Raleigh

Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina. It’s known for its universities, including North Carolina State University. The number of technological and scholarly institutions around Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham makes the area known as the Research Triangle. The North Carolina State Capitol is a 19th-century Greek Revival–style building with a statue of George Washington dressed as a Roman general in its rotunda. Raleigh demonstrates that the South will rise again. First and foremost, it is a smart city. A number of colleges and institutions have campuses in and around the Greater Raleigh region. In addition, Raleigh is part of the Research Triangle, a geographical area that encompasses Durham and Chapel Hill and is densely populated with IT jobs and techies.

Second, it's an interesting city. Greater Raleigh, a booming community of around 500,000 people, attracted more than 13 million tourists in 2013. And it's not hard to see why: Raleigh is brimming with entrepreneurial enthusiasm. It's evident in the numerous craft breweries that dot this city in central North Carolina, as well as the influx of new restaurants and businesses downtown and in the fashionable Warehouse area.

Third, it is a visually appealing city. Raleigh has natural beauty in addition to the urban pleasures of chic coffee shops and small companies. Visitors should go to the rich nature of the Neuse River Trail, the woodland grandeur of Umstead State Park, or any of the city's green spots for proof.

Best Hotels in Raleigh:

• The Umstead Hotel and Spa
• The Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel
• Mayton Inn

The Best Things to Do in Raleigh:

• The Neuse River Trail
• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
• Pullen Park

Rankings:

• 9 in Best Places to Visit in the Carolinas
  21 in Best Weekend Getaways in the South
  

Rating:

• 21 in Best Weekend Getaways in the South