Looking for a picturesque Western North Carolina town with proximity to outdoor activities and eclectic amenities? Mars Hill, N.C., has this and more. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, the town of Mars Hill (pop. 2,000) in Madison County sits only 15 miles north of the city attractions of Asheville, and it’s mere minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.

Find your perfect Mars Hill home

Homes in Mars Hill offer a variety of styles and sizes to fit every taste and budget, from new green builds to established estates to easy-to-maintain condos. In addition, there are lots with plenty of acreage to create your dream mountain home.

There’s no shortage of outdoor activities in and around Mars Hill. Skiing, hiking, cycling, horseback riding and whitewater rafting are all popular pastimes in the area. National and state parks that are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains sit close to Mars Hill, making it easy to spend an afternoon immersed in nature.

Enjoy cultural offerings in Mars Hill

Mars Hill is also home to Mars Hill University, a private, co-ed, liberal-arts college. Mars Hill University, founded in 1856, is the oldest college or university in Western N.C., with a student body of around 1,500. With the town centered around the university, a great variety of cultural and intellectual events and entertainment is accessible to residents and visitors alike. Some events include: 

·     Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre performances at Mars Hill University’s Owen Theatre

·     Monthly First Fridays, with food, music and art offerings from local downtown Mars Hill businesses

·     The Hot Doggett 100 Cycling Tour annual bike ride, with three distances to choose from (July)

·     The Mars Hill Heritage & Music Festival, celebrating mountain craft, music and dance (October)

For information about real estate in Mars Hill, or anywhere in Asheville or Western North Carolina, contact us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828-707-9556. 

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Western North Carolina is known as one of the country’s premier road-cycling regions, and for good reason. Plenty of scenic routes, featuring everything from strenuous altitude gains to winding, tree-shaded roads to flat, relaxing riverside rides, await road cyclists. Here are just a few of the scores of road-cycling options available in [...]

Nestled in a valley along the banks of the scenic French Broad River in Henderson County, Etowah, N.C., boasts a small-town feel big on natural beauty. It’s bordered to the north by Mills River and to the west by Transylvania County – which means outdoor adventure, including mountain biking, hiking and rafting, is just minutes away. 

Etowah, which sits 26 miles south of Asheville, has a population of around 7,000. Shopping for a home in the Etowah area? You’ll find everything from compact cottages to grand estates to residences in gated communities. Home lots with impressive acreage are also available, ready for your dream build to come to life.

Etowah’s in-town fun

For activities in the community, many people visit the Etowah Valley Golf Club and Lodge. The resort offers a 27-hole mountain golf course, tennis, restaurants, lodging and a heated swimming pool. Etowah park is another favorite destination, boasting bike and walking trails, ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, disc golf and a picnic area. 

Enjoy an afternoon of outdoor activity in town, then relax with a beverage at Sideways Farm & Brewery, one of only a handful of breweries in the country creating carbonation with local wildflower honey for its unfiltered, unpasteurized, naturally carbonated farmhouse ales, traditional lagers, and hard Jun kombucha (a fermented sweet tea). Sideways Farm sustainably grows flowers and ingredients for its beer, including hops, barley, fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs. You can also gather a bouquet from its U-Pick flower farm.

Etowah is brimming with a wide range of nearby outdoor activities. The French Broad River offers an outlet for all manner of water adventures. Both Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest are a short drive away, featuring waterfalls, hiking paths and mountain biking trails. The area also boasts renowned destinations like Sliding Rock and the Cradle of Forestry. 

Western N.C. day trips from Etowah

For a nearby day trip from Etowah, Hendersonville (8 miles east via US-64) can’t be beat. Filled with historic buildings and vibrant streetscapes, Hendersonville’s downtown – the largest in Western N.C. outside of Asheville’s – offers many dining options, as well as unique shops and galleries, along Main Street. Hendersonville also boasts the Cheers! Trail, showcasing 16 craft beverage producers, plus wineries and cideries in the area.

Brevard, 11 miles southwest of Etowah, is another popular day-trip destination. In addition to unique shops and restaurants along its quaint downtown streets, Brevard is home to the Brevard Music Center’s Summer Festival, which features everything from bluegrass to classical to operatic productions.

