Plus you can't live surrounded by such wondrous scenery, for one thing, without at least occasionally taking a deep breath and smiling. While the water tumbles in Transylvania County, the water meanders in Ashe County, home to West Jefferson, another of our favorite small towns. Also surrounded by the natural beauty of the mountains but at their northernmost point in the state, West Jefferson was once the frontier, visited by the likes of Daniel Boone and inhabited by Indians. Its mountain roads are narrow and winding, dotted with small farms, churches and country stores. The New River, the oldest river in North America, now dedicated as a National Scenic River, is the centerpiece of New River State Park and the tourism that flourishes in the county.
Life can be a lazy driving tour of the countryside or a rollicking canoe trip down the river.
It's your call. Main Street is home to the state's only cheese company, the Ashe County Cheese Co. which has been in business for more than 50 years. Shops showcase crafts made by mountain folks, and their unique music and dance are presented with support from the local Arts Council, which brings in a variety of visiting performing artists. Residents make up the Ashe County Choral Society and pull together the annual bicycle race down Mount Jefferson. Home can be on a quiet side street, in a dedicated log cabin community or on a golf course.