some outstanding rural riding. Very scenic.

For NC, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill offers a lot in the way of a professional lifestyle and, I would bet that there is not one single area in the entire South that offers the professional opportunities that RDU does - and those opportunities span many disciplines. With three big universities and Research Triangle in the midst, it is a "happening" place from a professional standpoint. The riding is great once you get out to the rural areas - the NC country side so to speak. I have ridden all around RDU and, I believe the Clayton has to be the #1 area for cycling. Traffic is moderate, farmlands are resolute and beautiful, and drivers are mostly considerate which is not always the case around RDU - especially North Raleigh where I live. The coast is at your fingertips also being less than 2 hours away.

Western NC is a nice area too. Magnificent as a matter of fact. But, it is much more tourism and, less industry oriented. A great place to live if you can handle some cold weather and, like the mountains and, don't need a high paying job.

I know this is not in NC or VA, but you may want to consider Greenville, SC. It is barely over the border of NC and as far as riding, it is a great place. With close access to the mountians or the flats, it has a large cycling following in the area. A couple weeks ago we had over 180 bikers for a 65 mile ride! There are some great places, if your looking for things shorter or longer depending on your time.

In other areas, it is a growing community with the additional of North American Headquarters of BMW & Michelin plus other companies. Greenville the city and the county have spent a lot money and resources to fix up the downtown areas and the park system. They just received approval for building a bike / running trail system of over 150 miles to be completed in the next 3 years. We do have way too many places to eat ranging from trendy to ethnic of all kinds. The community hosts many festivals and outdoors events during the summer.

It is a growing community with a very reasonable costs of living. Of all people I know who have relocated from the North to Greenville have been very happy with the results. I suggest you come down for a weekend & I am convinced it will be added to you list of possibilities.

Once again, you folks give renewed meaning to the phrase, "southern hospitality." Thank you so very much for all the excellent insider's info and suggestions. My wife and I will take some time in the new year to look into all these areas.

Very kind of you -- everybody have a warm, peaceful holiday.

Greetings, folks,

My wife and I are considering relocating away from Boston once I finish grad school, this May (it's a masters in counseling psych). Two states we're considering are North Carolina and Virginia. We'd like to live just outside a mid-sized town/small city, with some cultural diversity there (e.g., ethnic restaurants), reasonably pretty landscape, and, for me, a good sport road-biking culture. We're also eager to find someplace where people talk to their neighbors and there's a sense of community.

I figured BF folk would know most of what I mean by the above.

Of course, the usual list also applies: Decent job growth or local economy outlook; reasonable cost of living (inc. price of housing, food, utilities, etc.) Good pubic schools.

In other words, we're looking for paradise. But we're willing to settle for a really good place to live.

I'd be grateful to know which towns in VA or NC you think fit the bill. If this post belongs somewhere else, let me know and I'll move it.

Happy holiday!

Charlotte area has a number of smaller communities in the outlying areas (see this link (http://www.charmeck.org/living/home.htm) to learn more), and living in the Charlotte area would provide you with good riding and ethnic diversity in food. There is also a 10-mile time-trial series (http://carolinatt.org) at Lowe's Motor Speedway. I was born in Monroe (25 miles east of Charlotte), but have lived in the UNCC area of Charlotte for most of the last 25 years. I rather enjoy it here, as I've seen the transition of this area from sleepy suitcase university to one of a growing research institution with all the outlying growth that comes with that (interestingly, the crime in this area hasn't grown, unless one lives in the off-campus student apartment/condos).

Lived in Raleigh for two years back in the early 90's (grad school at NCSU). I found Raleigh to be still somewhat provincial, yet cosmopolitan, if you know what I mean. Just a friendly Southern town (NC capitol), with a love-hate relationship with Charlotte (NC's largest city), but yet, because of the presence of NC State, an eye to the world beyond Raleigh. Don't really know about cycling, as I did all of my riding in the immediate campus area (Western Boulevard, Gorman Street, and Hillsborough Street out nearly to the fairgrounds where I rented a house). Raleigh had a nice feel to it, and I could probably live there if I weren't so settled in CLT. Don't know about schools, etc., or major crime areas, as I pretty much cycled and walked between my home and the school (not much time for other explorations, though I did make it out to walk around Jordan Lake a few times -- I'm told there's good ridin' in the area, though). I didn't have a car, and found it pretty easy to get around on the bus system (here in CLT, too, where nearly every bus has a bike rack on front). I think that Raleigh has also gotten better over the years as far as cultural/arts/restaurants go. Chapel Hill isn't far, and there is surely some diversity in menu there. :)

China Grove outside Salisbury was pretty nice, at least when I was a kid. Haven't been there in years, but it was a very small town, surrounded by other small mill towns, yet close enough to Salisbury (and CLT for that matter) that it would have been possible to get in some culture/arts/restaurants.

