Best Places To Live In North Carolina

So what setting, geography, and lifestyle have to be present to make a place in North Carolina a Best Place for you to live?!

I'm a mountain man myself. I grew up near the ocean and I'm tired of the hot sun and flat scrubby coastal land of  the northeast and southeast. So for me, the mountains of western North Carolina are a refreshing magnificent change.

But I'll still tell you about some incredible coastal areas, for those of you who still want to be on the water, and don't forget those pure, crystal clear, cold as ice mountain lakes.

So off to the Mountains…I love the areas of Asheville, Waynesville, Cashiers, and Chimney Rock.

Asheville has only about 80,000 people, but it's very hip with plenty of services, a major hospital and airport.

Waynesville has about 30,000 people in the greater area. And if you love living at severe angles on the side of a mountain with incredible long mountain views, Waynesville's for you.

Visit Chimney Rock south of Asheville, hike the trails and enjoy the hawks, vistas, and views of Lake Lure. Check out the waterfalls at Graveyard Fields off the Blue Ridge Parkway and take a dip in some crisp, clear, mountain springs.

If you really want to be in the mountains, where you'll even get some snow, go to Boone, Banner Elk, and Blowing Rock. These towns are a bit smaller, but they're quaint, charming, and the area is breathtaking! If you're interested in continuing your education, you'll also find an active college life there.

My favorite Lake towns are found on the shores of Lake Norman just north of Charlotte. Towns like Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, and Statesville. Even Salisbury and Kannapolis which are a bit further east. I feel this is small town living at its best because you get the best of both worlds. You get to be  close enough to Charlotte (which is an exciting city), but take advantage of the small town lifestyle of living just far enough away from it!

Now we move to the Coast for all you salty dogs! I know everyone talks about Wilmington, and yes it is very attractive, but  I love the area of New Bern which is about 40 minutes from the Atlantic and right off the Pamlico Sound, and the towns of Edenton and Elizabeth City on the Albemarle Sound.  The threats of hurricanes are less and the people are downright the friendliest I've ever met.

Next week, I'll continue my picks of Best Places to live in South Carolina and North Carolina when I focus on all the great places in South Carolina!