Well, I have lived in NC my entire life and love it here. I grew up in the Western NC which is in the mountains. We now live in Charlotte due to my DH's job. We love the mountains but the $$ was not in the mountains. (for the business that we own)
If you want to be in the mountains but still close to shopping I would pick Asheville, NC. (just last week on 20/20 (I think it was 20/20 or might of been Dateline) it was determined that Asheville, NC was the happiest city in the US to live) My entire family still lives there and it is gorgeous!!!
Check out this website: (a forum about different places to live in Western NC)
http://www.city-data.com/forum/western-north-carolina/
Best of luck to you!!!