Raleigh was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, the famed English soldier, adventurer, and poet. It is the capital of North Carolina and home to several universities, including NC State, as well as two historically black universities, Shaw and Saint Augustine, and two women's colleges, Peace and Meredith. With a plethora of things to see and do, Raleigh is a wonderful place to live, work, or visit. In comparison to its immediate neighbors -- with which it forms the so-called Triangle -- Raleigh combines the best of both Durham and Chapel Hill.

Shopping

 • Cameron Village, located inside the Beltline on Oberlin Road between Hillsborough Street and Wade Avenue, (919) 821-1350. Hours vary depending on the store.
 • Crabtree Valley Mall, on Glenwood Avenue just outside the Beltline. Sun 12-6 p.m., Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.  
 • Triangle Town Center, on Capital Boulevard just south of I-540, (919) 792-2222. Sun 12-6 p.m., Mon-Sat 10a.m.-9 p.m.
 • North Hills Shopping Center 4217 Six Forks Rd. Food, shopping and a movie theater. Hours depend on store.

Drink

Raleigh is a college town, so there are plenty of places to find a drink. For cheaper places, try near the campus of North Carolina State on Hillsborough Street. (A scene in "Bull Durham" was filmed in Mitch's Tavern.) The downtown area off of Glenwood Street has a few more upscale bars, and the City Market area around Moore Square offers a good mix of both.

Internet

 • Helios Coffee Co., 413 Glenwood Ave., (919) 838-5177. A coffee shop in Glenwood South with so many hipsters sporting iBooks that Apple should be giving kickbacks. Beer and wine also available. Open until midnight Wednesday through Saturday. Free wireless access.
 • Panera Bread 4421 Six Forks Rd Ste 119, (919) 781-1112. Baked goods, and soups and sandwiches. Free wireless.