Asheville, NC or Ashland, OR?

Question

I am currently living in Wisconsin and am planning to relocate. I want to live somewhere that has consistently pleasant weather (I don't mind changing seasons, but am tired of long cold winters). I need to be near a music community, some educational facilities that cater to retirees and far from the racism, poverty, and ignorance that is so prevalent in most of our large American cicites. Asheville, North Carolina and Ashland, Oregon look like good choices. Please share your opinion of these and any other parts of the USA that you think are good places to live for creative, openminded, outdoorsy people.

Answer 1

~~ Ashland, Oregon would be my choice. I prefer the less populated west coast.
I think you'll find people on the west coast far more open-minded than back east!
Ashland is the home of the annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Thousands of people flock there for that festival.
Your cultural tastes will be catered for.

And music; The Ashland City Band is the oldest continuous city band in the United States, having originally formed as the Ashland Brass Band in 1876.

Oregon is a very beautiful and scenic state, with many outdoor activities. Hiking, water rafting, camping, hunting etc.
Ashland is not too far to the beautiful Oregon coastline either. And close to state and National Forests.

Not an overly large city, though it is on I5.
So a run down to 'Frisco is quite easy.
This is Ashland's Convention and Visitors Bureau website (check out the beautiful aerial photo):
http://www.ashlandchamber.com/

~~ I have been to NC twice and like the outer banks but Asheville
is a long way from the coastline.
It too has nearby forests, so outdoorse activities would be plentiful there too.

It is a much larger city, so cultural events would abound.
I'd imagine that Asheville would be quite a bit colder though.
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asheville%2C_NC#Climate
In winter, temperatures may fall below freezing, and Asheville almost always receives snow and freezing rain a few times each year.
This is a link to the city's website, it is full of interesting information:
http://www.ci.asheville.nc.us/

Answer 2

Asheville, NC is an AMAZING and wonderful city! I love it there and hope to move to the area very soon. The winters are not too band anymore - just a few snowfalls and dustings but nothing major. The mountains scenery is so breathtaking and the city feels like a huge city but in a small version. The diversity and amount of very creative people really knocks you off your feet - you won't believe it! There are SOOOOO many outdoorsy things to do - Pisgah National Forest right there around you, Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail, Smokey Mountains as your neighbor - really, there is TOO MUCH to do! You are going to LOVe Asheville! Go VISIT and you will never leave, I promise!

Answer 3

I have never been to Ashland, but I live within 50 miles of Asheville. Asheville is a fairly artsy, cultured small city in a beautiful location. Usually cool in the summer, beautiful, colorful fall, and not too much snow in the winter.

NC is in the bible belt, though. Might want to take that into consideration.

Answer 4

Personally, I prefer Eugene to Ashland, but hey, that's me :).
In any case, I would take Ashland over Asheville anyday.