It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Sylva, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“I am a current client of this provider I liked the intake interview lady. Mary, the”
“I am a current client of this provider I like that they are flexible and the”
“The team with Always Best Care were instrumental in the assistance with my mom during”
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“Always Best Care Seniors Services provide the personal touch in-home care! From our initial”
“Highly professional and very caring. A great company”
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“Wonderful service, very helpful, great communication.”
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“Very great place to work! The staff is very supportive!”
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“The most caring compassionate place i have ever been to”
“Outstanding care and compassion for both clients and employees”
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“I went for my interview there a week ago and the staff were so nice”
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“Always Best Care for Seniors has served my clients well based on feedback received. They take the time to assess the needs of caregivers and care recipients alike and establish a detailed person-centered plan of care that addresses the care needs and wellbeing of the care recipient. This approach builds rapport and confidence with the caregiver and emphasizes respite for the caregiver while meeting the care recipients’ needs.”
“I am a current client of this provider Belinda has done everything I have asked and more. Belinda has gone above the call of duty.”
“I am a current client of this provider They are courteous, polite, kind and hard-working. It helps keep him interactive with people.”
“I am a current client of this provider I liked the intake interview lady. Mary, the nurse, is very encouraging. Their presence is helpful because I can't be there.”
“I am a current client of this provider I like that they are flexible and the people that they provide have been good so far. They have removed a lot of stress from my life.”
“The team with Always Best Care were instrumental in the assistance with my mom during her decline and eventual passing. They were thoughtful, kind, supportive, considerate and readily available. Mary, one of the nurse managers at the Asheville location, was so supportive it is as if she became family. She would come without hesitation as I navigated through this difficult time offering tremendous support. She not only foresaw what was needed, but understood what I needed and catered to that need. She is a tremendous asset to your team! I am forever grateful for her.”
“I'm a new hire and the office staff is wonderful, informative and thorough. I feel like this will be a most rewarding opportunity.”
“I'm so happy to have such a professional and reliable agency that I can refer my caregivers to and know that they will receive the service they need to assist with the care of their loved ones with dementia,”
“Always Best Care Seniors Services provide the personal touch in-home care! From our initial call inquiring about services, to meeting the owner Jim Smeaton to discuss our unique family needs, to the caring compassionate and understanding caregivers we are thoroughly impressed. Its such a relief knowing our loved ones are receiving the care they deserve.”
“Highly professional and very caring. A great company”
“I love this company. They are always very responsive. They truly care about the ones that they care for.”
“Wonderful service, very helpful, great communication.”
“All their caregivers are nice, show up, rarely late, and very helpful and kind. They are reliable, and the caregivers are sweet and attentive.”
“I am a current client of this provider They give me the peace of mind. They are always able to be reached and are willing to work with you.”
“My husband has dementia. They have helped me continue to work and feel comfortable in knowing my husband is safe with excellent care. The office listens, really hears and is helpful to support and meet needs. Our caregiver, Chip, has become family. He was very personable, attentive to needs, brings extra in music, stories, making sure to pay attention to the patient and give accordingly. He is always kind and gracious. We are blessed to have them.”
“Very great place to work! The staff is very supportive!”
“This place is absolutely amazing to work for!! The office team is so welcoming and helpful anytime I call or come in, and my clients are wonderful! It’s more like helping a friend all day instead of working like clockwork!”
“They do what I ask them to do which makes my life easier. They are always on time and they always finish the job during the day.”
“The most caring compassionate place i have ever been to”
“Outstanding care and compassion for both clients and employees”
“They really appreciate to have their employees there . And that makes me feel happy just being in there in their organization .. my google is under Stephanie young but my last name is now Duarte . Young was my married name , I’m divorced now”
“I went for my interview there a week ago and the staff were so nice and welcoming. I’m excited to join the team and see the great things they have in store.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Sylva, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Sylva, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Sylva, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
By Dave RussellThey say you can’t keep a good man down. The same apparently applies to good pizza.One of Jackson County’s most popular restaurants, Speedy’s Pizza, is rising from the rubble after demolition of its old building at 285 W. Main St. in Sylva.Craig and Natalie Szymanski have transformed The Junction Pub (formerly The No Name Sports Pub) at 1070 Skyland Dr. into a new, but similar, Speedy’s, now known as “Speedy’s Pizza and Pub.”The sign out fro...
By Dave Russell
They say you can’t keep a good man down. The same apparently applies to good pizza.
One of Jackson County’s most popular restaurants, Speedy’s Pizza, is rising from the rubble after demolition of its old building at 285 W. Main St. in Sylva.
Craig and Natalie Szymanski have transformed The Junction Pub (formerly The No Name Sports Pub) at 1070 Skyland Dr. into a new, but similar, Speedy’s, now known as “Speedy’s Pizza and Pub.”
The sign out front of the Junction Pub is gone and in its place is the Speedy’s sign. The oven and other kitchen equipment is all the original shiny stainless steel removed from the West Main location.
