Asheville LOVE

I love living in Atlanta, I really do, but...there is a city about 4 hours by car away that captured my heart several years ago.  Asheville, North Carolina - A small city at under 100,000 in population was ranked several years ago as #1 for fall foliage, #1 in top 25 small cities, Beer City USA ( I am not sure whether that matters to me :)), #6 for business and career, #2 arts destination (:)), and was included in the top 11 for baby boomers active retirement destinations.

Now, I do truly understand that statistics can be manipulated to reflect whatever the statistician or marketeer desires.  Here's why I tend to believe most of this propaganda...First off, I do need to say that I am in disagreement about the #1 ranking for fall foliage!  I am from the northeast originally and have to contend that New England beats Asheville hands down in this regard - sorry!  Not everyone is as dogged as I am in getting up to New England soooooo for those living in the South who want to get some good leaf peeping in, Asheville is arguably a marvelous choice!

Now on to to my own brand of Asheville edification.  Upon arriving in Asheville, I get the happy homey feeling that used to only be reserved for Boston and my childhood home in Pennsylvania.  I immediately and consistently feel wholeheartedly welcomed by all those I come across in my travels.  Asheville is artsy with a capital A - down to earth and people actually wear their art on the sleeves ( literally) - love it! It is a visually stimulating place to be - makes me happy!

Lastly ( and this list is most certainly not all-inclusive but this post is quickly becoming a book) --- SNOW!!! Being a Yankee transplant to the South, I miss the snow.  Not the everyday, gotta get to work, scrape off the car and shovel the driveway variety but the wonder and beauty of new falling snow that actually leaves evidence on the grass, rooftops etc!  In Atlanta, this happens very rarely, a little too rarely for my tastes.   Well...Today (we are due for some snow even in Atlanta) in Asheville, they might get 4 inches!  I will put this aside for now and hopefully will have some pictures of a winter wonderland to share with you.... I'm baaaack, can't wait any longer for pictures...maybe I will wake up to snow in the morning :)