For more information about real estate in Etowah, Henderson County or anywhere in Asheville or Western N.C., contact us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828-707-9556.

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Named for the valuable deposits of zircon in the area, Zirconia, N.C., is known for its striking Blue Ridge beauty as well as its proximity to cultural attractions. Living in the community of Zirconia – half an hour south of Asheville via I-26 – means you can spend a day enjoying a range of outdoor adventures, then take in dinner and entertainment in one of the many quaint neighboring towns.

Natural experiences abound around Zirconia

An unincorporated community in Henderson County, Zirconia sits near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Both Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest are a short drive away, offering day trips overflowing with waterfalls, hiking paths and mountain biking trails – you can even take a horseback trail ride. The area also boasts renowned destinations like Sliding Rock and the Cradle of Forestry. Zirconia offers easy access to the Green River Game Lands, a rugged tract of more than 10,000 acres where seasonal hunting, fishing and trapping are allowed.

If you’re looking for a home in Zirconia, you’ll find a range of styles and settings. Properties with everything from mountain streams to long-range views to easy-care lots are available throughout the community. 

Nearby mountain towns to explore

There are a number of idyllic towns close to Zirconia that are perfect for an afternoon of exploring. Nearby Flat Rock is home to a variety of shops and galleries, featuring everything from folk art to vintage wares and antiques to locally made clothing. The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock allows visitors to explore the residence of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer, as well as its goat farm, pastures, gardens and hiking trails. The nonprofit Flat Rock Playhouse is famed for its professional productions of musicals, dramas and comedies.

Saluda, also just a few minutes’ drive from Zirconia, draws scores of visitors to its picturesque Main Street, set against a stunning mountain backdrop. Saluda boasts a number of established restaurants as well as interesting shops and galleries. Most of the buildings that line Saluda’s downtown are part of the National Register of Historic Places. The area is also a premier destination for road cycling. 

For more information about real estate in Henderson County near Zirconia, or anywhere in Asheville or Western N.C., contact us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828-707-9556.

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Steeped in history, the village of Flat Rock – 30 miles south of Asheville – offers scenic landscapes and breathtaking vistas. It is home to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site as well as the Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina. Quaint local shops, galleries and restaurants dot its picturesque downtown.

Established in the early 1800s, Flat Rock is named for the granite rock formations found throughout the area. In its early years, Flat Rock was popular as a summertime retreat; today, many of the still-standing homes built during that era are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Henderson County village has a population of around 3,500.

History, shopping and outdoor adventure

Flat Rock’s downtown is home to a variety of shops and galleries, featuring everything from Southern folk art to vintage wares and antiques to locally made clothing. The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site allows visitors to experience the residence of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer, as well as its goat farm, pastures, gardens and hiking trails. The nonprofit Flat Rock Playhouse is famed for its professional productions of musicals, dramas and comedies.

Outdoor adventures around Flat Rock abound as well: Five miles away in the town of Laurel Park is Jump Off Rock atop Jump Off Mountain. This overlook provides a panorama of the Pisgah and Blue Ridge Mountains. Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest, popular for their hiking and biking trails, waterfalls and stunning scenery, sit less than 30 minutes away from Flat Rock.

Array of activities in nearby Hendersonville

Just 4 miles from Flat Rock is the city of Hendersonville, offering an array of activities and destinations for an afternoon of entertainment. The Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County features giant geodes, minerals and dinosaur eggs; Hands On! Children’s museum boasts a fun learning experience; the Henderson County Heritage Museum, in the 1905 county courthouse downtown, features a gallery of regional Carolina history. 

North of Hendersonville’s Main Street is the Historic (1878) Johnson Farm, a preserved 19th-century tobacco farm on 15 acres open for tours and events. The Western North Carolina Air Museum, featuring vintage airplanes, is near the small Hendersonville Airport. Hendersonville, which sits in the heart of apple country, hosts the popular North Carolina Apple Festival every year, a four-day Labor Day weekend celebration that culminates in the Apple Parade.

For more information about properties in Flat Rock, or anywhere in Asheville or Western North Carolina, contact us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828-707-9556.

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