Wally and Carolyn Schmidt bought the place in 2004 and ran it until 2023 when the trackhoes chewed it up to make way for the N.C. 107 Project.
Son Charlie Schmidt came home to work at the restaurant not long after the couple bought it.
“I thought I needed to work some corporate job in Raleigh-Durham, but after six months of sitting in a cubicle, I realized it was not for me,” he said. “I came back and was aboard for about 17 of the 19 years my folks owned it.”
“He basically saved us,” Carolyn Schmidt said.
Speedy’s made a stop on its way to the Junction Pub. A potential opening in Quirky Birds in Dillsboro didn’t come to fruition. The brand moved – on a lease basis – to Rodgers Bros. in Cullowhee and remained until Rodgers Bros. closed its doors.
The Speedy’s kitchen equipment then moved from there to the former Junction Pub.
“The pizza menu will remain exactly as they did it,” Craig Szymanski said. “Same toppings, but we’re adding a type of pepperoni that Speedy’s never did, but otherwise the same.”
Even the vendors remain the same.
Salads similar to Speedy’s will be on the menu.
“Ours might be slightly different, but we are going to see how the Schmidts presented them and do them the same way,” Szymanski said. “When it comes to things like chicken parmesan we’re probably going to do that a little differently because they didn’t have equipment like fryers and burners that we have. So we’re going to do them a little more original.”
Some favorites from the Junction Pub menu will remain.
“We’re keeping our Italian subs, our hot dogs, our mussels, wings and our Nurse Nancy Sub Sandwich which was a big seller here,” Szymanski said.
Speedy’s is in need of kitchen help and a couple more servers, Szymanski said.
Cullowhee origins
Bruce “Speedy” Prentice was the founder, owner and original operator of Speedy’s Pizza, which he moved from Cullowhee to Sylva in 1973.
“He started in Cullowhee and sold mainly to college students,” Carolyn Schmidt said. “He got a good following and moved to Sylva.”
“Prentice moved it in the early ‘80s when Sylva started allowing beer and wine service,” Wally Schmidt said. “Prentice was mostly takeout. He had a little bit of dining space, but he was not big on that.”
Between Prentice and the Schmidts, Jeff Kelly ran the restaurant.
The Schmidts didn’t change much when they moved in.
“When we got in there, we didn’t really do anything,” Charlie Schmidt said. “We just tweaked out what Jeff had done. We tried to do some things to be more efficient. Menu-wise, we didn’t change a thing from Bruce Prentice’s original recipes. “
“The pizza dough, the pizza sauce, he passed all that to Jeff and Jeff passed it to us,” Carolyn Schmidt said. “We didn’t change a thing. We weren’t chefs, we were not restaurant people.”
“After we closed the deal, and went back in there, we said ‘What do we do now? Do you know how to cook pizza?’” Wally Schmidt said.
The Schmidts updated the kitchen, added custom-made booths and a hostess stand to the front dining room.
“We had to because we just kept getting busier and busier,” she said.
The elder Schmidts are “finally retired,” Carolyn Schmidt said.
The couple live in the Savannah community.
Community need
Part of the draw for the Szymanskis was how long Speedy’s had been around and how the community felt about it, Craig Szymanski said.
“It was something the community really should have back,” he said. “So we said ‘Let’s just forget about the Junction and open up Speedy’s Pizza again.’ It was a conscious effort to give the community back something that had been here for over 50 years.”
Kitchen hours are currently 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday the kitchen stays open until 10 p.m. and Sundays until 8 p.m.
The restaurant has beer, wine and a wide selection of spirits.
“One thing we are going to do that the old Speedy’s didn’t do is offer slices, so when the kitchen closes we can still serve pizza,” Szymanski said. “When the kitchen closes and we have live music or entertainment still going on, people can still get pizza until we run out.”
Takeout is available, as is online ordering. Find Speedy’s on Facebook for more information.
By Hannah Yarrington
The Smoky Mountain High School Mustangs enter the 2025 football season with a fresh look, a young roster and plenty of grit as they prepare for their season opener this Friday night at home against longtime rival Swain County.
Head coach J.T. Postell, now in his second year leading the team, said there is new sense of energy among the players. Although there are still many questions to answer, he finds the uncertainty to be an exciting part of the process.
“We’re young,” Postell said. “We’ve got a lot of new starters, but that’s OK. We’ve seen a lot of the new guys step up and they have done some really good things for us. This is a really fun football team to coach and to be around.”
After an impressive 2024 season where the Mustangs finished 8-4 overall and 5-1 in the Mountain Eight 4A/5A conference, tying for first, Postell and his staff focused heavily on building depth following the graduation of a talented senior class.
“We lost a really good senior class last year,” Postell said. “We are just really trying hard to create some depth, especially along the offensive and defensive line.”
Despite the youth movement, the Mustangs do have some returning veterans expected to serve as leaders. Seniors Noah McKnight and Josyah Ward, both standout linemen from last year’s team, are expected to lead by example.
“We have two senior linemen returning from last year’s team who played really well for us, returning all conference guys,” Postell said. “We expect big things out of them this year.”
