Which City In North Carolina Is Best For You?

No question, you belong in the largest and busiest city in North Carolina. You love the different neighborhoods, from the NoDa arts district and the large, tree-lined boulevards in Freedom Park to the big shop-and-dine district in SouthPark. You're crazy for all the urban parks, and you love how much business and industry the city attracts--perfect for someone who loves the hustle and bustle as much as you do. And when you get bored, there's always the killer museums, not to mention the annual Renaissance Festival or a good ol' Panthers game! With so many different things to see and do, you'll never want to leave.

You're the intellectual type, just as happy with a good book as you are with a smart debate. With your intellect, you belong in Durham. With Duke, UNC, and NC State all nearby, along with annual heady entertainment, such as the American Dance Festival and the Documentary Film Festival, you'll fit right in with the academics of Durham. You also love to leave the masses behind, so the revitalized American Tobacco District (with its lofts, offices, shops, and dining) is a big attraction, not to mention the regular jazz and blues festivals. And when you get tired of all the academia and crave some excitement, you can always join the Cameron Crazies and catch a Duke basketball game!

Your friends call you artsy-fartsy, but you prefer to think of yourself as highly cultured. The city of Asheville will speak to your inner artist. With the Vanderbilt Estate, the many cultural attractions, and the Art Deco buildings, you'll feel just as at home as the many poets and novelists who come from Asheville, including Thomas Wolfe. Although Asheville is one of the bigger cities in North Carolina, it's one of the smallest in the U.S., so you can get the cultural offerings of a big city with that small mountain-town feel.

The ultimate introvert, you've always had a taste for the simple things in life. Nothing pleases you more than a good barbecue, a pretty nature trail, or a nice quiet morning to yourself to watch the sunrise. Boone (the birthplace of Daniel Boone) is the place for you. With its Greenway Trail, quaint buildings, and three huge parks, you'll be able to really enjoy the cool, mountain air and commune with nature. And whenever you crave a little excitement, you can look forward to the yearly reenactment of the history of Boone's settlers. In fact, Boone is so quiet and peaceful, it's known as one of the best places to retire in the U.S.

You're all about having options. You love your job, but you also love to play. The capital city of North Carolina is the perfect place for you. In Raleigh, you skip the hustle and bustle of Charlotte but have all the amenities of a big city. With the NC Symphony, Carolina Ballet, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, the NC Museum of Art, the international airport, and all the industry in the city, you'll never run out of ways to pass the time. And no need to worry about employment: Raleigh was number three on the 2013 Forbes list for the best places for businesses and careers. And for those times when you need to let your hair down a little, don't forget about the college parties at all the nearby universities!