Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina, is the capital of the Research Triangle area (with Durham and Chapel Hill), a rapidly growing city that combines Southern charm and hospitality with the intellectual energy of North Carolina State University and a booming tech economy. It is one of America's fastest-growing cities and one of the most pleasant to visit in the American South. The North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (the largest natural history museum in the Southeast, free to enter) and the North Carolina History Museum are all on the "Acorn Walk" in central Raleigh — collectively excellent and free. The Raleigh City Market, the Warehouse District and the Boylan Heights neighbourhood are the most interesting for independent restaurants and bars. The Biltmore Estate in Asheville (3 hours west) and the Outer Banks (3 hours east) are the great excursions from this base. Downtown Raleigh has developed significantly — Morgan Street Food Hall, restaurants along Glenwood South and the Warehouse District are all excellent. The Durham food scene (15 minutes away) is even more adventurous and nationally recognised. Chapel Hill (30 minutes) has the oldest state university in the US (University of North Carolina, 1789) and an excellent independent culture. The Research Triangle Park, the first planned technology research park in the US, drives the local economy.