Just got back from Asheville

[Driven1]

Sorry, no city pics on this one...but I wanted to chime in and ask this question: 

Does anyone else go to almost any other city in the union and then come back here and think "(!^@$!$!$#!"?

Just curious because that was the impression I got this afternoon when crossing back across the swamp 5 miles north of the airport where it says "Welcome to Jacksonville/Duval County".

Asheville/Hendersonville was beautiful (as usual) by the way. 

[TheProfessor]

If you don't have anything nice or proactive to say, your comments have no merit on this site!

[BridgeTroll]

If you don't have anything nice or proactive to say, your comments have no merit on this site!

Is this a new rule??  Geez... you just eliminated more than half of the posters...

[Driven1]

If you don't have anything nice or proactive to say, your comments have no merit on this site!

Is this a new rule??  Geez... you just eliminated more than half of the posters...

Yeah...i was gonna say the same thing roughly, but thanks for doing it for me.

[copperfiend]

My grandparents live about an hour from Asheville. I always make it out there when visiting. It is a great city with a terrific downtown. I wouldn't say I feel like I am coming back to the ghetto when I return though. I do feel like I am returning to the real world though.

[thelakelander]

I've never thought "back to the ghetto", but it really makes you see what type of potential is being wasted in this community.  If we can get it together, Jacksonville will have a really bright future.

Anyway, here are a few Asheville images from a visit a couple of years ago.







http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/416/118/

[blizz01]

That's why it's called vacation.....I bet people in Western Carolina love the beach.

[RiversideGator]

I love Asheville and the NC mountains but it is a whole different universe than Jacksonville.  Asheville is far smaller than Jacksonville and is basically a place to visit.  The NC mountains are where Jacksonville goes to vacation and/or retire and die.  It isnt a major metro area in any way.  It doesnt have the amenities we do either.

BTW, I was there just last year and I thought the downtown was overrated.  It has some boutique shops and restaurants but very few downtown residents.  Jacksonville has more downtown residents and hotels by far.  And, the Grove Arcade is beautiful to look at but is underutilized and has vacancies.  Their downtown is basically pretty sleepy IMO. 

Asheville also doesnt have the large historic districts we do because it is a smaller town.  I have not seen any areas there nicer than Avondale or Ortega or San Marco.  So, in short, Asheville is a nice place to visit but I wouldnt want to live there.

[thelakelander]

I agree, in that the biggest drawback (at least to me) is that its a small town without big city amenities.  Other than that, its a great place for a weekend visit.