It’s no wonder Durham was recently ranked as the second “Best Metropolitan Areas for Business in North Carolina” by Forbes.com. It gave birth to Research Triangle Park – one of the largest research areas in the world – and boasts one of the highest “PhDs per capita” ratios in the country. Home to prestigious Duke University, Durham is known for placing a premium on education and sustaining the seventh largest school district in the state.

Durham is known for its cultural diversity, and offers a myriad of activities, from art museums to golf to carriage rides. You can even catch a Durham Bulls minor league baseball game, immortalized in the Kevin Costner movie, Bull Durham.