My grandparents lived in Wilmington, NC, and I don't remember ever having a bad experience there. Great beaches, some areas still retaining that "small town" atmosphere, yet with its fair share of cultural/community events. Lots of good seafood restaurants, though probably not so much on the ethnic side. A very nice "old town" in center city, too. :)

I'm sure that others can chime in, and already have, with other communities which can provide that community lifestyle you seek while offering, within decent driving distance, the ethnic diversity you hope to find. Also, you may want to check out this site (http://www.ncdot.org/transit/bicycle/biking/biking_intro.html), in particular "Events" and "Maps," for info on cycling around NC.

Good luck with your research! :)

Charlottesville, VA is a nice place. Also consider Greenville and Spartanburg, SC. Huge cycling scene per capita, and great rides just out of town.

My grandparents lived in Wilmington, NC, and I don't remember ever having a bad experience there. Great beaches, some areas still retaining that "small town" atmosphere, yet with its fair share of cultural/community events. Lots of good seafood restaurants, though probably not so much on the ethnic side. A very nice "old town" in center city, too. :)
My sister lives in Wilmington. It's got some nice aspects to it, such as the ocean (if you like that). But as far as road cycling goes, it doesn't seem like a very good area to me. I'm sure there's secondary roads around somewhere that are okay for a longer ride. But I've taken a bike when visiting there twice and still haven't found them. Most of the non-neighborhood roads around town are narrow, with higher-traffic and lots of stop signs/stop lights. Even if you do find some decent routes to ride, it's flat (i.e., boring) and hot/humid in the summer.

In short, for cycling, Wilmington gets a thumbs down from me. There are many places that are much better.

I moved to Blacksburg from southern CA 6 years ago and couldn't be happier. There is no better place to ride. I just bought another car but I've been living without one since moving to Blacksburg. There's a big bike community and world class riding out your front door, but more importantly the culture is very bike friendly. No one will think you're weird if you ride your bike to work. It seems everyone rides. I've met more people through biking than anything else..

Cost of living in Blacksburg is higher than surrounding areas like Roanoke, but still a lot cheaper than places with similar appeal, like Charlottesville or Asheville. The "out your front door" aspect of Blacksburg is better too. In Charlottesville or Asheville you have to contend with some not so bike friendly roads to get out to where the good riding is. Blacksburg has good riding right from home. Even the good mountain bike trails are just a couple of miles away, on quiet country roads.

Roanoke has a great bike community too. The overall culture is less bike friendly than Blacksburg, but if anything, this brings the bike community together even more.

Come join us for a club ride (http://www.nrvbike.org), or do the Mountains of Misery and/or Wilderness Road Ride (http://www.cyclingdoubleheader.com) this spring! There's more than one racing team in town too.

You guys continue to amaze me with your kindness and thoroughness. Thanks for all the terrific responses.

My wife and I are getting bogged down in the logistics aspect of relocation, so things are taking a bit longer to research and decide than I thought they would. What with me finishing school and working part-time this coming semester and meanwhile having to look for a) a new area, b) a new house, c) a first job for me out of school, and d) a new job for my wife... We're a bit overwhelmed. The timing (when to visit for a preview, how many visits, how much they'll cost; when to plan to move), figuring out what factors to use to decide which place is best... Every time we start thinking about it, we end up ditching the whole thing for a week. Yet graduation is just getting closer...

Sorry! Getting too long and off-topic. Point being, thanks for the info, and I'll post back here when we have a handle on when and where to visit. It would be awesome to go for a group ride while visiting these places!

I live in Greenville, SC during the week, and can recommend it highly. It is a nice sized town, not too big, but big enough to have everything people look for. Pretty good job opportunities too. Like much of the south, it can be hot in the summer.

I spend the weekends in Waynesville, NC, west of Asheville, in the Smoky Mountains. Scenery and people are outstanding, great small town feel. Waynesville has a great historic downtown. Silva is a nice town too, just west of Waynesville. Western Carolina University is in Silva. Boone, NC is another great choice. The thing about the mountains versus Greenville, the weather is more comfortable in the summer. Figure Waynesville high temperature is 8 to 10 degrees lower than Greenville, so when the high summer temp in Greenville might be 92F, Waynesville is 84. And at night, Waynesville might be in the high 60s, low 70s. Its all about elevation (2800 feet versus 900 feet). Of course, it is also cooler in the winter (go figure).

The challenge/problem with western NC mountains is finding a decent job. If you are lucky enough to find a good one in the area, then it is perfect. I worked in Greenville, SC, but have recently retired.

