All aboard the Polar Express in Bryson City, NC!  Located about an hour from Asheville, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers daily excursions with a chance to experience the magic of Santa and the North Pole. It’s one of the many western NC activities to experience during the winter holiday season.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad operates year-round with excursions along the Nantahala Gorge and the Tuckasegee River as well as an adult-only Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience. During the Christmas season, however, the train welcomes passengers on board to hear and experience the Polar Express. Sit back and listen as the story unfolds, sip hot chocolate and enjoy a treat, and then welcome Santa on board. Each child receives his or her own sliver sleigh bell, just like in the book. On the return trip to Bryson City, join in the Christmas caroling and relish in the special memories that have been created by this magical train ride.

Whether it’s the special seasonal offerings in the Asheville area or the daily opportunities to experience the cuisine and culture of western NC, there’s no doubt that Asheville, Black Mountain and Montreat each provide a unique, warm and friendly environment to live in. If you already live here, choose something today to do that you probably can’t do anywhere else. For example, when was the last time you visited one of the new microbreweries in the area? And if you’re not living here yet, what’s holding you back? Greybeard Realty is here, just waiting to welcome you home.

A charming Montreat home has come on the market, and it’s worth a trip up to see. 340 Texas Rd, with its central location and its bedroom capacity, offers plenty of room to enjoy the amenities of this friendly, accessible community. [...]

Third quarter numbers of western NC real estate are in, and the market seems to be holding fairly steady to its latest upward trend. While growth in some areas is small, there are a few particular statistics that may be very telling about the market to come. [...]

If epic views from an immaculate Black Mountain log home appeal to you as a homeowner, you’ll want to take a look at 36 Winding Poplar, a 3-bedroom, 4 bath home located in the gated community of Laurel Ridge. [...]

Gray Line Trolley Tour

Visiting Asheville in the fall? Take a tour on the Gray Line! This hop-on-hop-off tour in a trolley is a great way to learn about the history of Asheville as well as interact with the bustling downtown. With 10 spots including the diverse Montford Historic District, Art deco-rich downtown, legendary Grove Park Inn, as [...]

For some, residing in western NC is synonymous with living in a log cabin in the woods. If you are one of those people, you’ll want to look into 29 Woodhaven Lane. This 3-bedroom, 2-bath log home fits the bill perfectly. [...]

Several Greybeard staff and Realtors call Black Mountain home, and we can’t think of a better place to live. This new 3-bedroom, 3-bath home, 25 Lake Ave, is within walking distance of downtown Black Mountain, meaning new owners are just steps away from everything this fine town has to offer.

Constructed in 2013, this lovely home features an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings. It also has a large covered front porch to sit and watch the world go by. That’s only appropriate as Black Mountain is viewed as the “Front Porch of Western NC.” With cork floors, granite counter tops and stainless-steel kitchen appliances, this carefully-crafted home offers modern amenities with old-style charm. The interior and exterior woodwork as well as the large stone fireplace work to give this home a great cottage feel. And the fenced-in backyard makes a wonderful area for children or grandchildren to enjoy. It’s only a mile from the Montreat gate which means new owners will be in proximity to the Montreat trails, some of the finest hiking in western NC.

For more information about this home, please contact Greybeard Realty. And feel free to browse through Greybeard Realty’s other Black Mountain home listings as well. Those of us that live in Black Mountain are always happy to talk about the quality of life we’re afforded here. With good schools, great outdoor activities, and unlimited cultural and dining options, there really isn’t a better place to call home.

One great advantage of living in western NC is to have immediate access to all of the incredible hiking that’s so readily accessible in this area. Greybeard has some terrific hiking suggestions on Greybeard’s things to do list, and a recent Greybeard blog highlighted a top ten list just released.

One aspect of hiking that we haven’t really talked about is how to prepare to hike. We’re not talking about conditioning. We will leave that up to you. It’s more about being prepared, as even a day hike can become more of an adventure if you’re not ready for whatever comes along. As an example, one of our Realtors recently went out to walk on a large piece of land he was planning to show the next day, and he noticed that with the sun obscured by clouds and the lot completely covered by lush greenery with no paths, he quickly became disoriented. That’s why this “how to pack for a hike” website came to mind. If you’re going to hike, even just a day hike, it pays to prepare. Cell phones can lose battery power and be out of cell service, so a compass is a good idea. And, if you live up here and decide to take a multi-day hike, the packing list is a bit longer. Even a seasoned traveller can become disoriented in unfamiliar territory, and if you live up here you know the weather can change in an instant. Take some time to prepare before you head out. It can really make a difference.

And if all of this talking about frequent hiking has you yearning to live up this way, why not look at the listed for sale at Greybeard Realty. Even if you aren’t interested in relocating permanently, this could be just the time to buy that second home. Greybeard Rentals management services offers superior property management, and you can slip away and head up this way whenever you get a chance.

Round Knob Lodge, recently listed for sale by Greybeard Realty, has history, charm and remarkable amenities available on site. With two stocked ponds, a stream with a waterfall, and 29.4 acres to explore, new owners will think they’ve bought a piece of paradise, not just a [...]

Often times, when we’re choosing a new place to live like the Asheville area we get caught up in the school system, the nearby medical facilities, and the overall quality of life. Don’t get us wrong; all of that is relevant. We also value the outdoor opportunities, however, and we think this new list of hiking close to town is a keeper.

Hiking is something many of us here at Greybeard Realty enjoy, and we offer some hiking spots suggestions on the Greybeard Rentals website. What is great about this list, however, is that it covers places a little further distance from town. So yes, you can learn about Crabtree Falls and Old Mitchell Trail, but you also can read up on Waterrock Knob, located 33.7 miles from downtown Asheville. See, that’s what’s great about this new listing. First of all, it tells you exactly how far most of the hikes are from Asheville, how difficult the hike is, and why the site is significant. And secondly, it offers some hikes that are a bit further out from town. Additionally, through the article, you can access a whole page dedicated to waterfall hikes.

Greybeard staff and Realtors spend lots of time enjoying the remarkable outdoor offerings in the Asheville area. We hike, bike, ultra-marathon, and whitewater raft, among other activities. To us, the Asheville area is unmatched in its possible outdoor pastimes.  It’s why we love living here, and why we think you would too. Take a look at Greybeard's western NC residential listings and contact us to go check out a few homes. It’s just the beginning of your mountain adventures.