Located on the Fall Line, which is the geographical boundary line where the Appalachians begin to rise up above the coastal Piedmont plateau, Raleigh is one of the few cities built specifically to serve as a state capital. Back in 1788, state legislators had a favored gathering spot called Isaac Hunter’s Tavern; present day Raleigh is a mere ten miles away from the Tavern site Today, Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill—each a separate municipality—are anchor points for one of the fastest growing major metropolitan areas in the United States. Referred to as both “The Triangle” and as “Raleigh-Durham,” this metro area is served the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and is home to more than 1.5 million people. Three major universities—Duke, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University—were originally called the ‘Triangle,’ but in the ‘50s, the name began to be applied to the three cities after the Research Triangle Park was created. The research and academic presence in the area is strong; the Triangle has the highest number of PhD’s per capita in the US. A host of high-tech companies are located here, and Forbes Magazine in February 2007 rated the Triangle as the best US city in which to find a job. Raleigh-Durham International welcomed 9.4 million passengers in 2006. In addition to the high tech industry and academia, visitors will find museums, art galleries, beautiful arboretums and gardens, and great food and lodging.

	Top rated hotels
	1. Best Western Raleigh North 2715 Capital Boulevard 4. Days Inn - Raleigh Downtown 300 N Dawson St 2. Clarion Hotel State Capital 320 Hillsborough Street 5. La Quinta Inn & Suites Raleigh Aerial Center Pkwy 1001 Aerial Center Parkway 3. Sheraton Raleigh Hotel 421 South Salisbury Street 6. Holiday Inn Raleigh-Brownstone Downtown 1707 Hillsborough St View more Raleigh hotel info »«

	Top rated attractions
	In Raleigh 1. Greenway Trails Raleigh has a system of conveniently accessible trails called the greenways, equipped with picnic area and 41 miles of trails. For more information, call +1 (919) 890-3285, for Cary, NC call +1 (919) 469-4061  « hide 2. North Carolina Museum of Art This museum houses a collection spanning over 5,000 years and features works by both Old and New World masters: Homer, Wyeth, Raphael, Rubens, and Monet. In addition, exhibitions featuring contemporary photographic art and visiting collections from other museums are featured.  « hide 3. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Located in new quarters between Raleigh’s Capitol and the Legislature buildings, this museum—the oldest in North Carolina—focuses on the state’s natural history and present day environment and ecosystems. Fossilized dinosaurs—including one with a fossilized heart—as well as whale skeletons and exhibits highlighting North Carolina’s natural resources are open to the public daily.  « hide 4. Museum of Life and Science Children will be delighted by this museum that is designed for kids, but all ages will enjoy the interactive exhibits focusing on aerospace, human physiology, weather, geology, and Carolina wildlife. A 5:8-scale narrow gauge train runs through the grounds, and one attraction, the Magic Wings Butterfly House, allows visitors to see hundreds of exotic butterflies feeding on tropical flowers. The railroad charges $2 per ride.  « hide 5. North Carolina Botanical Garden Part of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the 800-acre Botanical Garden includes 10 acres of display gardens. Here, visitors can view herb gardens, horticultural demonstration gardens, and carnivorous and native plant displays that comprise the largest collection of native flora in the Southeastern United States. Native plant sales are held daily.  « hide 6. Exploris Geared for especially children, this interactive museum aims to highlight the interconnectedness of the world’s people. Exhibits focus on the world’s cultures, global trade, communications, and the environment. An IMAX theatre shows films on nature, culture, and various contemporary topics.  « hide 7. Sarah P. Duke Gardens These formal gardens, sometimes referred to as Duke University’s “Crown Jewel” sits on 55 acres next to the Duke University Medical Center. More than 300,000 visitors a year come here, drawn by grace and beauty of the landscape designs and the formal plantings within. Lunch is available at the Terrace Café.  « hide 8. Historic Oakwood The Oakwood neighborhood is a 20 block area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Homes are Victorians built in the late 1800s. Brochures explaining the self-guided walking tour may be obtained at the Capital Area Visitor Center.  « hide View more Raleigh attractions » « View less Raleigh attractions

