The capital city of North Carolina, Raleigh was once one of the Southeast's most important towns. Though it has been eclipsed by Charlotte as North Carolina's number one city, it is still a great place to visit. Raleigh is one of the oldest cities in North America and remains a center of culture and history. Despite its storied past, the city and its surrounding area have a youthful vibe due to a high concentration of Universities, including North Carolina State. Duke University, considered to be the Harvard of the South, is located 25 miles away in Durham. Suburban Chapel Hill is home to one of the most beautiful and historic campuses in the nation at the University of North Carolina.

Much of Raleigh's appeal comes from the fact that it feels like a small town even though it is a mid-sized city. The laid back vibe and southern hospitality probably have something to do with that, as do the pockets of old buildings. These give the city a historic vibe, in a classy way. This is not a run-down, has-been town.

Charlotte is North Carolina's sports town. But Raleigh boasts one of the South's only NHL franchises, the Stanley cup winning Carolina Hurricanes. In the fall, North Carolina State's football games are also a hot ticket. In winter, NC State, Duke and the University of North Carolina all have competitive basketball teams.

Restaurants in the area provide a wide array of comfort food from traditional Carolina BBQ to vegetarian and bistro fare. It's a bonus for travelers to learn that Krispy Kreme doughnuts originated in nearby Salem. The Raleigh shop is a landmark located in the center of the city. It is worth a visit for any doughnut fans.

Raleigh's older neighborhoods boast beautiful Victorian houses and many small museums celebrating the history of the area.