It lives up to its nickname,“The Southern Part of Heaven” in many ways. First, Chapel Hill comprises one corner of Research Triangle, a university-based research park and expansive business area that also includes the cities of Durham and Raleigh. Its raison d’etre is the University of North Carolina, the oldest state university in the country, created in the 1700s. The town was founded to serve the university and grew up around it.

With a decades-old music tradition, Chapel Hill has spawned the careers of notables such as James Taylor. It has one of the largest improvisational comedy centers in the country after Chicago and New York City. Small town friendliness, sweeping mansions, ethnic eateries, a cutting-edge arts scene, and antique shops, combine to evoke the Old South and a modern progressive city at once. A Whole Food grocery resides compatibly next to an all-you-can-eat ribs joint. The Morehead Planetarium has long been an astronaut training center. Boating on University lake, biking through local greenways and fishing in forest creeks are favored pastimes.

For more information go to: www.chocvb.org or www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/.