Washington, NC: A place to visit, live, flourish and enjoy

They say, "Home is where the heart is."

Sometimes it isn't where you're from, but where you decide to go. Many people have visited Washington and decided to move here because it just feels like home.

Jeff Furst and his wife, Linda, were living in the Raleigh-Durham area in 2015 when they decided to look around in the state and find a place to settle. They looked at towns in western North Carolina, but when they arrived in Washington, the search was over.

"We decided it was such a beautiful little town right on the water. This is what we were looking for," Jeff said.

When asked what made them fall in love with Washington, Jeff said his wife said it best.

"She says that the town has good bones, and it really does -- the way it's laid out, the beauty of the waterfront and the people," Jeff said. "It's so interesting after living here for a few years running the Inn [When Pigs Fly Inn], the visitors that we meet say the number one reason they love Washington is the people; second is the beauty of the area. It's almost cliché to say because the people here are so nice, but I'm telling you all the folks I see coming through this area say the same thing. It is just a special place."

Jeff said he and Linda stay pretty busy between running When Pigs Fly Inn and their store on Main Street, Flying Pig Provisions.

"We are busy all the time, but we love it," Jeff said. "I feel like the ticket taker at Disney World. There are a lot of people coming into town and we are at two of the entry points. People stay with us and come into the store to shop, and it is so much fun to see their excitement as it was in our eyes when we first found Washington."

In talking to visitors at their businesses, Jeff and his wife are really enjoying their life in Washington.

"Washington is really unique," Clark said. "We've lived in big towns, we've lived in small towns; Washington is really, really welcoming. It is so diverse and accepting of all kinds of people. Usually a small town tends to be kind of 'clique-ish.' But in Washington we made friends right away. And it is so beautiful here."

Clark has always enjoyed walking all over town. Walking the riverfront boardwalk, walking her dog and kayaking on the Pamlico River.

"It's an easy lifestyle. You can be as active as you want. Or you can be as quiet as you want."

Clark is also a local business owner. She started The Little Shoppes several years ago and also owns Cups & Cones on Water Street. When asked about how Washington is growing, she said the growth is really exciting to witness.

"It is like we [the town] are coming into our own," Clark said. "We're still small, but now we have those big town amenities that people like. We have the arts, nightlife, the river, the dog park, museums."

Clark was actually one of the founders of the city's off-leash dog park. She also helped start the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum.

Clark is very proud of her adopted hometown.

"I really think the sky is the limit for us," she said. "Anybody that comes to Washington is going to fall in love with it because of the people. To have the combination of beautiful scenery and beautiful-hearted people is very rare. And very special."

When Scott Campbell and his husband, Bill, sailed into Washington on their boat almost 15 years ago, little did they know that they would soon put down roots in the town.

"A free boat dock right in town was very appealing. It is unusual to find that convenience literally right downtown," Scott said. "And the scenic location with the water, all the nature, and the architecture of the buildings. But really, it was the people that we met that made us want to stay here."

Scott said everyone they met was extremely friendly and excited for new people to be coming into town.

When Scott and Bill first arrived in Washington, they were working on a big project and he said everyone was very supportive.

"They were excited, we were excited. It just all worked," Scott said.

A self-professed history buff, Scott enjoys studying the local architecture. A realtor by trade, he appreciates the designs of the historic buildings in Washington. He also said he has had the opportunity to do some volunteer and civic work since settling here.

"That's one thing I really like about Washington -- one person can make a difference," Scott said. "It's important that, in Washington, you can really affect things in the community in positive ways."

When asked about the future growth of Washington, Scott said, "I think it is going to be very different from what we're used to, but in a good way. The city leadership is excellent about planning and is forward-thinking; we have a pretty progressive-thinking council and city manager, and I think they are staying on top of what I believe is going to be an explosive year to three years. With so many new businesses, and so many people realizing that they can live in Washington and have an unbelievable quality of life."

Whether you are visiting Washington for the first time or you are planning to move here, you will certainly fall in love with the town, its people and the charm of the atmosphere here. Many come to visit; many decide to stay.