Hi, Leslie,
How interesting you are choosing to relocate to the mountains of Western North Carolina from Hawaii! My daughter just left Hawaii after two years there, and she loved her time there. (She was born here in Asheville.)
I'm a native of Western North Carolina; specifically Black Mountain, which is a quaint little town just about 15 minutes from Asheville, with all of the amenities you're searching for. I raised my kids in the schools there, and I can tell you that they received a top-notch education! We also have charter schools within our public system, and while I don't have firsthand experience with them, I have friends who do, and they love what the charter schools offer their children.
Black Mountain is a very diverse little town, with lots of art and antique galleries, wonderful restaurants, and the like. Think about checking it out! Here's a link for you:
http://www.blackmountain.com.
Best of luck to you and your family in your search!
- Thu Jun 19 2008, 08:06