One of the biggest positives heading into week one is how much the younger players have matured over the past few months, he said.
“We have a really big junior class, and we have several sophomores sprinkled in,” Postell said. “But I’m seeing them come around and start to understand what we’re trying to do on both sides. Every season is a different season – it’s always going to be different from the previous one. So we’re just really focused on this group.”
As for Postell himself, year two brings a deeper familiarity with his players and staff.
“Last year, I was new to them, and they were new to me,” he said. “So I think they understand what we’re trying to accomplish and what the expectations are. That’s made it a little better.”
Fall schedule overview
The Mustangs begin the season with back-to-back home games, starting with Swain this Friday, Aug. 22, followed by a game against Andrews on Aug. 29. The early weeks will challenge the team with a mix of non-conference and away games.
Here’s a look at the full regular-season slate:
• Aug. 22 – vs. Swain County
• Aug. 29 – vs. Andrews
• Sept. 5 – @ Forestview
• Sept. 12 – @ Pisgah*
• Sept. 19 – @ East Henderson*
• Sept. 26 – vs. Tuscola*
• Oct. 3 – @ Brevard*
• Oct. 10 – vs. West Henderson*
• Oct. 24 – @ Franklin*
• Oct. 31 – vs. North Henderson*
*Denotes conference games.
“It’s always exciting when you start – you get into week one and you’ve got an actual game,” Postell said. “And then, we’re opening up with Swain, which is a long-standing rival. So that’s a big deal in itself. We’re just really focused on trying to prepare ourselves to the best we can and go out and play very well this Friday.”
Do you ever wish you could go back in time just for a little while? There are times I’d love to escape modern life for a bit and leave behind the beeping, buzzing, and flashing technology as well as the sense of hustle that pervades the 21st century, and trade it for a slower, quieter way of life. There’s a small town in North Carolina that’s like a living time capsule. Sylva, North Carolina, has a welcoming small-town community, walkable streets, and charming local businesses.Sylva, North Carolina, is a small town i...
Do you ever wish you could go back in time just for a little while? There are times I’d love to escape modern life for a bit and leave behind the beeping, buzzing, and flashing technology as well as the sense of hustle that pervades the 21st century, and trade it for a slower, quieter way of life. There’s a small town in North Carolina that’s like a living time capsule. Sylva, North Carolina, has a welcoming small-town community, walkable streets, and charming local businesses.
Sylva, North Carolina, is a small town in North Carolina with approximately 2,700 residents. It’s in the western part of the state, founded in the late 1800s with the surge of the Western North Carolina Railroad. In 1913, it was designated the seat of Jackson County, and a year later, its stunning courthouse was built. It still stands today. Sylva is known for its placement in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, its historic courthouse, and walkable downtown area, many of the same characteristics that make it feel like a living time capsule.
Sylva’s old-fashioned downtown area has several unique shops. Jackson’s General Store on Main Street sells gifts, clothing, and footwear. It features a section of items made in North Carolina, including soaps, lotions, and body washes from Greenwich Bay Trading, and Honeywell Buds hard candy, made by Butterfields. Underground Sylva is a shop located on Mill Street that sells antiques, clothing, decor, and more. City Lights bookstore offers a selection of new and used books, rare books, journals, and gifts. If there’s one business from decades past that I wish there were more of, it’s local, one-of-a-kind bookstores!
This living time capsule town is also home to fantastic restaurants. Lulu's on Main serves delectable hand-cut steaks, sandwiches, salads, pastas, and more, and was named Our Favorite Restaurant in the Region by Southern Living Magazine. It has an outdoor covered terrace where diners can enjoy their meals with views of downtown Sylva. Lucy in the Rye is another local favorite serving breakfast dishes like Huevos Rancheros and a Breakfast Burrito, as well as sandwiches and salads for lunch. Whether it’s 1925 or 2025, delicious food is always in style.
Part of Syvla's old-fashioned charm is its community. Each week, the town comes together for a farmer's market at Bridge Park and the Jackson Arts Market on Main Street. It also hosts annual festivals to bring people together and celebrate the region. Mountain West Brewfest is a September festival where people enjoy local western North Carolina beer, live music, and more. Greening Up the Mountains is an annual spring heritage arts festival focused on Appalachian art, music, food, and drinks. Attendees can enjoy live music, local craft beer, a 5K run, and arts and crafts. These welcoming community events, where old friends and new gather together, are just the type of blasts from the past I'm happy to keep around.
This Loft Apartment in Sylva's historic downtown is an awesome place to stay. It accommodates four guests and features a kitchen, dining space, walk-in closet, and a view of the mountains.
Sylva is only about 47 miles from Asheville, North Carolina, an awesome city with restaurants and attractions galore. An Only In Your State writer even wrote a love letter to Asheville. The unforgettable Biltmore Estate is a must-see attraction, with its stately mansion, gardens, and winery. Asheville also has the North Carolina Arboretum, the Asheville Botanical Garden, and the Asheville Museum of Science.
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