Chapel Hill

 

 

This multicultural university town is home to UNC-Chapel Hill and a resident population of 59,000. Hailed as “America’s Foodiest Small Town” by Bon Appetit Magazine, Chapel Hill has grown to become a trendy hot spot for popular American cuisine in recent years. Full of unique sights, sounds and tastes, as well as a vibrant downtown district, this area produces a range of festivals and special events and is the hub for nightlife and culture.

 

Defined by its quiet winding streets, small charming shops and traditional architecture, Chapel Hill is home to basketball legends like Michael Jordan, Phil Ford and James Worthy.

 

Home to UNC Hospitals, UNC School of Medicine, and UNC/Rex Healthcare, the area has a strong medical workforce and robust economy.

 

Franklin Street is the focal point of Chapel Hill, a place where the University and community come together, gathering at restaurants and bars to celebrate after UNC victories (especially over archrival Duke).

 

• Trendy hotspot for popular American cuisine
• True university town feelings
• Robust economy and a strong workforce

Students and faculty make up a good portion of the Chapel Hill population, but families also gravitate to this area for its top-rated public school system and quiet seclusion.

 

A range of restaurants abounds in Chapel Hill. Local favorites include Mama Dips, a longtime fixture serving Southern country cooking; Elaine’s, offering refined, locally sourced New American fare and a distinguished wine list; Lantern, featuring Asian fare made with locally sourced ingredients served in a modern storefront space; Il Palio, located in the Siena Hotel lobby for an elevated Tuscan menu; Squids, a seafood eatery offering hushpuppies and other fried faves along with grilled lobster, soups and steak; Top of the Hill, a contemporary late-night brewery offering housemade draft beer and eclectic American fare; and Crooks Corner, a famed cafe serving Southern staples like shrimp and grits.

 

Memorial Hall, Carolina Performing Arts’ largest venue, features regular shows by well-known artists. Some of the most renowned visiting performers and orchestras include Yo-Yo Ma and the Vienna Philharmonic.

 

Cat’s Cradle, an enduring 750-seat concert venue, showcases an eclectic lineup, with an emphasis on local talent, indie artists and small bands.

 

The Morehead Planetarium, located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is one of the oldest and largest planetariums in the United States, having welcomed more than ten million visitors.

 

Ackland Art Museum is an academic unit of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that entices learners of all ages with opportunities to research, enjoy, and be provoked and inspired by art from around the globe.

 

Some of the finest public schools in America exist in the Chapel Hill / Carrboro School District. Educating more than 12,000 students in the southeastern part of Orange County and surrounded by three major universities as well as the Research Triangle Park, the area serves one of the best-educated populations in the United States.