Thank, wrk101, for the great overview of regional pluses and minuses. We'll keep that in mind when we start planning trips down south to explore!

I live in Wirighsville Beach, NC (one of Wilmington's beaches). If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Cary= Containment Area for Relocated Yankees.:)
I lived in Cary through my high school years. I now go to school in Boone (App State). My experiences pits some of the aspects you are looking for against each other. If yall want a cultural center, I can't stress enough how much you need to move to the Cary/Raleigh area. My parents always have something new to do (great diverse concerts almost any day they want) and everytime we go out to eat we always find some new amazing ethnic restaurant. Jobs are also widely available, including 3 major universities in the Triangle area. You can avoid some of the suburbia by living in Clayton, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, or north of Raleigh headed out towards Rolesville if you don't mind a commute. You will still have all the shopping you can dream off, even that horrid "Trader Joes" yall yankees swarm to.

There is a huge cycling community in the Triangle, but you are a bit limited by the terrain. Nothing compares to the NC mountains when it comes to riding. Top notch! Find our ride reports for the Blue Ridge Parkway trips for the exaltations. It is the best thing to be able to head out of your driveway and up a mountain. The drawback to western NC is the narrow culture. Some people call the natives "hillbillies", but they prefer Appalachian Americans ;) I personally love it up here. As great as the culture is in Cary, this southern boy heads to the mountains. The outdoors and mother nature complete my happiness. Theres always a trail to hike, site to camp, rock face to climb, waterfall to explore, stream to swim... well you get the idea. I wouldn't call the cycling community small either, our local shops average 30 riders on a weekly ride, and the App. and Lees McRae teams are consistent national champs. The community gets larger as you get closer to Asheville, including a 'drome. Oh yeah, Asheville has some... culture for sure.

And the reputation for southern hospitality continues to be confirmed... Thanks, Eric, and cnickgo, your descriptions are very complete and helpful. I've heard similar raves about the Triangle, and about the NC mountains, before... nice to have them reaffirmed.

Funny, I was just reading Bob Roll's book, "Bobke II," this week, and there's a very funny story in there about a 1998 training camp with him and Lance Armstrong and Chris Carmichael, right in Boone. In fact, they go to Appalach. State for physiological testing both before and after the camp -- to hilarious results. Roll's typically irreverent take on the "Appalachian Americans" is pretty funny.

Cheers!

You can avoid some of the suburbia by living in Clayton, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, or north of Raleigh headed out towards Rolesville if you don't mind a commute.

That's a big IF...the commutes around the Triangle can be pretty dreadful. You might want to consider downtown Raleigh, as I hear it's coming around to real city-ness. Coming from Boston, you might want to avoid the suburban sprawl that is taking over the Triangle. Downtown Durham is also coming around, although it's smaller than Raleigh. But wherever you are, just remember that when it snows, EVERYTHING stops. Get used to it and don't tease the natives about not being able to drive in the snow. We see no reason to drive in the snow, because it'll be gone in a day or two (plus, we've stocked up on all the milk and bread at the grocery store, enough for a blizzard).

ok - Clayton checking in here -

nice little town, close to the Raleigh/Garner area. i work on the east side of Raleigh and it takes me about 20min drive to get to work. now, if i worked on the other side of Raleigh, i would be hating life.

we haven't had a GOOD snow since 2000. little bits here and there, and yes, the whole farkin' city was at a standtill a couple of yrs ago due to a 1/4" of ice/snow. my 20min drive home took over 2hrs. some people spent the night here at work!

anyways, i like the Clayton area, not sure that I would want to live in downtown Raleigh. too busy.

good luck!

Funny, I was just reading Bob Roll's book, "Bobke II," this week, and there's a very funny story in there about a 1998 training camp with him and Lance Armstrong and Chris Carmichael, right in Boone. In fact, they go to Appalach. State for physiological testing both before and after the camp -- to hilarious results. Roll's typically irreverent take on the "Appalachian Americans" is pretty funny.

Cheers!

I remember seeing somewhere Fancy Lancey said Boone was the best place to train in the US. I'll have to pick up Roll's book, I would love to read something that isn't class related.

I remember seeing somewhere Fancy Lancey said Boone was the best place to train in the US. I'll have to pick up Roll's book, I would love to read something that isn't class related.

That's pretty much the gist you'll get from the Boone story in this book. Pick it up -- Roll is a stone gonzo hoot and a half.

What are you studying?

Physics Secondary Ed. Its kicking my butt.

Va. Beach is nice and flat.

here's a Yankee's take on it- if yer a Sox fan, stay in Boston. we got enough pink 'B' hats running around down here!