	Top rated restaurants
	1. Hideaway BBQ No Southern city would be complete without a barbeque joint, and barbeque lovers will find that Raleigh comes through with flying colors. The Hideaway has Willie Nelson and Hank Williams posters on the wall, and features live country music on Fridays. The menu includes such barbeque delicacies as Memphis-style smoked and dry-rubbed baby back ribs and Kansas City-style braised spare ribs slathered in barbeque sauce.  « hide 6. Carolina Crossroad Located in the Carolina Inn, the Carolina Crossroad restaurant is another practitioner of New-Age Southern cooking. Here, old tradition is applied in new ways: snapper with shrimp jambalaya, roast duck with sweet potato crème, and free-range chicken with glazed turnips and whipped potatoes. Elegantly appointed, the bar has leather chairs and a fireplace, and the dining room is decorated in colonial style and resembles a Southern mansion.  « hide 2. Big Ed’s City Market Big Ed’s is decorated with all kinds of interesting stuff—some might say good junk—belonging to the owner, including a few old farm implements and assorted political memorabilia. The cooking is basically down home Southern: catfish, butter beans, turnip greens, country ham with redeye gravy, and biscuits—lots of biscuits. A band plays Dixieland on Saturday mornings.  « hide 7. Il Palio Off the lobby of the Siena Hotel, Il Palio is a more formal, dressy restaurant that features sophisticated Tuscan-Italian specialties. Octopus, morels, pancetta ham, ravioli Franco boli, pan seared scallops, and veal osso buco are just a few delectable items that diners may choose from. The wine cellar is very nicely stocked, with over 600 different wines available.  « hide 3. Elmo’s Elmo’s is in Dukeyville—a name that locals sometimes call Durham—and looks a little dumpy from the outside. However, this place is often packed with Duke students and others who go to enjoy the huge portions that are Elmo’s trademark. Elmo’s menu gives diners plenty of choices: salmon cakes, chicken and dumplings, sandwiches, homemade soups, omelets, and Huevos Rancheros. Try a Reuben, and then maybe finish up with some apple pie or banana pudding.  « hide 8. Spice Street Asia is the world’s largest continent, and Chapel Hill is home to Spice Street, which features flavors and cuisine drawn from various points across Asia that traders following the old Silk Route of China might have traveled through. From the Far East, Middle East, and Near East come exotic menu items like chicken satay, mezze, chicken kung pao, and Moroccan or Greek kefta. Spice Street’s décor reinforces the Asian theme with touches of the Orient everywhere.  « hide 4. Metro 8 This newer restaurant—it opened in September 2006—is a steakhouse decked out in Mediterranean and Spanish décor. Steaks are the order of the day, and Metro offers diners with plenty of choices. Steak au poivre, filet mignon, churssaco skirt steak, and a huge 28-ounce rib eye will all delight steak lovers. For those looking for an alternative to beef or pork chops, lamp chops, salmon, and chicken are also featured entrees. All dinners feature appropriate side dishes.  « hide 9. La Shish Husband and wife team Nawwaf and Dayan Said have built a reputation of serving the finest Greek and Lebanese food in the Triangle. Besides kebabs, hummus, and falafel, the pair is renowned for their desserts; the baklava and tiramisu are to die for. The restaurant itself is relatively small and unpretentious, but customers rave about the food, and keep coming back for more.  « hide 5. Magnolia Grill Southern cooking has reached a fork in road: down one fork are the old, traditional Southern dishes, and down the other is a newer cuisine reminiscent of the old South but with a contemporary flair. Ben and Karen Barker, the chef-owners of Magnolia Grill, serve New-Age Southern dishes such as twice-baked grits, crispy fried oysters, Brunswick stew salad, Carolina black sea bass in a Thai crab vinaigrette, balsamic glazed pork loin, and salty peanut ice cream.  « hide 10. Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery A great people-watching spot, this combination bar and restaurant features signature beers brewed on the premises. A patio with outdoor tables is a great place to mingle with the University crowd and see the view of downtown Chapel Hill. Various entrées and sandwiches are available.  « hide

	Raleigh Insider tips
	1. When to Visit "The Triangle" Spring is the prime time to visit as the weather is pleasant, and azaleas, dogwood, camellias, and cherry trees bloom in April and May. Summertime is hot and humid, but visitors may find lodging prices lower then.  « hide 2. Why there are boys in blue... Compared to metro areas of similar and larger size, the Triangle area has relatively little crime. However, visitors should still exercise the same degree of caution that is appropriate to any metropolitan setting. Locals say that a little extra caution may be a good idea in Durham at night.  « hide

	Raleigh nightlife
	In Raleigh 1. Oliver Twist Tapas Restaurant & Martini Lounge Patrons here sit at the contemporary bar or on leather couches with low tables. Live jazz bands and DJ’s provide the music, and belly dancers provide the entertainment on the weekends. A good selection of wines, beers, and 20 types of martinis round out the fun.  « hide 2. Zydeco Downtown The live blues and jazz here will appeal to both serious jazz fans and casual listeners who come to this club in Raleigh’s City Market to enjoy the nightly entertainment. In addition to the music, Zydeco serves good eats too—shrimp and grits, jambalaya, and chicken and waffles.  « hide 3. White Collar Crime The DJ here plays all kinds of stuff, the layout is bright and open, the décor plush and contemporary, and the seating is comfortable. Patrons can dance, people-watch, and play board games in this former Wells Fargo bank vault.  « hide