Mountain Living Shopping And Entertainment In Western North Carolina
East Asheville, a bustling shopping and entertainment area in Western North Carolina, has its own perks and community flavor. A number of attractive neighborhoods showcasing homes with a variety of styles and sizes can be found throughout the region.Asheville Shopping and Retail: Find Everything You Need on Tunnel RoadTunnel Road is called Tunnel Road because you must drive through a tunnel that goes through a mountain in order to get there from downtown. Once you have left the narrow streets and 1920's architecture of downtown Asheville on the other side of the tunnel you find numerous restaurants, retail stores, gas stations, movie theaters, hotels, the Asheville Mall and more. Everything from affordable discount stores to designer boutiques can be found on Tunnel Road so there are shopping opportunities regardless of your budget. If you need to buy tires for your car or a book to read, grab a cup of coffee or shop for formalwear, go on a date or see the latest 3D movie you won't have to go far.East Asheville Neighborhoods:Most neighborhoods in East Asheville offer a great community atmosphere and are easily accessible from the highway and downtown. Here are some of the most popular.KenilworthThis section of East Asheville consists of streets lined with beautifully built homes and trees. Large, renovated, older homes have been kept in gorgeous shape and often have landscaped yards. Newer contemporary homes can also be found in Kenilworth. The residential streets make the neighborhood great for walking and biking. Kenilworth is a safe and beautiful place to raise a family or retire.OteenOteen is located just around the bend from the Asheville Mall on route 70. Along Route 70 home buyers can find beautiful new homes, existing homes, condos, duplexes, cottages and more. Oteen is made up of a series of small neighborhoods and provides easily access to shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Downtown Asheville is only a few minutes by car via Tunnel Road or Highway 240.Asheville VA HospitalAs you travel down route 70 towards Swannanoa and Black Mountain you will continue to find fantastic restaurants, café's, shopping and a variety of services. Between Oteen and the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway you will find an area often referred to as being "near the VA Hospital". Opened in 1922 (1), the VA Hospital is a landmark recognized by the majority of local residents. Spreading out around the hospital is a series of neighborhoods that are home to many different types of living spaces. Single-family homes, condos, duplexes, homesteads and properties with acreage can be found in every direction. Many homes in this area can be located in a seemingly remote section of the mountains with beautiful views, however within 10 minutes you can be in a major shopping area and within 15 to 20 minutes you can be in the heart of downtown.Route 70: Make Your Way from Asheville to Swannanoa and Black MountainIf you continue East on route 70 or highways 240 and 40 you eventually end up in Swannanoa and then Black Mountain, both of which are beautiful, fun nearby towns. Swannanoa is home to Warren Wilson College, an extremely well recognized educational institution, known for its commitment to the study of eco-friendly, green, sustainable professionals. Warren Wilson also focuses a great deal on community service and the contribution students can make to the local region. Hiking trails abound throughout the campus.Black Mountain is a small town very similar to Asheville. It is home to artists, musicians and many thriving, local businesses. The mountain views are stunning and downtown offers residents activities to enjoy both day and night. Black Mountain is a very popular place to buy real estate because of the rural nature of the surrounding mountains. If a quiet pace is what you want in your life, a weekend or vacation getaway in Black Mountain may be the perfect area to explore. There are also many communities to choose from if you prefer to live in a more rural area.If you are thinking of moving or relocating to Asheville or WNC learning more about the local region and neighborhoods can help you find the best location for your new home. Be sure you work with a real estate agent that clearly understands all of your individual needs and wants, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various areas of Asheville; this will ensure you real estate purchase is a success.Sources: (1) http://www.asheville.va.gov/about/index.asp
