Black Mountain is not close to Boone, it's east of Asheville about 20 miles. Look at the Lake Lure area....stayed in a condo there a few years back. Its a peaceful place not all that far out of Asheville. Don't get me wrong, the wife and I like the Asheville area as we go to the Biltmore quite a bit being season pass holders. A ton of things to do and see plus great restaurants. Lake Lure/Chimney Rock is more peaceful. You want cool weather in the mountains and I assume peace and quite. Boone offers that....except it can still get hot, just not Texas hot. Love going to the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston too ourselves.