I am mostly kidding of course. I'm a NJ guy who went to school in VA and ended up back down here a few yrs after graduation. Virginia is huge and varied- whatever you're looking for you'll find. I personally live in Arlington b/c of an affinity for semi-urban life, but I am always quick to ride out the C&O Canal, drive out to the sticks for long wknd rides, or head back out to Harrisonburg and beyond to enjoy the cheap college town life again and hike/camp.

Good luck w. the move.

here's a Yankee's take on it- if yer a Sox fan, stay in Boston. we got enough pink 'B' hats running around down here!

I am mostly kidding of course. I'm a NJ guy who went to school in VA and ended up back down here a few yrs after graduation. Virginia is huge and varied- whatever you're looking for you'll find. I personally live in Arlington b/c of an affinity for semi-urban life, but I am always quick to ride out the C&O Canal, drive out to the sticks for long wknd rides, or head back out to Harrisonburg and beyond to enjoy the cheap college town life again and hike/camp.

Good luck w. the move.

JMU grad? Used to live there, dad taught in ISAT.

No Red Sox fan here -- I grew up in NYC. You'd see me with an "NY" on my navy blue cap. ;-)

Good luck on your search BostonRoadee. Years ago you'd be warned that you could be viewed as an outsider and not readily accepted (coming from up north and all), but those days are mostly gone especially in the cities and larger towns. I use "not readily accepted" on purpose. Most Southerners will take a liking to you immediately, others will wait until they get to know you a little better. It's all good.

Someone here recommended the area west of Asheville. I remember traveling I-40 west of Asheville as a kid with my parents and more often than not when passing the exit for Enka (near Canton, as I recall) the smell from the paper plant would practically make you gag and gave car sickness a new meaning. I heard the smell would waft through several adjacent counties some days.

That was about 30 years ago, maybe the plant is now closed, maybe there are more plants, I don't know. Maybe someone else can comment. Anyway, just a heads up.

Personally, I'd love to move to the Brevard/Hendersonville area one day.

Scott

Thanks for the historical perspective, Scott. When I moved to New England, it took me a while to get used to how chilly people can be (not just the weather) up here. If someone talks to you beyond the minimum required by the social contract, it means they might think you're an OK person. But if you ask them to join you for coffee before knowing them for months, they'll pause and cock their heads a tad and look at you. They might say yes, but they want you to know you've breached etiquette.

Folks are a tiny bit warmer in the Cambridge area (which is why i go to school and spend a lot of time there), but not much. If you say a quick "hello" to someone in a store or on the street that you don't know, they will either stare at you nervously ("Do I know you?"), or just look away quickly.

My experience in Texas and New Mexico (not the South, I know) was that people will talk to you in a friendly manner a lot more quickly. As a Northener, I thought that meant we were friends. In fact, it didn't -- it meant that folks around there are polite and nice. Maybe it takes a while to make a real friend, anywhere!

You've probably moved and settled by now, but I'd like to throw in my two cents about Richmond, VA. I've lived in Richmond now since 2002, moved down here from Northern VA, and before that Lexington, VA for college. I didn't ride in NOVA much, except to commute a little bit from Reston to Fairfax along the Washington and Old Dominion Rail Road MUP. I have recently started bike commuting from Bon Air (which is south side Richmond, south of the James) over the James and into downtown Richmond where I work. Bon Air is technically Chesterfield County, and as such, is not quite as bike friendly as inside the Richmond City Limits. However, I have found that most people give me plenty of room and I've only been honked at once. There seems to be a fairly large bike community here, and there you should take a look at www.raba.org (http://www.raba.org).

Also, besides the biking, Richmond has several colleges (Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, Viginia Union University, and there are also satellite branches of University of Virginia and Virginia Tech). Additionally, there are many great ethnic restaurants and the Greek Orthodox Church off of Grove Avenue does a fantastic Greek Festival each year. There is a wonderful Italian Festival at Church Hill in the fall, and some fun events at Byrd Park and the Carillon (spelling?). In addition to that, if you are a NASCAR fan (probably not if you are cyclist, but who knows), you've got Richmond Internation Raceway, and you are a short trip from the mountains, the beach, and DC.

Anyway, just throwing that out there for you or anybody else.

Yep, I've been in Richmond a year now and just bought a house, so I'm here to stay for a while at least. I like it alot.

I was just in Richmond last weekend visiting my sister and, rode the Heart of Va Bike Festival out of Ashland. Two days of riding and, it was a great event. It deserves mentioning as a nice biking activity to participate in. Ashland, of course is a really nice little community with Randolph Macon sitting right in the middle of town. Lots of good riding around this area.